The Va's gender terapist
Having seen the Va's gender specialist, I have to say this:
I am not confident in this person. My first visit to her, and she already has started pushing for me to only "see" her via online live chat. I have NEVER been comfortable with ANY kind of online live chat - let alone one done about sensitive issues with a therapist - where I CAN NOT be sure someone ELSE isn't listening in! I told her I DO NOT DO online live chats like this, and she seemed at a loss how to proceed!
I have to see her again later this week - she insists on twice monthly appointments; even though with my other therapist I was down to one appointment a month.
Several things she said - and the way she said them - caused an instant sensation of "this woman just needs a punch in the mouth,...." from me - NOT a normal reaction from me AT ALL.
She reminds me why I never trusted psychologists, therapists, shrinks, et al before.
But when the VA decides which doctors - if any - they will pay for you to see, you kind of get stuck with those who will accept the least amount of money. Usually the bottom of the barrel; but not always.
Until I can get a change made - or become wealthy enough to pay for my own therapist, surgery, etc. - I am stuck with this woman. I only hope she can convince the VA that I require GRS/SRS ASAP, and that I should be allowed to select the surgeon for it myself, while the VA pays for it.
Once that's done and I recover from it, them my transitioning will be almost complete. Just left to adapt to the finished body and what it would mean.
Yeah, probably a simplistic pipe dream. But at least I have a dream.
I am not confident in this person. My first visit to her, and she already has started pushing for me to only "see" her via online live chat. I have NEVER been comfortable with ANY kind of online live chat - let alone one done about sensitive issues with a therapist - where I CAN NOT be sure someone ELSE isn't listening in! I told her I DO NOT DO online live chats like this, and she seemed at a loss how to proceed!
I have to see her again later this week - she insists on twice monthly appointments; even though with my other therapist I was down to one appointment a month.
Several things she said - and the way she said them - caused an instant sensation of "this woman just needs a punch in the mouth,...." from me - NOT a normal reaction from me AT ALL.
She reminds me why I never trusted psychologists, therapists, shrinks, et al before.
But when the VA decides which doctors - if any - they will pay for you to see, you kind of get stuck with those who will accept the least amount of money. Usually the bottom of the barrel; but not always.
Until I can get a change made - or become wealthy enough to pay for my own therapist, surgery, etc. - I am stuck with this woman. I only hope she can convince the VA that I require GRS/SRS ASAP, and that I should be allowed to select the surgeon for it myself, while the VA pays for it.
Once that's done and I recover from it, them my transitioning will be almost complete. Just left to adapt to the finished body and what it would mean.
Yeah, probably a simplistic pipe dream. But at least I have a dream.
Replies
I was in therapy for most of my life, and not once did a single therapist say that they want me to do online chat instead. Of course these are more modern days now and more and more people are using the internet but still, i see red flags here. So, I completely understand your concern about all this. So, there are no other therapists you can see from the VA?
They say they have one other possible therapist they can assign me to - but it will also be the same sort of set-up. Same desire to have me do everything via skype, or other online chat. I don\'t like this - I CAN\'T trust them this way; and if I can\'t trust the therapist, then what good is it doing for me to have one?
Also, I am moving into a YURT, a type of large tent - with NO electricity, and thus, NO internet. Where the Hell do they imagine I will be able to go to do these skype therapy sessions is anybody\'s guess - I sure as Hell won\'t be doing it from any PUBLIC free wi-fi access like the library, or BurgerKing!