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How do I explain to my therapist?

Discussion in 'Gender Identity and Expression' started by Glowing Eyes, Apr 24, 2016.

  1. Glowing Eyes

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    Little over a month ago, I started seeing a therapist 'cause my life feels like a bit of a mess. I'm having the fourth appointment this Tuesday and need some advice on how to explain myself to her.

    So during the second appointment, I told her I was gender-fluid. She admittedly didn't know what this meant but was tolerant and looked it up before the third appointment. We talked about it briefly but I feel like she just didn't take me as seriously as she would have if I had told her I was trans. I now call myself trans (I know labels don't matter that much) after some thinking. The thing is, I feel like I would be obsessing over gender with a therapist whose not really that experienced in the field. I'm not saying this makes her bad 'cause I'm not seeing her exclusively for gender. Should I tell her that I'm trans or should I try to find myself a gender therapist as well? As for the latter option, how should I talk to my mom about it? While she isn't intolerant, she has no idea what being trans actually means and thinks it's some sort of hormonal problem/in-balance.
     
  2. Chip

    Board Member Admin Team Advisor Full Member

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    You should absolutely tell your therapist, as this is an important part of who you are and fits into the bigger picture of the other issues you're addressing with your therapist.

    I do think it will be a wise idea to seek out a therapist with a specialty in gender issues. You can continue to see both, or you might choose to switch to the gender specialist exclusively. Both are common and quite fine.

    Don't worry about your therapist judging; it's her job to stay out of judgment and help you better understand yourself and what you are experiencing.
     
  3. Glowing Eyes

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    Thanks for the advice Chip but unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to see a gender therapist judging by a conversations I just had with my dad. I think I'm actually gonna start a thread about that.

    I guess I'll tell my current therapist about it then :slight_smile:
     
  4. Ghostling

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    Definitely tell your current therapist. It should be her job to do whatever research she can, and while it kinda sucks that you have to be her first trans patient, it'll undoubtedly help her future patients. And even if being trans isn't a large part of what you'll talk about with her, being trans is an important piece of information that can help her help you.
     
  5. Glowing Eyes

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    Thanks Ghostling