You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist Stephanie Winn

Mia Hughes, author of the recently released WPATH Files report, joins me today to discuss the medical scandal of our era. Together, we uncover the shocking revelations from the leaked files, exposing the mistreatment of vulnerable individuals seeking gender transition. 

We explore how the official-sounding “World Professional Association for Transgender Health” got its name, and whether that title is deserved or misleading. What happens when an organization with so much power strays from ethical standards and prioritizes political agendas over patient well-being? What role do autogynephiles play in leading the charge for widespread normalization of radical body modifications? How does the shift from ego-syntonic to ego-dystonic framing impact the treatment of psychiatric conditions, and what are the implications of the de-psychopathologization of gender identity for individuals seeking sex trait modifications?

Join us as we navigate the complexities of gender dysphoria, questioning the validity of medical pathways and the true motives behind the trans rights movement. Are we witnessing a dangerous trend of consumer-driven medicine at the expense of Hippocratic ethics?

Mia Hughes is an Ottawa-based British journalist and researcher for Michael Shellenberger's nonprofit Environmental Progress. She is the author of the WPATH Files report, which exposed the widespread medical mistreatment of children, adolescents and vulnerable adults in the field of gender-affirming care.

Follow Mia on X @_crymiariver
Read the WPATH Files


Books mentioned in this episode:
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, by Jonathan HaidtAll books mentioned on this podcast can be found at sometherapist.com/bookshop or by following the Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for purchases that support the show!

 00:00 Start
[00:00:00] Gender identity diagnosis controversy.
[00:07:18] The group's ideological shift.
[00:08:43] Gender-affirming care and WPATH.
[00:14:57] Questioning the motives of WPATH.
[00:18:00] Gender affirming medicine ethics.
[00:22:58] Medical necessity and experimental medicine.
[00:27:05] WPATH misled the public.
[00:28:26] Understanding hormone effects in kids.
[00:32:02] WPATH's two-faced nature.
[00:37:35] Embodiment and neural pathways.
[00:39:18] De-psychopathologizing sex trait modification.
[00:43:56] Pathology of gender identity disorder.
[00:48:07] Ego-syntonic framing of the issue.
[00:53:28] Autogynephilic men in transgender diagnosis.
[00:56:19] Borderline Personality Disorder and misdiagnosis.
[01:00:59] Multiple personality disorder resurgence.
[01:03:20] The importance of obtaining consent.
[01:10:50] Self-care challenges in transgender surgery.
[01:11:18] The reality of post-op recovery.
[01:16:52] Gender dysphoria and surgical decisions.
[01:20:16] The ethics of informed consent.
[01:23:42] Victim blaming in medical decisions.
[01:27:36] WPATH standards of care scandal.
[01:30:28] Detransition lawsuits and WPATH guidelines.
[01:34:38] The gentle approach in persuasion.
[01:41:08] Non-binary surgeries and ethics.
[01:43:45] Where to find Mia.
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Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration. 

SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.

MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. 

To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or whe

This Earth Day, I’d like to honor the importance of our connection to the natural world by welcoming the insightful Derrick Jensen, an author and environmental activist whose work has profoundly influenced me from an early age. We explore the stark contrast between our knowledge of commercial jingles and movie stars versus our understanding of the stars in the sky and the edible plants in our own backyards. How has our relationship with nature changed so drastically over the centuries? And what does this mean for our souls and our future?

Derrick paints a vivid picture of a world teeming with life, a stark contrast to the ecological devastation we witness today. Can we truly comprehend the rapid pace of loss that's occurring right before our eyes? We discuss the concept of addiction, not just in terms of substances, but in how we've become enslaved to technology and convenience. What are the implications of this enslavement for our planet and our very humanity?

Join us as we grapple with these questions and consider the idea of communal decision-making. Could it be the key to balancing innovation with tradition, action with contemplation? And what might we learn from the Okanagan decision-making process that honors the perspectives of youth, elders, mothers, and fathers? Tune in to find out how we might navigate the complex relationship between our technological advancements and the natural world we seem to be drifting away from.

Hailed as the philosopher poet of the environmental movement, Derrick Jensen is author of twenty-five books, including The Myth of Human Supremacy, Endgame and A Language Older Than Words. He holds a degree in creative writing from Eastern Washington University, a degree in mineral engineering physics from the Colorado School of Mines, and has taught at Eastern Washington University and Pelican Bay State Prison. He has packed university auditoriums, conferences, and bookstores across the nation, stirring them with revolutionary spirit.

Books mentioned in this episode:
A Language Older Than Words by Derrick JensenAll books mentioned on this podcast can be found at sometherapist.com/bookshop or by following the Amazon affiliate links provided here. Thank you for purchases that support the show!

00:00 Start
[00:02:37] The world we've forgotten.
[00:05:07] Unimaginable abundance of wildlife.
[00:08:10] Love story with the land.
[00:14:27] Decline of Monarch Butterflies.
[00:17:40] Appreciating the stars at night.
[00:23:31] Nostalgia and envy.
[00:24:55] Envy for lost species.
[00:29:25] Communal decision making.
[00:34:27] Technologies shaping social structures.
[00:40:35] Trauma and warfare's impact.
[00:43:28] Deal making with technology.
[00:45:11] Addiction and enslavement concept
[00:50:49] Animistic view of the universe.
[00:53:30] The importance of perspective.
[00:57:33] Racially discriminatory practices in healthcare.
[01:04:25] Forgotten skills and cultural dynamics.
[01:06:12] Connection to Earth through meditation.
[01:10:26] Ecological grief.
[01:14:18] The lost ecstasy experience.
[01:20:28] The source of artistic inspiration.
[01:25:17] Human connection through traditions.
[01:26:53] The power of singing together.
[01:30:53] Nature observation in rainforest.
[01:34:41] The importance of boredom.
[01:39:22] Making music in nature.
[01:42:20] Greeting nature in new places.
TALK TO ME: book a discovery call.

LOCALS: Ask questions of me & guests; get early access to new episodes + exclusive content. Join my community.

SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.

DO NO HARM: join our community of concerned professionals.

EIGHTSLEEP: Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST.

ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.

Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration. 

SHOW NOTES & transcript w

Today I welcome the esteemed Dr. Joseph Burgo to discuss the psychological crisis of males who find refuge in a trans identity. Along the way, we explore myriad contributing factors, from shame, narcissism, and autogynephilia; to rising rates of autism and unlimited access to increasingly obscene internet pornography; as well as gender roles, norms, expectations, and recent cultural shifts.

As we unravel the narratives of ex-military men and individuals in positions of power who transition, we uncover the complexities of idealization and devaluation in trans identification and the numerous parallels with personality disorder traits. How do societal norms and social justice narratives fuel the shallow idealization of the opposite gender?

We also touch on the challenges detransitioners face in therapy and the obstacles therapists encounter in providing effective care for individuals with gender ideation. How can therapists navigate the tense climate surrounding gender identity exploration? And what role should exploration of fantasies and projections play in understanding the complexities of gender distress? 

Joseph Burgo, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and graduate psychoanalyst who has been practicing for more than 40 years. As a writer, he’s the author of several works of non-fiction bringing his insights and experience as a therapist to a popular audience, and his articles and commentary on the topics of shame and narcissism have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and most of the large news outlets online. In his private practice, he currently focuses on gender distress, and works with trans-identified adolescent boys, male detransitioners, and men who struggle with autogynephilia. He can be reached at joeburgo@gmail.com; find him on X @jburgo55; visit his website at AfterPsychotherapy.com; or view him in the documentary film of another former guest, Jennifer Lahl (from episodes 52 and 97), The Lost Boys: Searching for Manhood.

Dr. Burgo's books:
The Narcissist You Know: Defending Yourself Against Extreme Narcissists in an All-About-Me AgeWhy Do I Do That?: Psychological Defense Mechanisms and the Hidden Ways They Shape Our LivesShame: Free Yourself, Find Joy, and Build True Self-EsteemAll books mentioned on this podcast and written by my guests can be found at sometherapist.com/bookshop or by following the Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for purchases that support the show.

00:00 Start
[00:02:49] Autism diagnosis evolution.
[00:06:36] Psychology in developmental framework.
[00:08:02] Rise in autism due to screens.
[00:11:55] Shame and narcissism in youth.
[00:18:45] Shame defiance.
[00:21:03] Adolescence and privacy for development.
[00:25:37] Exploring views on pornography.
[00:29:36] Effects of intense porn consumption.
[00:32:55] Autogynephilia as narcissism and desire.
[00:37:40] Ex-military men and transgender identity.
[00:40:58] Grass is greener syndrome.
[00:46:03] Idealization and devaluation in identity.
[00:49:50] The impact of societal beliefs.
[00:52:17] Avoiding adult responsibilities.
[00:56:20] Emancipating children's decision-making.
[01:01:27] Detransitioning experiences.
[01:02:43] Detransitioning experiences and insights.
[01:08:15] Importance of finding healing relationships.
[01:10:15] Lack of ICD procedure codes for detransition.
[01:13:42] Self-care reminder.
TALK TO ME: book a discovery call.

LOCALS: Ask questions of me & guests; get early access to new episodes + exclusive content. Join my community.

SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.

DO NO HARM: join our community of concerned professionals.

EIGHTSLEEP: Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST.

ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.

Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgenera

In this rare solo episode, I delve into personal decisions that have recently shaped my career path, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs that have led me to where I am today, including the impact of stress on chronic illness, and the difficult choice to step back from therapy to prioritize my well-being. But why did I choose consulting over therapy? What drove me to specialize in helping parents Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria, and how has this decision influenced my consulting practice?

I explain the intricacies of my consulting work, from assisting ROGD parents to guiding individuals on self-expression journeys, as well as the core values that drive my practice, including a deep yearning for synchronicity and serendipity in a world dominated by asynchronicity. How do these values shape my approach to communication and expression coaching? And what role do they play in fostering connection and harmony in a world plagued by loneliness?

Join me on this introspective journey as I navigate the blurred lines between personal health, professional choices, and the pursuit of meaningful connections. Will my leap of faith into consulting lead to a balanced life, or will the uncertainties of radical self-employment prove too daunting? Tune in to explore the nuances of my career evolution, the essence of synchronicity, and the quest for authentic expression in a world filled with noise and disconnection.

 [00:00:00] Gender dysphoria as social contagion.
[00:03:55] Why I stopped doing therapy.
[00:08:43] Consulting in gender dysphoria.
[00:11:43] Consulting vs. Therapy Differences.
[00:15:24] Consulting ROGD parents.
[00:18:28] Coaching clients in personal expression.
[00:22:31] Balancing work and health.
[00:25:10] Core values and synchronicity.
[00:29:47] The gender crisis.

To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!
Learn more about Do No Harm.

Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.
Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.
Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.
Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.
Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.
Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.


★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Is shame always destructive, or can it foster growth? Does being compassionate require that we affirm every belief or validate every emotion? When are psychiatric diagnoses helpful or harmful? Is it better to strive for race-awareness or a color-blind society? Should social norms be challenged or reinforced? What is the role of hope in fostering change? I’ve brought together several interesting guests from previous episodes to discuss these current debates at the intersection of psychology, philosophy, and culture.

Michael David Cobb Bowen is a Stoic writer, data engineer and author of the award-winning blog Cobb. He has been published in Newsweek and was a regular NPR contributor, host at Cafe Utne, founder of the Conservative Brotherhood, Rights Universal and Free Black Thought. His online writing projects on political, cultural and philosophical subjects reach back over 23 years. His latest project, Stoic Observations, can be found at mdcbowen.substack.com.  

Pamela Garfield-Jaeger is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in mental health. She had to drop out of full time work due to health issues and she was fired from her part-time per-diem position in 2021 due to COVID regulations. That emboldened her to become outspoken on issues plaguing the mental health system. Pamela has a new book, written for parents on the gender issue, A Practical Approach to Gender Distress.
thetruthfultherapist.org
Instagram @the.truthfultherapist
X @truththerapist
Substack Pam the Truthful Therapist

Soad Tabrizi is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a distinctive approach to therapy that combines deep philosophical inquiry with a steadfast commitment to a holistic health. Soad has a telehealth practice providing counseling around the world. 
Soad's counseling website
Conservative Counselors
Simpli Well
All social media @soadtabrizi

Books mentioned in this episode:
A Practical Approach to Gender Distress by Pamela Garfield-Jaeger
It's Me: A 30-Day Journal by Soad Tabrizi
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker
Red, White, and Black: Rescuing American History from Revisionists and Race Hustlers by the Woodson Center

00:00 Start
[00:02:35] Pamela’s intro & latest book.
[00:06:02] Soad’s intro, projects & guided journal.
[00:09:48] Michaels’ intro, projects, race abolitionism & Free Black Thought.
[00:12:06] Personal deracination and mental health.
[00:15:55] Race as a social construct.
[00:19:43] Identity and cultural influences.
[00:25:05] Overcoming racial divides.
[00:29:53] Groupthink and social construction.
[00:32:16] Gender confusion and fears.
[00:35:56] Racial dynamics and societal impact.
[00:39:22] Society's Perception of Mental Health.
[00:42:48] Shame and societal behavior.
[00:45:52] Delusional beliefs in mental health.
[00:49:54] Losing the gift of praise.
[00:53:17] Lived experience.
[00:56:58] Parental involvement in child therapy.
[01:02:22] Challenging beliefs about gender.
[01:03:34] Mental health challenges in families.
[01:09:40] Mental health field reflections.
[01:12:21] Healing and mental health.
[01:18:29] A holistic approach to health.
[01:20:31] Marijuana and mental health.
[01:24:26] Marijuana and mental health.
[01:27:48] Hope and gratitude in discussion.
[01:33:32] Gender crisis and film.
[01:04:27] Taking care of yourself.


To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!
Learn more about Do No Harm.

Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.
Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.
Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.
Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.
Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.
Watch NO WAY BACK: Th

In what ways is gender ideology cult-like? What are its core foundational myths, and how can concerned citizens challenge them?
Today’s guest, Justine Deterling, founded the LGB watchdog organization Gender Health Query to create resources for parents and educators to address these concerns. In this episode, we discuss the cult-like dynamics of gender activism influencing young people's beliefs and behaviors, and debunk common myths that have insidiously crept into public education and other institutions.
We also touch on the role of mental health professionals in addressing the unique needs of the LGB community amidst the growing emphasis on TQ+ issues. In its quest to “affirm” the rainbow, has the counseling profession inadvertently harmed LGB people?
Justine Deterling is an LGB human rights activist with a focus on pediatric transition for gender dysphoria and its effects on youth of all orientations. She founded the medical and queer theory watchdog organization Gender Health Query in 2019, which provides extensive information on these subjects and whose members protest ideological “LGBTQ+” activists corrupting media, the health professions, and education. Gender Health Query members hope people will join them in sending the message opposing extremist gender activism is not “bigotry” but a sane response to overreach. They would like people to join them in opposing indoctrinating school children and teens into radicalization and unscientific worldviews around sex and gender. GHQ is part of a larger long-term goal to create an evidence-based, supportive organization focusing on the long-term well-being of LGB people and the wider society. Justine happily lives with her partner of 26 years.
Links:Gender Health QueryParent/Educator School ResourceX @justinedeterX @thehomoarchy Facebook @theh0moarchy
Previous episodes mentioned:98. Trans to Detrans: A Graphic Novel Journey from Self-Hate to Self-Compassion, with Nicolas Blooms
All books mentioned on this podcast can be found at https://sometherapist.com/bookshop
00:00 Start[00:01:37] Informational resource for parents[00:06:25] Culture war and mainstream media.[00:08:16] The dangers of demonizing others.[00:14:58] Gender Health Query.[00:17:13] Medicalization of children.[00:23:39] Abuse and its definition.[00:25:16] Cult dynamics in gender activism.[00:29:25] Gender identity in sports.[00:35:40] Egotheistic belief system.[00:36:23] Blasphemy and cult tendencies.[00:42:17] Gender dysphoria and mental health.[00:43:33] Gender activism and culture war.[00:47:29] Mental health professionals' focus shift.[00:51:57] Human nature and tribal thinking.[00:56:27] Mental health profession's impact.[01:00:34] Mental health profession concerns.[01:04:48] Detransitioning and psychology concepts.[01:07:08] Gender dysphoria and ego-dystonic denial.[01:10:57] The mental health profession's messiah complex.[01:16:37] Power dynamics in therapy.[01:19:24] Treating transgender surgeries as cosmetic.[01:21:49] Self-care and well-being.

To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!
Learn more about Do No Harm.

Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.
Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.
Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.
Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.
Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.
Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discus