Mummy No, I didn’t want to upset DD. It was all brand new to us and she was being absolutely horrid to us, although oddly, once we told her we would not be affirming her at home, and got the school to stop doing so- a tale in itself- she has been much more relaxed and happy. She has been referred to the gender clinic in Glasgow, but I’ve been told the waiting list is a year long and I’ll be cancelling the appointment as soon as it comes through. No way in hell are we sending her down a medicalised route.
I’d actually spoken to someone from CAHMS who told me unofficially that this was exactly what would happen, that I needed to try to get her referred for something else, in her case, autism. It’s official NHS policy now for gender confused children, but unless you know this in advance, you can easily get sucked into it. The more I find out, the more horrified I am.
I have had a therapist recommended to me from a mum in one of the online groups I’m part of who takes a neutral position and neither affirms nor argues against it- first appointment with DH and myself is tomorrow. This therapist has the child try to really think about why they feel this way, and looks at the child as a whole plus background etc. These therapists are far and few between (and fully booked up!) so I’m really hoping DD will agree to work with her.