I can't talk about gender identity disorder specifically. However, for me, my T diagnosed me probably way before we ever discussed it. We had seen each other for about 1 year at the time of diagnosis, but looking back I think he knew what his diagnosis would be after about 6 or 7 months. I do think that good therapists are good at picking up these things, especially if it's within their expertise.

I did, however, talk openly about everything, and present the way I always do. For me that meant you can see SH issues, and I'd talk about my other struggles, though not in terms of diagnostic criteria or exact terms, just by saying how I feel and experience the world. I think 6 months of knowing somebody in case it's done like that is enough to get to know somebody.