I wish that I had known Dr. Aviva Nubel when I came to terms with the fact that I needed

a sex change in order to be happier with my life. As a friend and a former patient of hers, I can

attest to the integrity she holds for her profession and the immense responsibility that is a part of

it with the utmost confidence. The truly bizarre thing about my relationship with her is that I had

known her, casually - for many years, actually – before I became aware of what she did

professionally. The night a mutual acquaintance brought me to meet her I was nearly speechless

when I recognized her as she came out into the hall where I was waiting for her. I kept thinking,

“If only I had known this years ago!” After speaking with her, I decided immediately to become

a patient of hers. Her no-nonsense, highly professional manner is what most stands out when I

recollect our numerous sessions and telephone conversations. Unlike others who specialize in

her field, and despite the fact that she earns her living in this capacity, she cares more about her

patients than she does about any other aspect of the relationship. She is a truly dedicated

individual who has no desire other than to provide the finest treatment and the greatest support

she can to each and, every one of her patients. She will do everything she can to make her

patients lives easier for them as they move toward their goal. I have never encountered an

individual in this field who possesses a combination of dignity, dedication and experience

equal to that of Dr. Nubel.

One of the intentions of this post is to provide some assistance to those who are in the

greatest need of it. When I began to look for professionals who were in a position to help me in

getting to where I wanted to be I knew nothing of what is involved in this process. The internet

was not then what it is today, and I remember looking through various telephone directories

erroneously focusing largely on the word sex rather than on the term gender. Turning to

psychiatrists’ or analysts’ listings was of little help as there are so many things in which they can

specialize, obviously, they do not all specialize in sex-change. I had previously seen three

therapists prior to finding one who actually dealt specifically with patients suffering from gender

dysphoria. They sat happily listening to me explain my dilemma, then after each session,

cheerfully collected their fee all the while knowing that they were in no way qualified to help

me. The fourth analyst was different, I knew her during the time I spent in New York. She has a

long history of working with transitioning transsexuals and her years of experience

notwithstanding, was of no great benefit to me. I expect that despite the dramatic surge during

the last decade of persons decided upon taking this course of action the path to help is not much

easier or discrete than it was when I was a married, heterosexual male seeking that help.

Happily, the internet has become an abundant source of information here as it has in so many

other areas.

As a transitioning transsexual, one, for his or her own benefit, should sooner rather than

later, face the fact that there are many industry professionals who will take advantage of us as

much as possible during the finite period of transition. When I became a patient of Aviva’s I had

been in transition for eight years and was extremely frustrated and inconvenienced by the

nonsense that goes on in this business : the who knows who, who is in who’s pocket, which

specific surgeon each certain therapist will push a patient into using simply because of the

financial kickbacks involved. This is big business and, I came to realize exactly what it is that

the majority of the practitioners who specialize in it are about. This is a limited-time period and

each of the various “professionals” with whom one is forced to interact has only a short time to

extract whatever money they can. Not infrequently, prior to embarking upon this path, one has a

high-paying position of employment, which, of course, he or she will almost certainly, lose as

treatment progresses; so, these doctors’ mindset is to make the money now, and without their

consent one can remain in therapy indefinitely. Dr. Nubel, too, has this opportunity available;

however, she is one of the very few who does not take advantage of it. Actually, it is in fact

much to the contrary. I know of instances in which Dr. Nubel has provided her patients with her

services even when they did not have the funds with which to compensate her for them at the

time. She will educate the patient as to the various choices of surgeons available and allow the

one to decide these things for one’s self. Very simply, Dr. Nubel can only be an asset to this

community and all those individuals who may utilize her services.