• PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
    204·
    5 days ago

    Uh, okay, but at most this is “Commenter wants medical providers to be more cautious than is necessary”, and

    prioritizing mental support through therapy might be a good start before the physical treatment.

    is hardly a statement of gatekeeping

    • Sunshine (she/her)@lemmy.caOP
      215·
      5 days ago

      You do not understand how it feels to look at your body and feel out of place. It eats you alive. Therapy can only help so much.

      • PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        202·
        5 days ago

        You do not understand how it feels to look at your body and feel out of place. It eats you alive. Therapy can only help so much.

        Okay? But therapy is not meant to cure, but to assist and prepare for future events.

      • Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        12·
        5 days ago

        I’m trans and I support therapy before HRT, but I disagree with the sentiment that it’s because of possibilities of regret. I believe that gender-focused therapy helps one prepare for the changes and challenges they will endure on HRT - it’s a big step, afterall. Approaching medical transition with strong mental health is essential to wellbeing while undergoing difficult and impactful changes.

        For context, when I started on HRT in the early 2010s it was normal to be required to have a panel interview with your therapist, another mental health professional, and a medical doctor (with whom you had had a physical exam and blood tests) to present your case and ensure that HRT was the best treatment option before starting. It was a rite of passage for trans people who pursued HRT. I’m glad that things have gotten easier now, but at the time it helped me feel certain that I was ready and fully prepared.

        • Jerkface (any/all)@lemmy.caEnglish
          1·
          4 days ago

          Honestly, therapy is an almost necessary part of gender-affirming care. It doesn’t just prepare you or help you go through it, it’s fully part of it.