Regardless of whether you are considering gender surgery, transgender counseling can be an essential part of a full, happy life. Transgendered individuals can face speculation and ridicule from others, mainly because transgendered is such a misunderstood term. It can be a difficult, bewildering experience before you reach a state of true self-acceptance and understanding. Not all counselors are as capable of actually providing help to the transgendered population as they claim, however. It is important to know what to look for and what to avoid when seeking transgender therapy.

Transgender therapy is not simply an extension of basic counseling, although there are counselors who claim to serve the transgendered population and work under that assumption. There are similarities between transgender counseling and other basic types of therapy, however. Both should offer a safe, secure, confidential place to talk, allowing you to discuss your feelings, thoughts and fears without reprisal, embarrassment or having your words made public. In addition, counselors should be supportive, helping you work toward self-awareness and self-acceptance, without being manipulative or abusive.

There are specific things you should look for when seeking transgender counseling. First, your counselor should be able to distinguish between transgender and gender identity disorder, which, while similar, are actually very different. Second, the goal of transgender therapy is not to cure you, and the goals of counselors do not include fixing you or passing moral judgment. A good counselor will help you develop an understanding and appreciation of who you are, while also helping you explore the alternatives available to you.

In addition, a transgender counselor should offer couples and family counseling to help everyone deal with the issues that arise. Finally, a good counselor will also be able to provide referrals to, or help in locating assistance for medical, legal and financial issues. They can even help you connect to transgender groups that support transgender individuals and their families.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 at 5:42 pm and is filed under Relationships. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.