1. What is your title?
Sexologist with a PhD in human sexuality.
2. How did you decide you wanted to be in this profession or what
struck your interest?
In college I had a classmate who was transgender, and I did not understand what this classmate was all about and it frightened me. However, I took a course that discussed this subject and I began to understand what my classmate might have been thinking. That was when I knew being a sexologist was my calling. I found this subject fascinating and I have always wanted a profession in that would allow me to help people. Plus, there was such a need for professionals to work with this population especially in 1978.
3. Do you have the authority to deny your patient a sex reassignment?
Yes, potential sex reassignment recipients are required to obtain two opinions. One opinion must come from their primary therapist and the other has to come from a psychiatrist. The two professionals determine whether or not a person will be granted sex change surgery based on a variety of factors.
4. Is there a certain process a patient must undergo in order to be eligible for a sex change?
Yes, there are. The potential recipient must be in therapy for two years and have lived in the gender role that matches their identity for at least one year.
5. What is your advice to people who are
considering a sex change?
Seeking counseling is the best advice I could give, since the correct
path will become more apparent with counseling.
6. What does your daily work routine consist of?
I see patients and talk to them about any issues, confusions, and concerns that they may have. We work together to try and clarify those problems and I make sure they are on the right path. Essentially, "I work with them to help them express their true selves."
7. What kind of schooling and/or training
would one have to undergo if they wanted to become a sexologist?
It varies quite a bit. One can come from so many different roots,
such as coming from social work or marriage and family counseling.
Eventually, one will have to get their therapy degree, concentrating
on gender issues from workshops, books, classes, and experience.
8. Do you ever relate to your patients problems?
Of course I relate to their problems. They
are in such deep pain and I am not a wall.
Some of my patients have much tragedy in their life: Their parents
have disowned them, they have lost their children, and lost jobs
as a result of their gender issues. Their problems can be quite
devastating, consequently affecting me. Sometimes I am the only
person in my patients' lives that accepts and understands them.
After so many years I have learned how not get ulcers over my patients'
troubles.
9. Are there any helpful websites you can think of?
Find out when the next transgender support
group meeting in Southern California is…
http://www.transgender.org/alpha/index.html
Find a transgender support group meeting
and fun events close to you…
http://www.tgforum.com/
Ask your own questions or browse through
the FAQ's and there is also chatting available…
http://www.susans.org/cgi-bin/boards/wwwthreads.pl