Well tommorrow morning I have my first therapy session. I sent an email to this Dr. almost 2 weeks ago. I layed out my issues and she sent me a return email and she invited me to call her and talk. It took me another week and a half to work up the nerve to call her. I did and I got her friggin voice mail. Thats okay though, she called me back a little while later. We talked for a while and she said that she looked forward to working for me. I'm not sure how to take that. Either she means it, or she's just being polite or she figures that she can use a nut job like me to publish a paper in the medical journals. LOL just kidding. I know she means well. Well my first appointment is tommorrow morning after I get out of work. I just hope some good comes out of this therapy.
Jessica Marie
Comments
The first steps are the hardest.
Congratulations for having the courage to face your issues, Jessy. It's a long tough road you've chosen, but if it's the right one for you, it will soon become readily apparent. Having been where you are, I know how frightened you must be, but gather your courage and work with this Dr. If she's worth her title, she will help steer you on this twisted path to a new understanding about yourself.
I'm proud of you, hon, and proud to know you. These first steps take so much courage and determination, and some of us never even get this far, preferring to dwell in the shadows and pretend to be what they aren't.
It's time to step out of the shadows and find out what it's like out here in the warm sun of truth. It WILL set you free, and I'll be here for you every step of the way. Make me proud, hon. Make yourself proud of YOU! All the pretending can now begin to end, and a new flower can bloom. Know that you have already made friends here, and you know I stand ready to be your friend as well. We won't let you down, and any questions you might have, someone here will have answers for you.
Welcome to the garden, sweetie. Your spot has been reserved for you.
Hopefully your new friend,
Catherine Linda Michel (Cathy)
As a T-woman, I do have a Y chromosome... it's just in cursive, pink script.
There is a very good reason you were sent to voicemail
My therapist never answers the phone during the workday. And for good reason.
Hopefully for the therapist, their schedule is full, and they have paying customers during that time.
When I am paying that kind of money, I would hope the therapist isn't going to use >MY< time to talk to someone else.
My therapist may listen to voicemail, and even respond, when she does have a break between patients, but it is off the clock, so to speak.
It means he or she will not be interrppted, which may be important, anyway, and that if I do call her, she is not talking about me, in front of someone else.
All that said, I second everything Cathy has said. I hope you have found a good one, but if you are not happy, look for someone else. I can't imagine anything worse than getting someone who is not TG friendly, but I know it has happened.
And sometimes, the patient has to educate the therapist, too. Transgender is still not all that well known to everyone in the field. I know two girls who were used as guinea pigs and probably did more for the therapist than they got in return.
One of the most difficult things to give away is kindness.
It usually comes back to you.
Holly
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
Holly
Therapist
Jessica,
Your therapist sounds like she is a smart cookie and I am sure she will be serving your interests. You are the boss. You are hiring her to help you with your own personal problems.she cannot add you to abook or a point paper without your permission. She has a code of ethics to follow and if she deviates she will loser her license.
You can cease seeing her whenever you want, she after all does work for you.
My suggestion is to make sure you are comfortable with her, does she fit you. Can you depend on her to make beneficial suggestions?
Be openly honest, do not play mind games. You are going to her for help, f you do not present your situation properly then you are not going to get what you want.
you did say she is looking forward to working for you. That means to me she already knows that she can help you if you let her.
I was a drug and alcohol counselor. I always worked for my client. I never gave advice and i gaave my clients respect. it makes things a lot easier for me and the client.
your therapist will not give you advice, she suggestt hings and it is up to you to cognitively look at the suggestion and decide if it is a good fit for you or not.
Jill Micayla
May you have a wonderful today and a better tomorrow
Jill Micayla
Be kinder than necessary,Because everyone you meet
Is fighting some kind of battle.
I Am Honored That You And I Are Friends
I know that you are scared and doubt yourself from time to time, but I am here to say that I am very proud of you. You have told me that you lack faith and confidence in yourself and are weak. I am here to tell you that you are stronger than you think. I was there that night encouraging you to come out to Krista. You could have chickened out but you didn't. That was evident when you had the courage to click "send" on that email. I think that just having someone to talk to about all this will make a huge difference in your life. I am already sensing a beautiful woman coming out of her shell and I am very proud to know you. Judging by all the responses on here, you know you have many friends who will be there when you need support. I will be right there cheering you on! You are one of the dearest friends I know.
Love Ya!
Jenn
I can only echo what others have said.
I hope you and this therapist work well toether, and if not you find someone you can work with. Perhaps you'll strike it lucky. It happens (I did once). Then work through where you are. You're the one that lives with yourself.
All the best.
Annette