Anonymous asked:

I’m from Canada and am a minor still (not for long though), I was wondering about any advice on telling my psychiatrist that I want to go on E and how I could bring up the subject?

Lee says:

We get a lot of questions like this, and I always say that in my personal experience I’ve found that the best way to have a conversation with one of your providers is to be as direct, confident, and firm as possible.

Here’s an example script for telling them:

“Before we get started with the appointment, I have something that I want to tell you. I’m a minor right now, but as soon as I’m 16 and legally able to consent to making my own medical decisions, I want to go on estrogen. I’m really sure that this is what I need, and I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I’m telling you this because [I want your support in writing my a letter/referring me to an endocrinologist/I just want you to be aware of what’s going on in my life.]”

If you’re anxious about bringing it up and you’re worried you’ll miss your opportunity to say something, you may want to write them a letter to hand to them at the start/end of your next session, or you could email them before or after your session.

But in general, the best way to go about it is to just be direct and tell them what you want to tell them. So if your question is “how do I tell my psychiatrist that I want to go on E” I’d say go to your next appointment and say exactly that- I want to go on E!

Helpful links:

Followers, anything to add?

#Lee says #scripts #psychiatrist #Anonymous #transgenderteensurvivalguide #trans #transgender

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Anonymous asked:

hello. i didnt this in the faq so i figured it would be okay to ask. do any of you know if you necessarily need an endocrinologist to prescribe testosterone to you or can you just have a psychiatrist prescribe some to you? im just confused. my therapist told me he didnt know either so i wanted to try getting an answer here. thanks!

Lee says:

Yes, as far as I’m aware legally any medical provider who can prescribe medication can prescribe testosterone, but few of them are willing to do so because they don’t have experience with prescribing testosterone and ordering and interpreting the blood work and ensuring you’re healthy.

So your psychiatrist can prescribe it to you if they’re comfortable with doing that, but they have to be informed about HRT and aware of the things they should be monitoring for in your blood work. That’s why endocrinologists usually prescribe T.

The Testosterone FAQ has a How do I get prescribed T? link that has more info on the various routes available to you.

#Lee says #getting hrt #psychiatrist #Anonymous #transgenderteensurvivalguide #trans #transgender #nonbinary #lgbtq #lgbt #transgender teen survival guide #TTSG

transgenderteensurvivalguide

Anonymous asked:

Hey so I'm searching for a psychiatrist as directed by my doctor and I'm afraid of going to one that is LGBT+ phobic. I'm planning mostly to go for my own social/emotional/mental health, but I want to see if it can also provide a way to transition when I move out. I searched your tags to find answers but I couldn't find anything. Is there a website that specifically reviews psychiatrists and psychologists and how they help LGBT+ people? I couldn't find any websites on that either. Thanks.

Kii says:

PsychologyToday has a mental health specialist search, and they do have specific LGBT+ categories! My local LGBT center also has a list of LGBT-friendly medical professionals and mental health professionals in my area, so a local resource of yours might be able to help as well.

#kii says #caps #therapists #psychologist #psychiatrist #therapist #therapy #Anonymous

transgenderteensurvivalguide reblogged

onlinecounsellingcollege

Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Therapist or Counsellor?

What is the difference between a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist and counsellor?

o A psychiatrist is someone who has trained as a medical doctor and then specialised in different psychological disorders. This ranges from mental illnesses (such as schizophrenia) to disorders of aging (such as dementia). A psychiatrist can prescribe medication, as well as providing guidance and counselling.

o A licensed clinical psychologist will have completed both an undergraduate degree and a 4 to 6 year doctorate program. A psychologist cannot prescribe medication. They provide counselling, guidance and support to clients based on their particular theoretical orientation (for example, behaviourism, CBT, solution focused therapy.)

o A therapist (or psychotherapist) will have at least a masters degree plus some additional psychotherapy training. Exact training requirements vary from country to country, state to state, and province to province. He or she will have supervised practical experience, and will also have undergone psychotherapy themselves. A therapist works with clients on their problems, using some kind of talking therapy. They are unable to prescribe medication.

o A counsellor will have extensive training in counselling theory and skills. They will have undergone counselling themselves, and been supervised in their practical skills. They work with clients to help them explore, understand and work towards solutions to their problems. They are unable to prescribe medication.

Note: All psychiatrists, psychologist, therapist and counsellors can specialize in different areas. The most common ones are: couples, family, addictions, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, stress management, PTSD, abuse, grief and loss, life transitions and groups.

#mental health #caps #abuse m #counsellor #therapist #psychotherapist #psychiatrist

transgenderteensurvivalguide

Anonymous asked:

can my psychiatrist who prescribes my antidepressants prescribe me testosterone?

Lee says:

Yes, as far as I’m aware legally any medical provider who can prescribe medication can prescribe testosterone, but few of them are willing to do so because they don’t have experience with prescribing testosterone and ordering and interpreting the blood work and ensuring you’re healthy.

So usually you need to see an endocrinologist to get testosterone, since they have experience with hormones so they’re more comfortable prescribing it.

The Testosterone FAQ has a How do I get prescribed T? link.

#Lee says #psychiatrist #testosterone #getting testosterone #Anonymous #transgenderteensurvivalguide #trans #transgender #TTSG

transgenderteensurvivalguide

Anonymous asked:

how long does it take a psychiatrist to write you a letter for t?

Jay says:

Depends on the psychiatrist and probably where you live! Some mental health professionals are ready to write a letter by the second visit and some prefer to wait a few weeks or months.

#jay says #hrt #psychiatrist #Anonymous #answered

transgenderteensurvivalguide

Anonymous asked:

Hello! I recently came out to my parents who were extremely unaccepting. They have decided to send me to a psychiatrist, and I'm sure the person will be anti-lgbt, knowing my parents motives. How do I deal with that?

Lee says:

You can ask them during the first meeting what they think of LGBT people, because they may or may not end up actually being transphobic so it’s worth asking instead of assuming.

You should also check to see if conversion therapy is illegal in your state- if it is, then the psychiatrist may be a bit annoying if they’re lgbt-phobic but they won’t be able to try to change you in any way.

You can also try to direct the conversation away from LGBT topics and toward other issues you may have, like depression or something, and try to practice coping skills during the meeting so you don’t spiral. You can try to plan to see friends after, so you’ll be able to connect with people who support you and your identity.

Also, many people don’t see a psychiatrist super frequently- I see mine every few months, so it isn’t something you’ll have to put up with daily.

Coping skills:

#Lee says #psychiatrist #Anonymous #transgenderteensurvivalguide #trans #transgender

transgenderteensurvivalguide

An ask was sent that said “URGENT! i have an appointment with my psychiatrist tomorrow (i see her once a month) and it's the first time i'm going to mention me wanting top surgery. she already knows i id as trans. can she diagnose me w/ dysphoria or does it have to be a (gender) therapist? i don't have a therapist rn (i live in NJ if that matters)”

Lee says:

I believe she should be able to diagnose you! You may want to show examples of the letter if she doesn’t know what it is, and explain that gender dysphoria is both a diagnosis in the DSM-V and a way to describe a feeling if she isn’t familiar with the diagnosis.

#Lee says #somehow the original ask was deleted #caps #psychiatrist #gender dysphoria #transgenderteensurvivalguide #trans #transgender

transgenderteensurvivalguide

Anonymous asked:

Time sensitive - 40ish hours. I'm not out to my psychiatrist but plan on coming out at my next appointment, in 2 days. I want to talk about my gender dysphoria but don't know if I should use that term. Is gender dysphoria something you are diagnosed with (if so I don't want to use the term unless my psych does) or is it just a feeling/ way to describe a feeling? Sorry if that sounded ignorant, I just can't find any info on it. I feel like it's the latter but I'm not sure. Thanks :)

Lee says:

Gender dysphoria is both a diagnosis in the DSM-V and a way to describe a feeling. That doesn’t mean that being trans is a mental illness!

There is some debate over whether gender dysphoria should be called a mental illness.

This is the gender dysphoria diagnosis:

“In adolescents and adults gender dysphoria diagnosis involves a difference between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, and significant distress or problems functioning. It lasts at least six months and is shown by at least two of the following:

A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics
A strong desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex characteristics
A strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender
A strong desire to be of the other gender
A strong desire to be treated as the other gender
A strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender

In children, gender dysphoria diagnosis involves at least six of the following and an associated significant distress or impairment in function, lasting at least six months.

A strong desire to be of the other gender or an insistence that one is the other gender
A strong preference for wearing clothes typical of the opposite gender
A strong preference for cross-gender roles in make-believe play or fantasy play
A strong preference for the toys, games or activities stereotypically used or engaged in by the other gender
A strong preference for playmates of the other gender
A strong rejection of toys, games and activities typical of one’s assigned gender
A strong dislike of one’s sexual anatomy
A strong desire for the physical sex characteristics that match one’s experienced gender”

I think it’d be okay to use the term dysphoria in your case, as I used the term talking to my treatment team to describe what I was experiencing before I was professionally diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Here’s some info on coming out! Good luck :)

#Lee says #coming out #gender dysphoria #dysphoria #psychiatrist #Anonymous #transgenderteensurvivalguide #trans #transgender

transgenderteensurvivalguide

Anonymous asked:

Sort of urgent: I live with a very emotionally abusive and manipulative mother. I recently started wearing my brothers clothes as I'm AFAB trans-masc, and wanted to feel less dysphoric. I think my mum noticed this and started telling me I look bad in them and has started buying me super feminine clothes. Because of abuse through my childhood, I no longer feel I have an identity at all. I want to tell my psychiatrist about this but my mother always finds a way to invade my privacy and I've had(1)

(2) psychiatrist breach my privacy before and tell my mother things I didn’t want her to know (no safety risk either). I’m completely stuck in a box and I don’t know what to do anymore. I see my psychiatrist every Friday, and want to try to bring it up with her but I’m terrified. If anyone has any advice I’d really appreciate it. I am 16 also. Thank you x.

Noah says:

First and foremost I am very sorry that you have to go through that pal. It isn’t okay. It can be very terrifying to talk to a therapist about such personal things such as that. If that particular psychiatrist had a breech of privacy with you, it is possible that you may need to choose a different one that you feel more comfortable with. Also, maybe you can bring up with your therapist that you don’t feel comfortable talking about some thing with them because of that breach of trust. If you talk to your therapist about this, try taking it a little at a time. Maybe bring up one small thing or a detail by detail as to not say more than you feel comfortable and also to so that you all can build trust again.

Kai says:

I’ll sort of answer this part by part so sorry if it’s rambly/not put together.

For clothing, if you think she’s getting suspicious my advice is to go for gender neutral clothing from your own wardrobe for a while as you slowly get more and more masc clothing for yourself. what i did was buy a bunch of masc clothing last year and start wearing it exclusively and then my super transphobic controlling mom stopped letting me buy any more masc clothing, so take it slow so she doesnt suspect anything.

also my therapist wasnt a good fit for me. she was okay but i literally couldnt talk to her about trans stuff beyond the basics and she sort of breached my trust (with reason though so i guess it wasn’t that bad)

perhaps try to slowly bring it up as something sensitive or if possible, get a new therapist. best of luck!

#noah says #abuse tw #dysphoria tw #psychiatrist #ask #anon #Anonymous #tw abuse #kai says