Full disclosure: I'm a therapist and GC.
I work with children, teenagers and adults.
I don't come across trans issues often but when i do, always act with love, compassion and curiosity. Sadly I do tend to refer on clients where this is the main presenting issue as the law is unclear on conversion therapy and we don't appear to be allowed to explore issues, even when the client wants to! Insane! So I have to be careful and don't want to work under a cloud of censorship. I do worry that these clients will be potentially harmed by an affirming therapist who
doesn't help young people explore their identity when they want to, before embarking on lifelong irreversible journeys.
Anyhow, the person centred organisation (person centred is a modality which centres the client)
has released this statement:
https://www.the-pca.org.uk/index.php?option=comcontent&view=article&id=2786&catid=25&idU=1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR00mQSg57WMSizvor-EEwTllyel1hsK9CIxsghsAOnI2vjPYY2l5ivNXH00aemUDEp4ti7NIIh7vhBST9J7Q
The well known therapist, academic and writer Mick Cooper (has a facebook page, look him up) has linked to this article on facebook and states that there's no place in person centred therapy for counsellors who are GC.
Is he also saying that therapists who are atheists, shouldn't work with christian/muslim/jewish clients? Because they don't share their belief systems? I'm not religious at all, but frequently work with clients who are followers and I show a respectful curiosity.
Anyone have any thoughts? Obviously no one
was really in disagreement with him in the comments and it seems a lot of comments have been removed. A well known TRA is one of the posters. And obligatory critic of the Cass Review as per expected.
I suspect the silent majority are remaining silent for the same reason I am.
We know that many detransitioners are angry that their therapists didn't ever explore underlying reasons for dysphoria, but simply affirmed.
I was trained to explore, show curiosity and gently challenge when appropriate.
The state of therapy today worries me greatly.