Advanced Transgender Support Group

[Kiera]

What a boon first starter thread in a forum with no posts at all?

      Have been waiting, looking for this -> contacted Erin, my longtime therapist, months ago and she is now once again starting up another "bi-monthly" group (used to be weekly) for us "older folks" living in/around the Atlanta metro area.

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( Decided to remove FaceBook Link will transcribe "text" instead and,
if interested in more details, you can PM me as well )

I am delighted to be starting a new support group for advanced folks like me.

Are you looking for support as a person who is transgender or gender non-conforming (TGNC) but have moved beyond transition as a major concern? If you are then this group is for you. Primarily for people in the TGNC community who have "been around a while" this group will provide space for issues from family to politics, work to retirement, survival to spirituality. Erin Swenson transitioned from male-to-female over 25 years ago, and has maintained a therapy practice as a gender specialist since. An experienced group leader, Erin is licensed as a marriage and family therapy and is a retired Presbyterian minister.

What: A twice monthl group for adults interested in subjects related to TGNC living. Open to all, average age anticipated to be around 45.
When: We will meet twice a month, probably early evening on a day and time convenient to the group members. We will start as soon as we have six people signed up, probably January or February.
Where: (contact "Kiera")
Cost: There will be no cost for attendance, but donations to Charis Circle will be accepted.

(Leah Fowler, Gail Harris, Beth Freese Dammers and 93 others like this)

Her profile and website

[Kiera]

    If in Atlanta area Erin's "Advanced T Support" group will meet every 2nd/4th Tuesday starting Feb 11th.

Bari Jo - CA right? Erin will also be attending HERE -> Beyond Pink & Blue (Perhaps I'll go as well although the subject does sound daunting!)
    "For my friends and supporters who may be in the Los Angeles area in March. I am honored to be included in this groundbreaking conference."

[Kiera]

Katie,

Have you picked up this book yet?

"Head Over Heels" by Virginia Erhardt, PhD.

"Wives Who Stay with Cross-Dressers and Transsexuals"

She's from Atlanta originally (now retired like my Presbyterian Minister/therapist Erin) and I spent one two hour session with her discussing WHY I "married" in first place (before deciding too expensive to continue and *sigh* was too late to be included in the book!)).

Have not read it myself every case is different! (There's a "preview .pdf" you can download plus lots of webpage info start with that!)

[Kiera]

If following the link previously posted one can sign up/register with the publisher and the different purchase options are:

Purchasing Options:$ = USD
Paperback: $26.95
eBook (VitalSource)
Purchase eBook $24.26
12 Month Rental - $16.17 (yes?)
6 Month Rental - $13.48
(der! Maybe the library "FREE"?)

     Perhaps I'll order it and read it myself? Have developed a bad habit of copying ebooks in their entirety, when possible, would think it'd be a good resource for others dealing with marriage and the possibility of transition. I would not suggest just giving it to spouse maybe there's some insights to be garnered by your reading of it first . .

Might be best $16 dollar investment worth gold?

     Upon talking to Virginia we both agreed that I had married for all the wrong reasons but my transsexualism is NOT what ultimately drove us apart because, quite obviously, SHE IS STILL HERE professing "devotion" and haven't fully decided on what to do next (lol about her that is/no doubts 'bout transition!)

[Iztaccihuatl]

If following the link previously posted one can sign up/register with the publisher and the different purchase options are:

Purchasing Options:$ = USD
Paperback: $26.95
eBook (VitalSource)
Purchase eBook $24.26
12 Month Rental - $16.17 (yes?)
6 Month Rental - $13.48
(der! Maybe the library "FREE"?)

     Perhaps I'll order it and read it myself? Have developed a bad habit of copying ebooks in their entirety, when possible, would think it'd be a good resource for others dealing with marriage and the possibility of transition. I would not suggest just giving it to spouse maybe there's some insights to be garnered by your reading of it first . .

Might be best $16 dollar investment worth gold?

     Upon talking to Virginia we both agreed that I had married for all the wrong reasons but my transsexualism is NOT what ultimately drove us apart because, quite obviously, SHE IS STILL HERE professing "devotion" and haven't fully decided on what to do next (lol about her that is/no doubts 'bout transition!)

I read that book and it made me understand that I have to come out to my wife before she discovers my hidden stash of female garments. It took me a while, but I did come out to her in late 2018.


I have to mention that the book is structured in a way that all 30 or so cases that are presented are ordered by how far the trans partner is along the gender spectrum, it starts with mild cases of crossdressing once every couple of months and ends with couples with the trans partner having fully transitioned including surgeries, etc., so the trans feelings are getting stronger from case to case. All cases are narrated by the cis partner in the relationship with added commentary by a psychologist.

When I read the book it was motivating to me, motivating to see that there are a number of couples who are still together, who have found a way to make it work and I hoped and still do that we can make it work too. Especially the later cases were increasingly inspiring for me.

I gave that book to my wife shortly after I came out to her. That did not go well or at least not as intended. My wife was still hurt and angry by my revelations and she was shocked to read those stories, which in her mind progressively got worse. She stopped reading half way through the book because she couldn't take it anymore imagining herself being one of these women who tell their stories.


Nevertheless, it is a very honest book that is worth reading for anybody in a relationship with one partner being trans.