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Therapy..

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 1:24 pm
by Rik
In a few weeks I have to begin therapy, this is due to the fact that recently I get very anxious ect at the thought of going outside.

I've been refered to a general wellbeing practitioner, and I was wondering if I should bring up my cd'ing to him/her?
any thoughts?

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:31 pm
by Susan
Analise

If the therapist is a professional then I do believe you should tell them. They need the full picture in order to help you so by all means tell him/her.

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:21 pm
by Rik
Well, I don't know if there a pro in this area, as my doc only refered me due to my anxeity when going out. I never mentioned my cd'ing to the doc.

maybe I should make another appointment and mention it?

Im totaly new to therapy and am quite nervous about it.

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 8:41 pm
by Virginia
I think that most of us are "assuming" that "going out" is just that and not going out dressed?

I and those of us who have been "on the couch" would all agree that you need to share Analise with whomever you end up seeing. She is an intragal part of you!

Just stand up for yourself and make sure that the "counselor" can spell "crossdresser." What I am saying is that don't let them make you a study in their behalf as a lot of "counselors" have never dealt with someone with our GIFT and can tend to see "$$$$'s" when we walk in and announce to them one of our, can I say, quirks!

Did you know that some recent research has turned up that Leonardo di Vinci's Mona Lisa may have been a self-portrait and that he himself was a crossdresser?! Puts us in some pretty good company.

Be proud of who you are and please, keep us posted on the results of your inquiry into yourself.

Love,

Virginia

Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 11:16 am
by Rik
Virginia wrote:I think that most of us are "assuming" that "going out" is just that and not going out dressed?
This is correct, and yes I think I will tell them, Cant do any harm I guess.

Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:20 pm
by Absaroka
A general rule of therapy is whatever you don't want to talk about, that's a good thing to talk about.

Although I went to therapy for reasons unrelated to crossdressing I found my therapists ways of looking at the subject to be very helpful. Also as helpful as these forums are, there is no substitute for f2f conversation.

Zari

counselor

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 5:12 pm
by Karen
after telling my wife (years ago) that I was and am a crossdresser, to help
her a little I agreed to go to counseling. The counselor made out great
$$$$$$$$$ but it didn't help me so be careful. I pray that you get someone who will understand CD's.

Lots of good luck to you

Karen

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 4:29 pm
by Lily
There are so few people that we can feel free to talk to about our lives. If you can't tell your therapist, then they shouldn't be your therapist. I would say tell them.

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:31 pm
by April Rose
I went through therapy in the early eighties. I had a very positive experience, even though my therapist had no prior experience with a cross dresser. It's a very personal experience, and very hard to advise on, because in the end, it comes down to individuals. Both you and the person you are working with.

Don't be afraid to bring up anything, it's not a social imposition. You are paying them to be a sounding board for your problems.

Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:51 am
by Absaroka
I'd agree with LIly. If you can't tell your therapist, you either need to reexamine why you are in therapy, or maybe you need a different therapist. Not all therapists are the right therapist for different people, but in general why pay someone good money so you can lie to them, even if they are lies of ommision.

Also if you can't trust your therapist therapy is probably a waste of time. Which is different from saying you may need to work at trusting your therapist.

There was another completely unrelated issue that my therapist made suggestions about which I flat out disagreed with. I did what I was right for me and told him. In the end my way seemed to work. He was happy that it did work, and I was fine with the idea that he, like everyone else, gets to be wrong sometimes.

Zari

Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:44 pm
by April Rose
Also if you can't trust your therapist therapy is probably a waste of time
!!!yes!!!

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:56 am
by Absaroka
I want to come back to the issue that my therapist was wrong about. This probably turned out to be an important thing in therapy. As I said, he was quite happy to discuss the whole issue, and happy that things worked out for me. It was important for me that it was okay for him to be wrong and we could move on. Around the end of therapy I made the comment that he had probably learned something from my experience and he said he always learns from his patients.

That being said if he strongly pressures you to do something you don't want to do you will need to think carefully about it. I had a friend who's therapist told her he wouldn't treat her any more if she didn't stop drinking. She didn't like this at all but she's been sober about 15 years now and feels it was a life saving call on his part. But there have been people here who got what seemed like very bad advice about their CDing.
Zari

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:43 am
by Rik
Alas , im still waiting for my appointment to come through, I was refered by my doctor so it's on the NHS, and clearly takes some time to get an appt.

Thanks for all the comments so far.

Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:22 am
by Neve Turner
Hey Hun.

I am myself undergoing therapy under the nhs , it takes ages to get anyware. mine starts in may , an 18 month course.

My advise is to stick with it. and be as honest as you can be about everything that is going on in your life, off load on them that is what they are for and with all the info they can advise on the best way to help you.

Good luck hun, I know it is scarey as hell. be brave.

PM me if you want to chat, rant or off load.

Neve xx