Closed for intriguess
The pretty receptionist smiled at me pleasantly as she guided me into the office. "The doctor is finishing up something, but she'll be with you shortly. Please have a seat," she suggested, pointing to a soft, elegant couch. A high-backed leather chair sat directly opposite; no doubt that's where the doctor would sit.
When the receptionist left, I took a moment to look around the exam room. It resembled a small living room: couch, chairs, end tables, lamps, a couple of bookcases, art on the walls, etc. I'd never been in a psychiatrist's office before, so this was all new to me.
One of the bookshelves had a collection of photos on it, so I stepped over to examine them. Some group shots featured adults and kids that were probably family. Two of the photos were of the doctor and another woman of similar age; judging by the intimate pose and the gold rings, I guessed this must be her wife.
It comforted me that this psychiatrist was a lesbian like me. Dr. Collins had recommended her because of her professional pedigree: high marks in a prominent medical school, a specialty in women's issues, author of some well-regarded scholarly articles, well-respected as one of the best under-40s in her field, and so on. But that she was another woman and a lesbian made me think she might better understand my unusual situation.
I glanced down at myself as I sat down on the couch. I still found the changes in my body a little surreal. The short skinny teen I'd been last year was still short, but I had curves for days. And then there was the truly massive change lower down, the one that brought me here.
Dr. Collins and I had practiced how I would broach this subject with my psychiatrist. I'd insisted I be the one to tell her, so Dr. Collins had obtained the appointment without sharing full details. "I told her that I needed a psychiatric consult on an atypical case involving a teen patient," Dr. Collins had explained. "I told her your name was Bianca and that you had need of counseling regarding your sexuality, but that I didn't want to bias her process by feeding her too much information up front. Instead, I'd let her get a first impression of you on her own and then answer her questions about your medical history."
That meant it'd be up to me to explain things to the psychiatrist. I hoped I could do it.
There was a knock at the door. Must be the doctor. I straightened my skirt and prepared to meet her.
The pretty receptionist smiled at me pleasantly as she guided me into the office. "The doctor is finishing up something, but she'll be with you shortly. Please have a seat," she suggested, pointing to a soft, elegant couch. A high-backed leather chair sat directly opposite; no doubt that's where the doctor would sit.
When the receptionist left, I took a moment to look around the exam room. It resembled a small living room: couch, chairs, end tables, lamps, a couple of bookcases, art on the walls, etc. I'd never been in a psychiatrist's office before, so this was all new to me.
One of the bookshelves had a collection of photos on it, so I stepped over to examine them. Some group shots featured adults and kids that were probably family. Two of the photos were of the doctor and another woman of similar age; judging by the intimate pose and the gold rings, I guessed this must be her wife.
It comforted me that this psychiatrist was a lesbian like me. Dr. Collins had recommended her because of her professional pedigree: high marks in a prominent medical school, a specialty in women's issues, author of some well-regarded scholarly articles, well-respected as one of the best under-40s in her field, and so on. But that she was another woman and a lesbian made me think she might better understand my unusual situation.
I glanced down at myself as I sat down on the couch. I still found the changes in my body a little surreal. The short skinny teen I'd been last year was still short, but I had curves for days. And then there was the truly massive change lower down, the one that brought me here.
Dr. Collins and I had practiced how I would broach this subject with my psychiatrist. I'd insisted I be the one to tell her, so Dr. Collins had obtained the appointment without sharing full details. "I told her that I needed a psychiatric consult on an atypical case involving a teen patient," Dr. Collins had explained. "I told her your name was Bianca and that you had need of counseling regarding your sexuality, but that I didn't want to bias her process by feeding her too much information up front. Instead, I'd let her get a first impression of you on her own and then answer her questions about your medical history."
That meant it'd be up to me to explain things to the psychiatrist. I hoped I could do it.
There was a knock at the door. Must be the doctor. I straightened my skirt and prepared to meet her.