Thank you guys for the replies so far.

I do understand it being easier to talk to a female therapist. In my own therapy I found that it was easier to talk about certain issues with a woman. I did PTSD therapy with a guy and that was fine but when it came time to talk about my difficulties with my wife dying and then going through counseling to get back to a place where I could have a relationship. Well, that was noticeably easier with a woman therapist.

For me it was the odd feeling that if I told a guy some of those more personal aspects of my relationship with my wife, well it was kind of like telling the "buddies" information they didn't need to know. For some reason that feeling never came up with any of the lady psychologists that I have seen.

Oh, I also wanted to clear a thing up. I won't only be treating female clients. There will be guys too, it is just that I don't have any understanding of what these things are like from the woman's perspective. Also the fact that I am a guy has been a question that has been on my mind for a while in terms of my ability to create a comfortable setting, an open dialog, and offer the best treatment possible. I just want to gain as much insight as I can to try to be the best clinician I can be because I know what it is like sitting in the patient chair and dealing with that sort of stuff.

[QUOTE]The only thing I have to offer you is, as a male T, you may run into some uncomfortable transference/counter-transference issues./QUOTE]

Someone has looked at a bit of psychology information themselves. Thank you much for the concern and advice. I know that this is a reality, in fact it is expected to happen relatively often. I would not allow anything of this nature to become inappropriate. It doesn't help the client and it doesn't help me. It can cost me my relationships, my reputation and my license. That would be a quick way to throw many years of hard work, the trust of those I care about and the respect of my friends right out the window. The cost of doing anything other than following ethics and remaining professional is much too high. On the side of the client, if allowed to progress too far these sort of things can only lead to more problems, that is in effect hurting them and isn't to be tolerated.

I want to help people get better, not do more damage so I will stick to the ethics and do what is best for the patients. I know that is what I have asked and expected out of those who have helped me. That is what I expect out of myself when I am in their situation.

Anyway, keep the replies coming. The information so far has been pretty good.