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George · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 249 Location: Devon

Hi

Ive recently told my councillor about my gender dysphoria and she has been totally supportive and great but (as most people find I think!) she's struggling to find where she can send me for more help as she dosnt have any experience of dealing with it.

Id really like to see a local phych/councillor - not for hormones or anything - just a specialist who can talk me through stuff a bit more but I dont know how to find one. Im sure when I go to my local GP they wont have an clue either!

Im down in deepest, darkest Devon - anyone got any recommendations for who I could see? (they dont have to be NHS)

PS Thanks for this great forum - it gives you such a boost to read that other people feel just like you!

**thedreadpersephone** · Advisor Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 913 Location: Dundee

Hi George and welcome to the forum.

You are quite correct in guessing that the GP might not have a clue, but they are the 'gatekeepers' of the NHS and should be able to refer to you to a local psychiatrist.

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**Flameboy** · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:34 pm Post subject:

If it's a counsellor you want, you could just try going through the Yellow Pages (or equivalent) and phoning them til you find someone who sounds like they know about gender issues. Or try contacting The Intercom Trust - I've met a couple of the guys from there and they were very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable - they might well be able to recommend someone in the local area.

If you're looking for a psych referral with the aim of them referring you to a GIC, you will need to go through your GP, I think - though it sounds like that's not actually your aim at the moment.

Dave

George · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 249 Location: Devon

Thanks for the info

You are right Dave Im not sure how far I want to go with this yet but Im a bit confused as to who can refer me to where. Knowing the steps I need to take kindof helps me to take each little one - If that makes sense! That and I can pretend to my GP I know what Im talking about!

Am I right in thinking that I go to my GP, they refer me to any old local psych who then refers me to a GIC if they think its what I need? Does the psych need to be a specialist to refer you to a GIC?

**Flameboy** · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:23 pm Post subject:

In Manchester, they refer you to a local shrink who specialises in gender issues, and she refers you to the GIC. I think that's how it works in the rest of the country too, though I could be wrong. By the country I mean England, by the way - Scotland has a completely different system.

If you contact The Intercom Trust, they might be able to help you with that as well - I think they cover all sorts of LGBT issues.

Dave

Stella Maru · Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 2248 Location: Brighton

Flameboy wrote:

In Manchester, they refer you to a local shrink who specialises in gender issues, and she refers you to the GIC. I think that's how it works in the rest of the country too, though I could be wrong. By the country I mean England, by the way - Scotland has a completely different system.
Dave

Dave is right on this. Since about 2001, referrals to an NHS GIC in England can only be made by a consultant psychiatrist in your local PCT - to whom your GP must first refer you, if she or he thinks it appropriate.

Stella Maru · Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 2248 Location: Brighton

Flameboy wrote:

In Manchester, they refer you to a local shrink who specialises in gender issues, and she refers you to the GIC. I think that's how it works in the rest of the country too, though I could be wrong. By the country I mean England, by the way - Scotland has a completely different system.
Dave

Dave is right on this. Since about 2001, referrals to an NHS GIC in England can only be made by a consultant psychiatrist in your local PCT - to whom your GP must first refer you, if she or he thinks it appropriate.

George · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 249 Location: Devon

Will my GP be able to find the nearest specialist - sorry if thats a really stupid question but Ive only been to the doc about 6 times in my entire life so I have no idea how it all works!

Also, one other stupid question if I were to go private do I need a referral from a psych to make an appointment at the london clinic?

**Flameboy** · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:18 pm Post subject:

Your GP should be able to find the nearest specialist. It might take them a few weeks to discover - it took mine about that long, so if you go armed with the knowledge then you may be able to speed the process up.

Anyone can call up Dr Curtis and make an appointment; you don't need a letter to have a private consultation, you just need cash.

Dave

Stella Maru · Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 2248 Location: Brighton

Hello George,

the first person to whom your GP may refer you (if they think it necessary - there is nothing automatic about it) will be a consultant psychiatrist working in your PCT area.

This person will be a general psychiatrist. If they think your case needs the attention of a specialist in gender psychiatry, they may refer you on to a gender identity clinic, refer you to a psychotherapist or counsellor, decide to re-interview you again in some months time, or possibly decide to do nothing at all.

If they decide to refer you to a gender identity clinic outwith your PCT area, then there will be a delay whilst "funding" is approved for you to receive out-of-area treatment. Some - but not all - PCTs will attempt to frustrate "funding" for costly out-of-area treatment, so you may need patience and persistence to keep your application on track.

Long delays are the norm at every turn, and even if everything runs smoothly, and you start your application now, you would be unlikely to have your operation inside three years.

Good Luck With It All!
Carpe diem!
Smile

**Flameboy** · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject:

Stella Maru wrote:

the first person to whom your GP may refer you (if they think it necessary - there is nothing automatic about it) will be a consultant psychiatrist working in your PCT area.

This person will be a general psychiatrist. If they think your case needs the attention of a specialist in gender psychiatry, they may refer you on to a gender identity clinic, refer you to a psychotherapist or counsellor, decide to re-interview you again in some months time, or possibly decide to do nothing at all.

Actually, that's not strictly true everywhere - in Manchester you get referred to a specialist gender psych - although she doesn't deal solely in gender issues, unlike the ones at a GIC - and she refers on to the GIC (Charing Cross in this case). She's definitely a gender psych though, she's on the list on the GRP website.

Dave

Stella Maru · Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 2248 Location: Brighton

My own experience is getting a little out of date now Embarassed

so perhaps I should confine myself to my usual philosophical and ethical ramblings from now on!

**PurplePrincess** · Advisor Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 2678 Location: Bristol

Flameboy wrote:

Actually, that's not strictly true everywhere - in Manchester you get referred to a specialist gender psych - although she doesn't deal solely in gender issues, unlike the ones at a GIC - and she refers on to the GIC (Charing Cross in this case). She's definitely a gender psych though, she's on the list on the GRP website.

In Bristol also they have a psychiatrist who is a specialist in gender dysphoria who is on the list of specialists on the GRP website. I was referred him after I saw a general psychiatrist and then referred on to the GIC in London. So I did like an extra stage. I think it does vary from area to area. I think also had my GP known about the specialist in Bristol then my GP would have referred me to him directly.

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George · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 249 Location: Devon

Thanks Guys and Gals that was all very helpfull! and has unconfused me alot

I shall go to my GP armed with the list on Daves post and if it takes a few weeks to find someone then I dont mind - Ive been waiting over 20 years so a few more weeks wont hurt!

**Flameboy** · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:07 pm Post subject:

Good luck George - and it's good to see you're got such a good attitude towards waiting a while, because, trust me, you'll get VERY good at waiting if you take the NHS route! Let us know how you get on mate Smile

Dave