That's good. I believe she's private practice, but not completely sure. Guess I'll just have to find out next week

I wish you the best of luck. She will probably recommend every week or two at least for a little while, but if that is to often for you financially you can also request say once a month. was so long ago for me, I think mine was once every other week for almost a year when I was working through the hardest areas, but I had already resigned myself to doing it. So coming out and so on, once all the things like that were done, it shifted to once a month, and now I think its once every 6 months to a year, unless I am in one of my really bad times that I get into from time to time. Just remember they are there to help you and that in that, you can set the schedule to what you are comfortable with :D so don't sweat the money to much.

Well thanks Wynd, I'll probably have to request at least once a month. Cause I really can't afford once a week or anything. But I mean, I would like to get started on hormones, but I don't really want anything serious until I'm done with school. Which is only a year away, but I know coming out is one of the biggest moments for transgender people and I think that would be easier for me after school. Not too mention, I'll hopefully have a job and be able to afford more therapy sessions.

well you will have at least 4 sessions before they would likely even consider giving you the letter for hormones, then comes finding either a doctor willing to take it on and knows what they are doing, or going to an endocrinologist who will do it. from there you won't really see any major noticeable changes for quite a while and you have 6 months before the point of no return. So you have time to consider everything. Since you are in college, and only have a year left, I don't think the transition thing will be that big of a deal. College students are usually pretty open people. I myself am transitioning at work, I had worked here for 6 years before starting. Its terrifying to tell them. Fortunately because I am moving at a snails pace (I am now in year 3 of hormones and just now changed my name) its easing everyone into it and my work has been pretty good with it really. A lot of times I really think we know how a person we tell might react, but then we start to worry and become our own worst enemy.

That's probably exactly how I am feeling. Like my own worst enemy. It's good to know I'll have some time to change my mind, but I don't think I will. And having those 6 months will come in handy, since by then I'll only have a semester of school left. Don't really know how to feel about having 4 therapy sessions before I can really start anything. I understand the therapy is probably the most important step. But damn, I just can't afford it right now. And I think that's why I'm getting so anxious and nervous. If I can work out with my therapist maybe once a month meetings, I might be fine. But I looked through her paperwork and it seems like she does weekly appointments. I might have to talk with her about finding another therapist where my insurance will cover all, if not, a majority of the cost.

That is great news, keep us updated on how your doing.

I will be sure to update as I go along. But I have a feeling that it won't go as well as I would like until I can actually afford multiple trips to therapy.

well again you are the patient, and since you are not admitted, this means the frequency is at your will not hers. She can advise more frequent visits, but if you can't do it, you can't do it. Don't worry to much about it. I really don't think it will be that much of a problem.

I really hope not, because right now it's the one thing weighing heavy on my mind. I think once it's over for the first time I'll be a lot more at ease.

You will be. I remember my first meeting with my therapist. I was _so_ terrified. But after words I felt way better and it has been pretty easy for me to deal with him since :D

I wouldn't say I'm terrified of going to a therapist, actually a bit more relieved. It's just about everything else. Like I hate driving. Actually terrified works well there. And I have to drive downtown and pretty much after a snowstorm hit us. And then there's the whole money thing. Found out the therapist I'm seeing has a website so I checked it out and it said she normally does twice a week or twice a month. Oi, if that's the case I may need her help in finding a therapist my insurance covers fully or more than having me pay $40.

So therapy went really well. Didn't talk much about changing genders however. Was mainly focused on my depression. But that's all good too. Got another appointment with her in April. And it was funny, after looking on her profile on psychologytoday, I thought I'd be talking with a 50-60 something year old woman, and she turned out to be oh probably late 20's early 30's I'd say. Really made me feel comfortable.

I'll be writing a journal entry about it sometime soon, but basically she told me to look into doctors to talk with about hormones and everything and then get her ok on it. So I'll just need to do that. But it was really great and I want to thank Rhonda and WyndWytch for talking with me here and giving me great advice :)

I am soo glad it went well and she is someone you are comfortable with. She probably had you focus on the depression as it would be the most risky of the matters at hand and could also be a result of being transgendered and hiding or repressing it. Sounds like it will be a good fit for your therapist though :D

Yes she was really terrific :) Felt a whole lot more at ease once I told her I wanted to begin the transition to female. Never know how well somebody might respond to that ya know? But she was honored I chose her and that pretty much just made the whole trip worth. To be accepted like that was very relieving.

I understand her being more focused on the depression. We kind of went back and forth with that. But really it was, dang I can't think of the word, but it was a weight off my chest. And we have it worked where I'll pretty much be going once a month, which works great for me. Though I may have to skip a session in May, with final exams and everything coming up and then I have a summer Speech class, which I'm sure will drive me crazy because I am a terrible public speaker. But honestly, if I could afford it, I'd go back every chance I could.

One last thing here, I mentioned in my journal, but don't know if that'll be seen. She told me to research doctors for starting the hormones and everything. Just finding a doctor I could feel comfortable with and meet with a few times beforehand. But I honestly, have no idea what type of doctor I am supposed to be looking for. I don't want to start a whole new post on here asking about it. I don't know what kind of doctor I should be looking for. I figured I may just email her on Monday and ask her, but I would like to see what some have to say here, since they are more knowledgeable about the process.

well typically there are 2 options, first kind is a normal general care doctor. This would be any normal primary care physician. That being said you really want to find one that is knowledgable. this might be challenging but they are out there. Your other option, and the most common in most cases is someone who is an endochrinologist. They specialize in hormones within the body in general. One of those willing to do it might be an easier find. You should be able to call around to their offices and ask without giving to much information if they have or do handle that sort of thing. That or just looking for doctors to handle transgender matters mgiht have resultrs