finding reliable medical practitioners

[IGrace]

I know this is an old thread but I think you'd struggle to find a non-affirming doctor these days, transitioning children is unfortunately part of the DSM. Perhaps there are some so called "conversion therapists" operating that are willing to stand up to the system and deliver a high quality of care for our children

[Marge Bouvier Simpson]

I know this is an old thread but I think you'd struggle to find a non-affirming doctor these days, transitioning children is unfortunately part of the DSM. Perhaps there are some so called "conversion therapists" operating that are willing to stand up to the system and deliver a high quality of care for our children

I'm afraid you are correct, IGrace. However, there is a growing number of doctors and therapists who see the harm gender medicine is doing, especially to vulnerable populations such as those on the autism spectrum and those who have been sexually assaulted or otherwise traumatized, and these therapists also realize there is a lack of quality evidence that shows gender medicine is safe and helpful.

The Gender Exploratory Therapy Association (GETA) is building a list of therapists who will take an exploratory approach with patients rather than immediately affirm them as trans. 

Their list may be found here: https://www.genderexploratory.com/find/
Be sure to scroll through all the pages as the names don't seem to be listed in any particular order, although I see the site now offers a few different sorting options. The list started out with I believe 5 or 6 names, so it has definitely grown and continues to grow. I have also heard (but cannot confirm) that if you get in contact with GETA, they may have a few more names to suggest, basically therapists and doctors who have asked not to have their names made publicly availlable on the website.

If I understand correctly, in the USA, therapists, social workers and doctors may only work with patients who are physically located in states where the professional is licensed to practice, so keep in mind online appointments with professionals in other states may or may not be possible. Some on the list specify where they are licensed to practice and others do not, so if a therapist hasn't specified, it may be worth calling or emailing to find out. I also see a few life coaches on the GETA list, and again if I understand correctly, life coaching is not a licensed profession so these people can work with patients anywhere.

[shobaneru]

Hello All. I am so glad I found this forum. I have a son who identifies as trans female. I live in the Northern Virginia area. Looking for a non affirming therapist. Nobody is helping. I am desperate at this point. Any help will be truly appreciated. Thanks so much for your help in advance!

[shobaneru]

Good Morning,

I am on the lookout for a therapist in Northern VA for my son who claims that he is a girl and wants us to call him by the appropriate pronoun and his new name. I am so very desperate to find a therapist who will not affirm. He is 17 years old soon to be 18 and wants to take hormones which I am not for. I am willing to talk to anybody who will explain to him about he harmful effects of cross sex hormones.

Everyday is a nightmare literally. I am constantly walking on eggshells around him not knowing when he will lash out.

Any help will be greatly appreciated! Please help!

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions

[LetThereBeLight]

Anyone have recommendations to a Therapist in California?

[Deschutes95120]

Anyone have recommendations to a Therapist in California?

Hello, we live in California, too, and are looking for a non-affirming therapist for our daughter., who says she's trans. Unfortunately her current therapist is more encouraging of medical transition than I previously thought. Have you found one in California?

---

Hello, I just joined this forum today so apologies if I am doing this wrong but I am looking for a therapist in California, particularly the Bay Area (though if its online I guess it could be anywhere in CA). Our 15 yro daughter recently informed us that she is trans and unfortunately her therapist is turning out to be more affirming than I thought--has told our daughter that hormones are not a big deal and pose little risk to one's health, etc. This is all just so sad and depressing. I came across Lisa Littman's ROGD work and have been watching Sasha Ayad's videos for several months now and recently found this group. Would love to get recommendations for a therapist in CA. Thank you so much!

[Guest]

Hello All. I am so glad I found this forum. I have a son who identifies as trans female. I live in the Northern Virginia area. Looking for a non affirming therapist. Nobody is helping. I am desperate at this point. Any help will be truly appreciated. Thanks so much for your help in advance!

I know your concern and pain.  My daughter is in the same situation.  Please check on this website, they are the Arlington Parent Coalition (APC).  Finding a Gender-Critical Therapist | Arlingtonparentcoa please get in touch with them and see if they can help you to find a good therapist.  You are not alone.  May God/Buddhas give you wisdom and strength.  We stand together and save our children.  

[TXIY]

Hello,

We are looking for a gender critical therapist in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area.  Anyone have any referrals?

15 year daughter ROGD, current therapists did not want to help, now daughter is 16 years old and  we are back looking for new therapist.  I feel like we lost a year of finding the root cause of any underlying issues.

Concerned Mom

Tried to reply in the public space as I was not sure you had joined.  Did you find a therapist?  I may have one if she is taking new patients.  I will check.  I do believe from all our visits that she is taking a critical eye to my son's "diagnosis".  We together decided not to go to Genecis who will only affirm.

Did you find help in the DFW area? I need help with my daughter too.

[Heather]

Hello,

We are looking for a gender critical therapist in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area.  Anyone have any referrals?

15 year daughter ROGD, current therapists did not want to help, now daughter is 16 years old and  we are back looking for new therapist.  I feel like we lost a year of finding the root cause of any underlying issues.

Concerned Mom

Tried to reply in the public space as I was not sure you had joined.  Did you find a therapist?  I may have one if she is taking new patients.  I will check.  I do believe from all our visits that she is taking a critical eye to my son's "diagnosis".  We together decided not to go to Genecis who will only affirm.

Did you find help in the DFW area? I need help with my daughter too.

This might be helpful. If you are looking for a psychiatric professional -- a therapist or a psychiatrist -- to help your child and your family, it's probably a good idea to work out for yourself what specific characteristics you are looking for, the most important of which is an agreement between you and the professional you are "auditioning" on what the job is. 

It's like hiring a contractor to repair your home. If you hire someone to fix your plumbing, but the candidate is only knowledgeable about (and interested in) the roof, you've got to be honest with yourself about whether your reason for thinking the problem is a broken pipe is based on the fact that you actually saw water actually pouring out of a broken pipe, or you need to be open to exploring the possibility that you are wet in your own home because of a leaky roof, that your initial assumption that all that water you've noticed is really not coming out of a broken pipe but originates from a hole in the roof. The professional worth her salt is capable of convincing you of that fact about your specific house, and not just expecting you go along with her theory about all houses.

In other words, you need to figure out if the mental professional you are thinking of hiring has roughly the same criteria for distinguishing between reality and illusion that you have, and can explain to you the difference. Also, the professional should have respect for you as a parent, when it comes to your child. You are someone who has been on the scene much longer than anyone else has, which makes you a valuable source of information. If you get the sense the candidate therapist/psychiatrist doesn't respect your knowledge about your child (even if there is general knowledge about psychology you may lack that this professional can provide), treat that as a red flag.

So here's Dr. Steven Levine's presentation at the GenSpect conference on what good therapy is, which I think might be helpful to watch before you interview one. I've pulled out a few quotes from his presentation that might be useful. 

Denver: Key Elements of Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation & Psychotherapy with Dr Stephen Levine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM3bPA80...x=8&t=254s

Conversational therapy is a conversation with somebody who knows more about the general problem -- whom I call 'Doctor"' -- and the patient, who's the world's expert on the patient's life. 'That doctor' and 'this doctor' are having a prolonged conversation over time to teach both of them what the other knows.

My job is to improve the child's function, to diminish his or her symptoms, and to improve their capacity to socialize and to think clearly.

Youthful trans identities are creative intrapsychic adaptations with future outcomes that represent limited life possibilities.

[TruthSeeker1]

I saw this article recently by Rebecca Taylor, a psychotherapist practicing in Sandy, Utah. Anyone looking for a good therapist in that area might want to reach out to her. She may even do zoom counseling. 
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/pare...bc24&ei=19