Snippity snip
June 10, 2008 4:07 PM Subscribe
Seeking a therapist in the Boston area to help guide me through the process of finishing up a MTF transition.
This question might be a tad specific, but I am looking for referrals for a therapist in the Boston area that has experience with transgendered patient's -- specifically MTF transsexuals.
I have been on hormones (legally prescribed) for four years now and I am looking to umm... wrap things up.
I have been living full time as a woman for 3 years now. My name is changed, my friends and family are all very cool, and my license even has a F on it. Now I just need to take care of the actual surgery.
I have been wanting to finish this up for some time now, but to be honest, the whole process is extremely overwhelming. It seems like there are many details to work out before I can get going. Adding to the frustration is that every time I google around for information all I get are outdated pages or 404s.
I need help figuring out what I need to do to cross the finish line. Is this the kind of thing a therapist can help with?
I know the surgery is expensive and I have been saving as best I can, but I don't even know how much it costs which makes planning hard. (Also, I really am just looking for the basic surgery. I know some people perform the surgery in two stages and that is fine, but I am not looking for facial surgery, adam's apple removal, or breast enhancement, etc).
I know I need to start hair removal around my gentials, but I don't know where to go. Would pretty much any electrolysis place do this? (I feel a little weird cold calling places asking if they provide services for transgendered folks).
And most importantly... I am looking for recommendations on which surgeon to go to. I have heard good things about Meltzer in Arizona. I really liked what I read about Schrang in Wisconsin but he has since retired. Is there an up to date list on people's experiences? tsroadmap doesn't seem to be updated too often anymore. My only real requirement here is that I want to stick with a surgeon in the US. I have heard that if you have surgery outside the US the paperwork for a new birth certificate, etc can be difficult or even impossible.
Even if this isn't the kind of thing a therapist can help with, I would still like any recommendations people have. It is my understanding I need letters from two different therapists before the surgery can be performed. I have the original letter from my old therapist* that I used to start hormones, but I am not even sure if that one counts anymore. So, I will need at least one more letter if not two.
Any advice would be highly appreciated. Throw away email: janedoeoncl@gmail.com
* - I did have a therapist way back at the beginning of my transition and she was wonderful, but I moved and she is too far away to continue seeing. She did not have any recommendations for a new therapist in Boston. Also, I do go to Fenway community health but I have never seeked therapy there. I have heard mixed things about their treatment of transgendered people. I am happy to go there for my checkups, prescriptions, etc, but ideally therapy could be separate.
This question might be a tad specific, but I am looking for referrals for a therapist in the Boston area that has experience with transgendered patient's -- specifically MTF transsexuals.
I have been on hormones (legally prescribed) for four years now and I am looking to umm... wrap things up.
I have been living full time as a woman for 3 years now. My name is changed, my friends and family are all very cool, and my license even has a F on it. Now I just need to take care of the actual surgery.
I have been wanting to finish this up for some time now, but to be honest, the whole process is extremely overwhelming. It seems like there are many details to work out before I can get going. Adding to the frustration is that every time I google around for information all I get are outdated pages or 404s.
I need help figuring out what I need to do to cross the finish line. Is this the kind of thing a therapist can help with?
I know the surgery is expensive and I have been saving as best I can, but I don't even know how much it costs which makes planning hard. (Also, I really am just looking for the basic surgery. I know some people perform the surgery in two stages and that is fine, but I am not looking for facial surgery, adam's apple removal, or breast enhancement, etc).
I know I need to start hair removal around my gentials, but I don't know where to go. Would pretty much any electrolysis place do this? (I feel a little weird cold calling places asking if they provide services for transgendered folks).
And most importantly... I am looking for recommendations on which surgeon to go to. I have heard good things about Meltzer in Arizona. I really liked what I read about Schrang in Wisconsin but he has since retired. Is there an up to date list on people's experiences? tsroadmap doesn't seem to be updated too often anymore. My only real requirement here is that I want to stick with a surgeon in the US. I have heard that if you have surgery outside the US the paperwork for a new birth certificate, etc can be difficult or even impossible.
Even if this isn't the kind of thing a therapist can help with, I would still like any recommendations people have. It is my understanding I need letters from two different therapists before the surgery can be performed. I have the original letter from my old therapist* that I used to start hormones, but I am not even sure if that one counts anymore. So, I will need at least one more letter if not two.
Any advice would be highly appreciated. Throw away email: janedoeoncl@gmail.com
* - I did have a therapist way back at the beginning of my transition and she was wonderful, but I moved and she is too far away to continue seeing. She did not have any recommendations for a new therapist in Boston. Also, I do go to Fenway community health but I have never seeked therapy there. I have heard mixed things about their treatment of transgendered people. I am happy to go there for my checkups, prescriptions, etc, but ideally therapy could be separate.
Have you checked out TS Roadmap? My friend Calpernia Addams has a company with another woman, Andrea James, called Deep Stealth. They have some great resources like a workbook on financing transition.
posted by kimdog at 5:04 PM on June 10, 2008
posted by kimdog at 5:04 PM on June 10, 2008
tsroadmap doesn't seem to be updated too often anymore.
I think she already knows about this service.
posted by arcticwoman at 6:33 PM on June 10, 2008
I think she already knows about this service.
posted by arcticwoman at 6:33 PM on June 10, 2008
I've sent an email recommending a forum where these questions can hopefully be answered in depth.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 10:59 PM on June 10, 2008
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 10:59 PM on June 10, 2008
e-mailed my friend about this - she recommends the website marcibowers.com for more info about the transition. Marci Bowers actually does the surgery and has had it herself, which sounds pretty awesome to me.
She also recommended Monique Noelle as a therapist but says she is on maternity leave until August or September - not sure if Monique is private practice or at a clinic but I will find out for you.
posted by tuff at 3:02 AM on June 11, 2008
She also recommended Monique Noelle as a therapist but says she is on maternity leave until August or September - not sure if Monique is private practice or at a clinic but I will find out for you.
posted by tuff at 3:02 AM on June 11, 2008
p.s. the link for the info on marci's website on SRS is on the lower right hand side - maybe I am just sleepy but I had a hard time finding it myself, so wanted to advise you of that!
posted by tuff at 3:07 AM on June 11, 2008
posted by tuff at 3:07 AM on June 11, 2008
I haven't done any serious research on Marci Bowers but her website is an infomercial. Crap stuff frankly. She's pandering to attract clients, but benefit of doubt, she also might have good contacts to therapists in the Boston area.
Think of your therapist as your Sponsor/Advocate. She or he is a critical part of achieving your objective. If they are onside, then I can't imagine you'll have many problems getting a reference to a Psychiatrist for the second letter. Get a new local therapist, preferably through your previous counselor.
I went through the vast majority of my transition in Boston, including my primary therapist and recommending psychiatrist. I'd recommend my therapist if I hadn't lost contact with him. I honestly can't remember the name of the psychiatrist. It's been a long time.
I'd be surprised if there's not still a TG community around the area. It shouldn't be hard to find them. We used to meet in Harvard Square one day a week. Age fades distinct memories, but I could still walk to the door of the restaurant we would meet in. Around the corner from DEWEY, CHEETHAM & HOWE. Pizza place.
All that aside, I'm assuming you'll still need two reference letters to book the SRS. Your older letter might be in question if she isn't available to validate her observations. Get a new therapist. He or she should be able to refer you to a Psych for the second letter. My surgery was done in Neenah Wisconsin. No electrolysis around the genitals was required. There was a shave the night before though. Best friend at the time was there at the start and Mom was there at the end. Or other way around. I forget. It was a tough process, but necessary. I remember talking about Mint plants wandering around the park close to the hospital.
Rush as much as your situation allows but only if SRS is the only option you have. Don't compromise! Build a new support network. It might take time. Get it right. Snippity Snip doesn't change once it happens.
posted by michswiss at 6:54 AM on June 11, 2008
Think of your therapist as your Sponsor/Advocate. She or he is a critical part of achieving your objective. If they are onside, then I can't imagine you'll have many problems getting a reference to a Psychiatrist for the second letter. Get a new local therapist, preferably through your previous counselor.
I went through the vast majority of my transition in Boston, including my primary therapist and recommending psychiatrist. I'd recommend my therapist if I hadn't lost contact with him. I honestly can't remember the name of the psychiatrist. It's been a long time.
I'd be surprised if there's not still a TG community around the area. It shouldn't be hard to find them. We used to meet in Harvard Square one day a week. Age fades distinct memories, but I could still walk to the door of the restaurant we would meet in. Around the corner from DEWEY, CHEETHAM & HOWE. Pizza place.
All that aside, I'm assuming you'll still need two reference letters to book the SRS. Your older letter might be in question if she isn't available to validate her observations. Get a new therapist. He or she should be able to refer you to a Psych for the second letter. My surgery was done in Neenah Wisconsin. No electrolysis around the genitals was required. There was a shave the night before though. Best friend at the time was there at the start and Mom was there at the end. Or other way around. I forget. It was a tough process, but necessary. I remember talking about Mint plants wandering around the park close to the hospital.
Rush as much as your situation allows but only if SRS is the only option you have. Don't compromise! Build a new support network. It might take time. Get it right. Snippity Snip doesn't change once it happens.
posted by michswiss at 6:54 AM on June 11, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
This friend is an NP in Western MA - she has some TG clients but she obviously doesn't do surgeries. I will give her your throwaway e-mail address and maybe she can help you.
posted by tuff at 4:39 PM on June 10, 2008