Poll Female Or Male Therapist?

[ericaboo]

First of all I just want someone good.

However, I selected male because I was psychologically abused by my Mom from a young age. She then proceeded to go to school and become a clinical psychologist. Irony of ironies...

I just haven't been able to overcome my mistrust of women - especially women psychologists.

I had a male psychologist who had no clue about PTSD or ADHD, which was frustrating as well, but I just moved on and found my current, male, fabulous therapist who specializes in those areas and is very "up" on the latest therapies for my illnesses.

It's really hard choosing a therapist - male or female.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I wonder if that has more to do with her as a person and a therapist and less to do with her gender?

Just realized that some of it was about her as a therapist. She did not have a PhD and looking back she had to have known she was out of her depth with me. But she never said anything. She also kept pushing that 'your husband is from a third world country and therefore must not treat women very nicely' crap. She started saying crap about how my husband must be angry with me because I was not a virgin when we married. He must hate me for that.

Looking back ( now that my head is clearer) I did not like her morals. Very important value to me.

But mostly I just find women to emotional and would not want that in my therapist.

 

[Changing4Best]

I would not want to discuss any sexual matters or things about my childhood molestations with a man. I always ask for a female.

 

[Lucycat]

Even though I was abused by a male, I get on better with men in all aspects of life. So my therapist is male and we get on really well. I cannot imagine talking so openly to another female.

 

[Sebastian]

I'm genderless and I tend to prefer female or non-cisgender therapists. Beyond that I tend to prefer minority or artistic therapists. The one I currently have is awesome, works with a ton of trans* people, is an activist, majored in dance as well as psychology, she's wonderful.

 

[Anna]

I had a female therapist, but what I voted doesn't matter, because it would not bother me as long as they were qualified and did their job properly.

 

[Invisible-Guy]

I tried a male counselor first, and he was a really great guy, but we were both more interested in talking about Laguna Seca or Willow Springs Speedway than getting any counselling done. I wish I would have met the guy as a friend instead of a counselor. The second counselor I heard was really good was a male, but wouldn't take my insurance. Just by chance, there was a great female counselor in the same building. She's awsome. kindness when needed, but also kicks me in the tailside as needed. Like the ultimate big sister!

 

[josephc]

I have had both. I found for me I can allow the hurt little boy out with female T's. I was uncomfortable being see weak in front of my first therapist who was a Man. He had been an Army Ranger. I being a geek Dr. Who trekky type

 

[Saule]

My current psychologist is a woman; she's great. In the past I've had a male therapist but we did not click at all -- that was organised by my parents as a was a teenager at the time. Not sure if that was because he was male or just personality clash. If I have a choice I will always choose a female over a male therapist/doctor etc.

 

[Hashi]

I feel fairly open about this, because my somatic therapist was male and he was wonderful. (I'm female.) I would have found it hard to talk about sexual issues with a man, but that wasn't a problem because it wasn't needed for the somatic therapy. For talk therapy, I think for me it has to be a woman or I'd feel too inhibited.

It's funny because in life generally I tend to get on well enough with men of all types in all situations. But with women, I tend to either form quite a deep bond or we really don't like each other. Maybe that's a factor, that I prefer a therapist I can form a deep bond with so that almost automatically means a female therapist.

 

[twopenny]

I've had good and bad of both sexes, and it doesn't really bother me as long as I can get on with them as a person.

Hub can't do with female therapists, because he has trust issues with women in general that affect the relationship.

 

[presentjoy]

I did really great work for years with a male counselor. We got along great. Maybe because we were both queer, it worked even better. He was a student when I first started seeing him.

After I relocated, I've had a couple of therapists, all women. I find it harder with women. I'm not sure if it's trust or just because my gender isn't quite cis (normative), so maybe it just feels weird with a woman.

So I guess I figure on going with that, since I consider the therapeutic process one of challenges in the moment. Like I really appreciate when a therapist can work with me on a meta level. Right now my therapist is talking with me about intimacy, and we are talking about her and I. It's the most direct access to really working out dynamics. If we triangulate, the issues are harder to sort out.