Association of Clinical Psychologists statement on Cass Review

[InvisibleDragon]

The Association of Clinical Psychologists has released a statement on the Cass Review:
acpuk.org.uk/the-cass-review-and-its-implications-psychologically-informed-considerations-for-the-future/

It's pretty short and to the point:

• lack of evidence base for affirmative treatment
• acknowledges detransitioners, homophobia and change in ratio of boys: girls
• notes diagnostic overashadowing of gender dysphoria Vs autism/trauma

• wants to see more holistic approach and better evidence base for treatment.

This is excellent

Fantastic news!

This gives me a real boost. Five years ago I raised concerns with a friend who is a senior clinical psychologist and at that time was working in prisons and encountering men who were self ID-ing as women. She said her job was just to assess whether they were psychotic or not, and so far none of them had been psychotic and she'd waved them through on the path to self-ID and women's prisons. I worked hard on her to bring her up to speed on gender ideology, which she knew nothing about. She dropped me and blocked me shortly afterwards, telling me that my views were unacceptable.

I'm going to find a way of making sure she sees that report.

I would not want to be Susie Green today. (Or any day for that matter).

Interesting that they have noted that 'transing the gay away' is a genuine concern:
"As psychologists, we are aware that many young people who experience same-sex attraction will, at some stage, question their gender identity or experience gender dysphoria[8]. They are also likely to behave in gender-nonconforming ways[9].
Homophobia persists to some extent both within health and social care settings[10], and in wider civil society[11]. We need to better understand the possible relationships between the experience of homophobia and gender identity exploration and/or dysphoria in some young people[12]."

Such encouraging news!

Wow!

I’m scared to celebrate in case I jinx something but things really are changing on the paediatric transition front, aren’t they?

please, please, don’t let my optimism be misplaced 🤞

Wonder what the psychotherapy orgs like BACP will make of this? They seem pretty entrenched in affirmative models despite the fact it goes against what I always understood psychotherapy to be (deep look into root causes of presenting issues; understanding how upbringing, life events, the societies we're raised in, health, socioeconomic status all contributes).

Massive respect for you pattihews. It is really tough to lose a friendship and I certainly talk less around certain people. But given your ex friend's position of influence, you did the right thing trying to raise this with her.

I do so hope that social workers wake up and smell the coffee next.

This is excellent.

So glad that ACP has reps for all 4 UK nations so this is potentially going to be very helpful for Scottish parents & teachers.

GIDS was NI, E&W only, Scotland has Sandyford who thus far seem to be flying under the radar and not getting anywhere near the scrutiny that the London service and it’s satellites have had.

Scots authorities have been refusing to look at the Cass interim report due to technical irrelevance.

Massive respect for you pattihews. It is really tough to lose a friendship and I certainly talk less around certain people. But given your ex friend's position of influence, you did the right thing trying to raise this with her.

Seconded! I came across this on Twitter the other day and it made me think of you, Patti!

One of James Esses claims is against UKCP (is that right?) . I realise there is a difference between psychologists and psychotherapists but I wonder whether this statement will have an impact.

That’s correct. Here’s a recap on James’ case:

tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/james-esses-vs-metanoia-institute

IIRC lots of professional bodies co signed the same document, called the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ on conversion therapy. It’s that document that has left individual psychologists, therapists and counsellors in fear of their jobs.

off to find some references…

As a retired Clinical Psychologist (and long time lurker) I welcome this statement from the ACPUK. I hope this enables GC Clinical Psychologists to talk more openly. I know many former colleagues who share my GC beliefs but have felt unable to raise their concerns in clinical settings. I believe this position statement is hugely important. The tide is well and truly turning.

Also, I am burying it in this thread a little to stay anonymous, but I have nearly just weapt for joy at the school's transgender guidance that has just been emailed round my school, from the LA.

With Sex Matters in the acknowledgements, with safe schools alliance, sex matters AND transgender trend listed under other resources, you can imagine it protected girls safe spaces, stated the difference between gender reassignment and gender identity (GI not a protected characteristic), said no one should be compelled to use preferred pronouns, we should not be teaching 'trans women are women as fact'.....

Stonewall is referenced under other resources, but no mention of mermaids anywhere.

I feel like crying.....

Thank you, InvisibleDragon, for the goood news thread and your helpful summary.

Here’s an explanation of the MoU - it started in 2015 and was solely about conversion therapy re: sexual orientation.

in 2017, Gender Identity was added.

There have been further amendments:

can-sg.org/frequently-asked-questions/what-is-conversion-therapy-and-what-is-the-memorandum-of-understanding/

and here’s an article that talks in depth about the trans activist influence on the MoU:

criticaltherapyantidote.org/2022/03/31/through-the-looking-glass-making-sense-of-the-mou-part-1/

Gives rabbitwoman a quiet hug in solidarity. It must be such a relief to be in a school where you know that the rights of girls & vulnerable children are centre stage rather than the demands of all the adult males and lobby groups determined to transition other people's children.

Really good to see this development. We are getting there (albeit slowly)

Thank goodness someone in a position of influence is finally articulating this part so clearly:

In short, there is as yet no reliable way to predict whether transitioning will alleviate any young person’s distress or further contribute to it.

Thanks!!

You see, I know for certain that there are teachers in this school who are really pushing the mermaids / stonewall agenda..... My next task is to get the posters in the sixth form area removed, which state that a lesbian is a non man attracted to other non men.....

But not to derail the thread, this statement from the ACPUK is another piece of evidence that we were right all along, isn't it?

I have lost a dear, dear lifelong friend over this. I so hope in time he can look on this and understand what I have been trying to say is not trabsphobic, fascist or biggotted at all

It says this:

there is as yet no reliable way to predict whether transitioning will alleviate any young person’s distress or further contribute to it.

And this:

It will be imperative that any research into this area is funded via sources that are able to maintain impartiality on the outcomes.

it was surprisingly hard to find a full list of the MoU signatories but this seems to be the current one:

Albany Trust
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Association for Family Therapy (AFT)
Association of Christian Counsellors
BACP
British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
British Association of Drama Therapists (BADTH)
British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
British Psychological Society (BPS)
CliniQ
College of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT)
Gendered Intelligence
GLADD (The Association of LGBT Doctors and Dentists)
Mental Health Network – NHS Confederation
Mind
National Counselling Society
NHS England
NHS Scotland
NHS Wales
Northern Ireland Humanists
Pink Therapy
Psychological Professions Network
Psychotherapy and Counselling Union (PCU)
Relate
Rethink Mental Illness
Royal College of General Practitioners
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Spectra
UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

source: www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/mou/

(screenshot shows the 2017 signatories)

So it doesn’t look as though the ACAUK were ever signed up to it, but I suppose with NHS England, NHS Scotland and NHS Wales all there, it wouldn’t need to be a signatory for the chilling effect to affect ACAUK members!

BACP are the ones that I have a bee in my bonnet about because they are responsible for hundreds and hundreds of in-school counsellors via the Place2Be charity.

Thanks for sharing, I feel so relieved. Every fact base statement is another domino. I hope this seeps into schools.

This, combined with Mermaid's safeguarding concerns, sheds a lot of light for parents/care givers.

Thank you, Funny Talks. This woman is a lesbian as well as a clinical psychologist and I struggled with knowing that she was unquestioningly waving men into the female prison system. I expect better from lesbians. She argued that she was only obeying the guidelines at the time: I argued she ought to be challenging those guidelines. She was at the kind of level where people would have had to listen if she'd spoken out. We weren't close friends so it hasn't been a massive loss, but she was connected to others I was also friendly with and those people followed her rather than me. A couple have started creeping back. I no longer seem to be persona not grata.

It's lovely to feel vindicated, isn't it? I'm tempted to wear a big badge saying 'See, I was right and you were wrong' just in case I meet people who've accused me of being hateful.