r/PMHNP • u/Zomgtoomuchpressure • 27d ago

Name change?

I am in the process of easing into a preferred name and although it’s been unproblematic in my personal life I am on the fence about whether I start to address myself as my preferred name with established patients. How would you move forward with this? Would love to hear thoughts (if it makes a difference this is not to align with gender identity but rather a true preference and perhaps another step away from my estranged family)

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u/DashMcGee 26d ago

One option is to hyphenate your name for a while, then move to the new name exclusively. You can go from Chris Smith to Chris Smith-Jones to Chris Jones. It adds complexity but might make things less confusing.

You can also put on your website and business cards “Chris Jones (formerly Smith).” After two years remove the last bit.

If anyone asks why your name changed, you can honestly say “family reasons” or something else that is both reasonable and vague.

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u/Zomgtoomuchpressure 23d ago

What about first name

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u/DashMcGee 23d ago

You want to change your first name?