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Old Jun 24, 2016, 10:50 PM
Abe Froman Abe Froman is offline
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Member Since: Sep 2014
Location: Alabama
Posts: 339
Skeezyks said it correctly. Each of us has to come to the decision for ourselves whether we are trans. But that doesn't mean we have to do it alone. First, keep talking here. I didn't know I was trans when I was dealing with very deep depression a couple of years ago and I was coming to this site to talk to people. This is a really good place.

Second, look for Dara Hoffman-Fox's website. A wonderful gender therapist with loads of videos and blog entries that's just full of information. You can even email Dara with a question. Dara has a book that just came out with a workbook to work through.

Third, I think this was important for me. I found a therapist. I'd seen one in the past for depression. In this case I found an LGBT therapist. I'll admit that I don't think she is very experienced as a gender therapist and perhaps she's more worked with other members of the community. But she's very supportive. That's the key. I brought up her stance on conversion therapy, she said it was not only illegal in my area but would also be unethical for her to do that. I think maybe I should have inquired more with her about how many transgender clients/patients she had previously had and how many she had helped transition? But that's okay. It may be a good thing I'm working with her. I may help her learn some things too and then be a better therapist for others in the future.

Through that therapist I was able to find a local support group that meets once a month. I've only been once because this is new to me too. If you can find a group I can say it was pretty awesome going. It doesn't matter if you are "questioning." They'll be happy to have you and talk about that. I did not inquire into it because I'm fortunate to have "okay" insurance right now, but I noticed while I was at the center where the support group meets that they offered some free counselling for transgender individuals. So I would seriously ask anyone like local therapists what resources like a support center might be available where you could reach out. Just being able to find someone and say anything out loud about it was a huge help for me because I had no one in my life I could talk to about it.

Best of luck.