For many years before retirement I was a BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) Senior Accredited counsellor and an accredited supervisor for individuals and groups. I am utterly appalled by the handcuffs being applied by the BACP (and other organisations) to current therapists to affirm rather than explore. Back in the day, one of my responsibilities was to ensure child protection, now safeguarding. I would be flagging therapist handcuffing for all its worth were I working today.
Thank you for this piece, and Anita for your comment about BACP. It is terrifying that there is no realistic, honest, licensed help for these children due to the threat of accusations of "conversion therapy". The term seems to have been added to the list of trans culture keywords and has been thrown at me by my own otherwise smart, insightful and brilliant child. Even her doctor - who up until that point I respected - would not acknowledge the blindingly obvious harm of breast binding (citing lack of research, while not seeming to realise that there exists evidence of the harms...) and immediately switched her pronoun to the gender neutral. I suppose NHS GPs are also afraid of conversion therapy accusations.
Yes, I imagine your GP along with thousands of others is fearful. In regard to therapy, providing the opportunity for client exploration is what every therapist worth their salt should be doing. An analogy between the current preoccupation of affirmation of gender identity can be made. Anorexics suffer with body dysmorphia. Good therapists try to engage people with eating disorders in exploring the meaning behind their thoughts, feelings and behaviour, always upholding them as people BUT we don’t continue to support them starving themselves to death. A boundary exists regarding self harm - a line has to be drawn. sometimes. We as therapists have a duty of care to our clients, and so do GPs. Ask your Doctor if he would support your daughter in starving herself were she anorexic or do something to help and not harm herself. Good luck, Novalette, my heart goes with you and your daughter. As a lesbian now in my 70s who greatly struggled to come out, I could have been your daughter these days. It’s hard for them. Thank goodness for my wonderful, competent, challenging therapists who, back in the 80s, helped me find my way so I could go on to help others.
For many years before retirement I was a BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) Senior Accredited counsellor and an accredited supervisor for individuals and groups. I am utterly appalled by the handcuffs being applied by the BACP (and other organisations) to current therapists to affirm rather than explore. Back in the day, one of my responsibilities was to ensure child protection, now safeguarding. I would be flagging therapist handcuffing for all its worth were I working today.
Thank you for this piece, and Anita for your comment about BACP. It is terrifying that there is no realistic, honest, licensed help for these children due to the threat of accusations of "conversion therapy". The term seems to have been added to the list of trans culture keywords and has been thrown at me by my own otherwise smart, insightful and brilliant child. Even her doctor - who up until that point I respected - would not acknowledge the blindingly obvious harm of breast binding (citing lack of research, while not seeming to realise that there exists evidence of the harms...) and immediately switched her pronoun to the gender neutral. I suppose NHS GPs are also afraid of conversion therapy accusations.
Yes, I imagine your GP along with thousands of others is fearful. In regard to therapy, providing the opportunity for client exploration is what every therapist worth their salt should be doing. An analogy between the current preoccupation of affirmation of gender identity can be made. Anorexics suffer with body dysmorphia. Good therapists try to engage people with eating disorders in exploring the meaning behind their thoughts, feelings and behaviour, always upholding them as people BUT we don’t continue to support them starving themselves to death. A boundary exists regarding self harm - a line has to be drawn. sometimes. We as therapists have a duty of care to our clients, and so do GPs. Ask your Doctor if he would support your daughter in starving herself were she anorexic or do something to help and not harm herself. Good luck, Novalette, my heart goes with you and your daughter. As a lesbian now in my 70s who greatly struggled to come out, I could have been your daughter these days. It’s hard for them. Thank goodness for my wonderful, competent, challenging therapists who, back in the 80s, helped me find my way so I could go on to help others.
Most people are already fearful of stepping outside the approved narrative. This is going to tighten the gag even more.