111 — Affirmation Therapy: Necessary, But Not Sufficient

Gender: A Wider Lens

Apr 21, 2023•1 hr 7 min

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Summary

This episode delves into the affirmative model of care for gender-nonconforming youth, critically examining its evolution from general affirmation to an activist-driven approach. Hosts Stella O'Malley and Sasha Ayad discuss how it contrasts with traditional therapeutic practices like Carl Rogers' person-centered therapy, its underlying assumptions of innate gender identity, and the dangers of a superficial, "nodding dog" approach. They also explore the concept creep where "affirmative care" now often implicitly includes medical interventions, highlighting the totalizing worldview and the chilling effect on clinicians who might question the model.

Episode description

Until recently in many parts of Europe, and currently in the United States and Canada, the affirmative model of care is the primary practice in place for working with gender-nonconforming and gender-diverse youth and children. In this episode, Stella and Sasha put some intention into a deeper exploration of what affirmation therapy is exactly. They take time flushing out not just what it is but also facilitate consideration of what it means and what it achieves. Together they reflect on where the concept of affirming therapy came from, how it evolved into its current practice, when a clinician follows the affirmation model, how does that look in practice, and what are the implications?

Sasha and Stella also explore varying types of therapy, both similar to and in contrast to the fundamental premise of the affirmative approach, what they think about it, and does it actually offer any context for a comprehensive therapeutic process in the name of care?

Links:

Gender: A Wider Lens (YouTube Channel)

Live Stream Event from the Genspect Conference: The Bigger Picture

Friday, April 28, 2023 at 11am(PT) / 2pm(ET) / 7pm(IT)

https://www.youtube.com/@widerlenspod

*NEW* Sponsor – GETA

Gender Exploratory Therapy Association

https://www.genderexploratory.com/

GETA Workshop: Gender Trouble, Authoritarianism, and the Flight from Womanhood

Saturday, April 22, 2023 — 6 pm‒7:30 pm(ET)

https://www.genderexploratory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/GETA-Ilene-Philipson-Flyer-April-2023-3-2.pdf

Sasha’s YouTube