3 Important Factors Which Determine the Length of Your Transition.
There is no right or wrong way to transition. Gender transition is a personal process with individualized goals.
For each individual, transition carries its own timeline. Some finish up within 1 1/2 to 2 years. While others may take years to complete.
The timeline of transition is determined by numerous factors. Support system, access to financial resources, medical insurance, geographic location, medical history, access to gender affirming surgeons, and therapeutic support, just to name a few.
With many factors affecting how long transition may take, there are 3 factors that matter the most.
FACTOR 1 | SUPPORT SYSTEM
Whether it is your family, friends, co-workers, a therapist, or an online community, support system is the number one factor affecting your timeline.
That’s because you don’t exist in the vacuum and as a social individual, you need the support of others, especially when you are struggling with gender dysphoria.
Having a support system, even remote one such as online support can help you:
helps increase psychological resilience needed to go through transition
decreases symptoms of depression
decreases suicidal ideation
and reduces feelings of hopelessness associated with dysphoria
Without the support system, transition tends to stall. That’s because overcoming challenges or conquering mini goals by yourself can be incredibly difficult.
Common mistake you may make is believing you need the support of your family. While it’s great to have familial support, you may not be so fortunate. And that is ok!
Did you know that you can re-build your family?
Your new family circle can include:
friends
co-workers
people you are in relationship with
and distance allies online
If you are planning on starting transition and find yourself lacking in support, remind yourself that support comes in many forms. It could be your therapist, your medical team, or your social community.
It could also be a support group in your neighborhood. I encourage you to read 5 Benefits of Transgender Support Group and look up link to the listed local groups.
FACTOR 2 | FINANCIAL RESOURCES
While health insurances cover most gender affirming procedures, many expensive aspects of gender transition remain underinsured.
Electrolysis, voice feminization, gender therapy and surgeries such as body contouring and facial feminization/masculinization are still not covered under many plans.
As you can see, finances is the second key factor directly affecting how long your transition will take.
In fact, lack of financial resources is often the number one main reason you wont begin gender transition. Especially if you have financial obligations to care for family or other financial responsibilities.
Finances become especially crucial when you reside in a geographic area that doesn’t have gender affirming medical doctors helping transgender individuals. Having financial cushion provides an opportunity to move to a State with better access to medical care.
If you are planning on gender transition, I highly encourage you to start saving. Even if you start with a small amount, you’d be surprised how quickly it can add up.
FACTOR 3 | GENDER THERAPIST
While there are many therapists who are “LGBTQ friendly,” not all of them are knowledgeable in working with transgender individuals.
The lack of knowledge and expertise in the transgender field will delay your transition!
Therapists who are not experienced in screening for gender dysphoria lack an important skill of evaluating you properly. Whereas it can take a specialist anywhere from 1 - 2 sessions to confirm gender dysphoria, it can take an inexperienced therapist several months to derive at the same diagnosis.
That’s precious months of your time, during which you could have been on hormones and would have started electrolysis!
If you feel certain about your gender identity and are seeing therapist who insists you need 6 months to a year of therapy before starting hormones, please seek another therapist!
There is absolutely no need for you to suffer through dysphoria at an expense of someone's lack of knowledge.
Additionally, inexperienced therapists lack knowledge of how to properly write much needed evaluation letters for gender affirming procedures. Often referring you to see another therapist for a letter. As a result, you end up with unnecessary additional expense.
This is something I have personally witnessed since I offer all evaluations for free to support community (sorry only CA residents, licensure rules). Many people seeing me for a letter often say, “I see a gender therapist but they don’t know how to write this type of a letter.” When I hear this, I want to pull my hair out. Being able to write evaluation letters are 101 basics for therapists working with gender diverse individuals!
As you can see, working with a therapist lacking in knowledge delays your transition and can delay it up to a year or more. If you are planning on seeing a therapist, please seek one with experience.
In the very least, see if you can find a gender therapist near you who is open to consult with specialists to gain understanding of how to better serve you.
You may also find the following helpful:
Here are KEY Reasons Why You Need a Gender Therapist & How to Find One!
2 Factors Which Can Determine If Relationship Survives Transition.