4 Sneaky Red Flags in Gender Therapy: Watch Out!

Summary

Dr. Z, a Clinical Psychologist specializing in transgender care, cautions viewers on identifying genuine gender therapists. The video outlines four red flags to watch for: minimal online presence, outdated and dogmatic approaches, the need to educate the therapist, and an inability to write gender-affirming evaluation letters. Dr. Z emphasizes the importance of finding competent and transparent care to avoid wasting time and resources in gender identity therapy.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Dr. Z is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in transgender care and emphasizes the importance of finding a knowledgeable gender therapist.
• 🚨 Four key red flags are highlighted to help individuals identify if their therapist is genuinely knowledgeable about gender issues.
• 💻 Red Flag 1: The therapist's online presence has minimal or no information about gender dysphoria or transgender care, apart from a token mention.
• 📚 Red Flag 2: The therapist uses an outdated, dogmatic approach that requires a severe narrative of gender dysphoria for treatment, which is not reflective of modern understanding.
• 🕊️ Red Flag 3: The client has to educate the therapist on basic gender vocabulary and concepts, indicating a lack of competence in the therapist.
• 📝 Red Flag 4: The therapist is unable to write a gender-affirming evaluation letter, which is a fundamental part of supporting transgender clients.
• 💡 The importance of transparency is stressed; if a therapist admits their lack of experience and is willing to learn, it's more acceptable than falsely claiming expertise.
• ⏰ Time is a valuable resource, and therapy should not be a waste of time or money, especially for those struggling with gender identity issues.
• 🤔 Clients are encouraged to be assertive consumers in their therapeutic relationships, with the right to choose or leave a therapist based on their needs and satisfaction.
• 🌈 Dr. Z promotes the idea that being LGBTQ-friendly is a basic human quality, not a specialized skill, and stresses the need for genuine understanding and support.
• 🔍 Finding a gender specialist can be difficult, but it's crucial to work with someone who has at least some experience with gender diverse individuals, even if they are not deeply specialized.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Dr. Z's channel?

Dr. Z's channel primarily focuses on transgender care and providing valuable content related to gender therapy and LGBTQ issues.

Why is it important to subscribe to Dr. Z's channel?

Subscribing to Dr. Z's channel supports the creation of free educational content and helps others find valuable resources on gender therapy and transgender issues.

What are the four red flags Dr. Z discusses to look out for in a gender therapist?

The four red flags are: 1) Lack of online or media representation beyond a single mention of being LGBTQ-friendly, 2) Using an archaic and dogmatic approach to treatment, 3) The client having to educate the therapist on basic gender vocabulary and concepts, and 4) The therapist's inability to write a gender-affirming evaluation letter.

Why should someone follow Dr. Z on Instagram?

Following Dr. Z on Instagram provides access to educational tips, guidance, real-life advice, and support, as well as a way to connect with Dr. Z daily.

What does Dr. Z consider a red flag if a therapist's website mentions being LGBTQ-friendly only once?

A single mention of being LGBTQ-friendly without any other substantial content related to gender therapy or transgender issues is considered a red flag, indicating a lack of genuine expertise or focus in that area.

What is an archaic approach to gender therapy according to Dr. Z?

An archaic approach to gender therapy is one that requires clients to adhere to a very specific and severe narrative of gender dysphoria to access care, which is outdated and not reflective of the diverse experiences of transgender individuals.

Why is it concerning if a client has to educate their therapist on gender-related vocabulary?

It is concerning because it indicates that the therapist lacks basic knowledge and understanding of gender identities and affirming care, which is essential for providing competent and supportive therapy.

What should a therapist do if they lack experience in gender therapy?

A therapist lacking experience in gender therapy should inform their client of their inexperience, seek consultation and guidance from more knowledgeable professionals, and not practice outside their area of competence.

Why is it a red flag if a therapist cannot write a gender-affirming evaluation letter?

It is a red flag because writing such a letter is a basic part of gender therapy services, and the inability to do so suggests a lack of understanding and training in providing gender-affirming care.

What should a client do if they encounter these red flags with their therapist?

If a client encounters these red flags, they should consider seeking therapy with someone else who is transparent about their knowledge and experience or is willing to learn and consult with experts in the field.

Outlines

00:00

👋 Introduction to Dr. Z's Channel and Importance of Choosing the Right Gender Therapist

Dr. Z, a Clinical Psychologist specializing in transgender care, welcomes viewers to the channel and encourages subscription for free educational content. The video focuses on four red flags to watch for when selecting a gender therapist. Dr. Z emphasizes the value of time and money, the importance of finding accurate and efficient care, and the consumer's right to choose or change therapists. The session aims to empower viewers to make informed decisions about their mental health care.

05:01

🚩 Red Flag #1: Lack of Online Representation for Gender Therapy

The first red flag discussed is the absence of substantial online or media representation for gender therapy services. Dr. Z warns against therapists who only make a single mention of working with LGBTQ+ individuals or gender dysphoria on their website or social media, suggesting a lack of genuine expertise or experience in the field. Viewers are advised to look for therapists with a demonstrable track record and substantial content related to gender issues.

10:03

🚩 Red Flag #2: Outdated and Dogmatic Approaches to Gender Therapy

The second red flag is the use of outdated and dogmatic approaches to gender therapy, which may involve rigid narratives and long waiting periods for diagnosis. Dr. Z criticizes the practice of requiring individuals to present in their desired gender for an extended period before receiving referrals for hormone therapy, highlighting the need for more modern, compassionate, and efficient methods of care. Therapists who adhere to these outdated practices may lack current knowledge and training in gender-affirming care.

15:05

🚩 Red Flag #3: Therapists Lacking Knowledge Require Client Education

The third red flag involves situations where clients find themselves educating their therapists about basic gender-affirming care vocabulary and options. Dr. Z describes this as a clear sign of incompetence, as therapists should be well-versed in current terminology and practices. The ethical obligation to practice within one's area of competence is emphasized, and the importance of seeking consultation when outside of one's expertise is stressed.

🚩 Red Flag #4: Inability to Provide Required Evaluation Letters

The final red flag is the therapist's inability to provide the necessary evaluation letters for insurance approval or surgery, indicating a lack of understanding or experience in the process. Dr. Z argues that this is a fundamental part of gender-affirming care and should not require additional payment or referral to another provider. This red flag suggests that the therapist may be misrepresenting their qualifications or expertise in gender therapy.

Keywords

💡Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. In the context of the video, Dr. Z is a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in transgender care, emphasizing the importance of their expertise in providing therapy to individuals with gender-related concerns.

💡Transgender Care

Transgender Care refers to the medical and psychological services provided to individuals who identify as transgender, which may include hormone therapy, surgeries, and counseling. Dr. Z specializes in this area, highlighting the significance of professional and knowledgeable care for transgender individuals seeking support.

💡Gender Therapist

A Gender Therapist is a mental health professional who has specific training and experience in working with individuals who are exploring their gender identity or experiencing gender dysphoria. The script discusses the importance of identifying genuine gender therapists to ensure quality care.

💡LGBTQ

LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning. It is an acronym that represents a diverse community of sexual and gender identities. The video emphasizes the need for therapists to be knowledgeable and supportive of LGBTQ individuals, particularly in the context of gender identity.

💡Gender Dysphoria

Gender Dysphoria is a term used to describe the distress a person may feel as a result of the sex and gender they were assigned at birth. In the video, Dr. Z discusses the importance of proper assessment and understanding of gender dysphoria in providing effective therapy.

💡Red Flags

In the context of the video, 'Red Flags' refer to warning signs that a therapist may not be genuinely knowledgeable or competent in transgender care. Dr. Z outlines four specific red flags to watch for when evaluating a gender therapist's credibility.

💡Service Exchange

Service Exchange is the concept of providing a service in return for payment, as is common in therapy. Dr. Z mentions this to remind viewers that as consumers, they have the right to choose and change therapists if they are not receiving the expected service.

💡Archaic Approach

An 'Archaic Approach' refers to outdated or old-fashioned methods that may no longer be considered best practice. In the script, Dr. Z criticizes therapists who use such approaches, particularly those that prolong the process of diagnosis and treatment for gender dysphoria.

💡Dogmatic Approach

A 'Dogmatic Approach' implies a rigid and inflexible way of thinking or doing things, often based on strict adherence to a set of beliefs or rules. The video describes this as a red flag when a therapist adheres to outdated narratives and requirements for transgender care.

💡Competence

Competence in this context refers to the therapist's ability to provide effective and knowledgeable care. Dr. Z discusses the importance of a therapist being competent in the specific area of transgender care and the problems that arise when they are not.

💡Evaluation Letter

An 'Evaluation Letter' is a document often required by insurance companies or surgeons to confirm a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and the need for gender-affirming treatments. The video points out that a lack of ability to write such a letter is a red flag indicating a therapist's inexperience or lack of knowledge.

Highlights

Introduction to Dr. Z, a Clinical Psychologist specializing in transgender care.

Emphasis on the importance of finding a knowledgeable gender therapist due to the high cost and personal nature of therapy.

The significance of time as a valuable resource that should not be wasted in ineffective therapy.

The four red flags to look out for when working with a gender therapist or specialist.

Red Flag 1: Lack of online or media representation beyond a single mention of LGBTQ+ services.

Red Flag 2: Clinicians using archaic, dogmatic approaches to gender therapy.

Concern about the outdated requirement for long-term patient evaluation before confirming gender dysphoria.

Red Flag 3: Therapists lacking basic knowledge and requiring clients to educate them.

Red Flag 4: Therapists unable to write gender-affirming evaluation letters, a basic requirement.

The ethical responsibility of therapists to practice within their competency and seek consultation when needed.

The contrast between genuinely knowledgeable gender therapists and those misrepresenting their expertise.

The difficulty of finding a gender specialist and the advice to continue with a therapist transparent about their limitations.

The importance of being an assertive consumer in therapy and the right to leave if the service is not meeting expectations.

Dr. Z's commitment to providing clarity and guidance for clients in a timely manner, contrasting with outdated practices.

The potential for harm when therapists prolong the diagnosis process due to their own lack of experience.

Advice for clients to share their experiences with gender therapists, especially when disappointments occur.

Closing remarks encouraging clients to be mindful of the red flags and to prioritize their mental health.

Transcripts

hello my favorite Community how

everybody else is doing comment below

let me know I am if you're not familiar

yet Dr Z a Clinical Psychology

specializing in transgender care welcome

to my channel if you're not a subscriber

please go ahead and do subscribe this

way you will not only be supporting me

but helping everybody else find this

valuable content that is completely free

and if you also don't follow me yet on

Instagram link is below trust me it is

worth it I post fantastic shirt

educational tips and guidance reals as

well as additional uh advice and support

it just it's a great way to connect with

me on Instagram because I'm there daily

having said that I wrote down a little

chitchat here before this I wanted to

say before the session but before this

video what we're going to cover today is

I'm going to give you four signs for red

flags to look out for when you are

working with somebody who claims to be a

gender therapist or gender specialist

lgbtq knowledgeable you name it and I

want you to be aware of this red flx

because therapy is not cheap most

insurances don't cover Psychotherapy and

if they do not everybody takes Insurance

your time is valuable time is something

that we can't get back once it's spent

it is gone on top of that for all of you

I know struggling L with

uncertainty lack of

clarity dehab fears and

anxiety all revolving around gender

dysphoria or revolving around some sense

of gender identity or issues related to

gender identity I know how important it

is for you to get answers to your most

pressing concerns I know how valuable it

is for you to not waste any more time

and I know for those of you whove been

living with dysphoria for decades I know

how vital it is again not to waste a

single day because you are so ready to

move forward so I want to give you this

four Flags so that when you do spot them

with somebody who claims to be gender

therapist or gender specialist again you

name it but somebody who basically says

hey I know what the heck I'm talking

about you can then make a choice make a

decision whether you want to stay with

them or whether you can actually go

ahead and seek somebody else now when it

comes to psychotherapy without a doubt

it's still an exchange of service I know

that we are in a very unusual

relationship with our clients because it

is so personal it is so vulnerable it is

so deep at the same time it's

nonetheless still a service exchange

people pay me for 50 minutes of my time

and I pay back in

volume and the Valu that I bring is

trying to aim to give people as much

clarity as much guidance as possible so

it's still an exchange I'm bringing this

up because I want you to know that in

the end of the day you are a consumer in

the end of the day it is your money your

dollar token whether you're paying out

of pocket or whether you're paying with

insurance that insurance either you

bought for yourself or you have it

provided by company but you still have

to work for so I want you to remind

yourself that you are in a assertive

position of a consumer you can at any

time in therapy decide to leave you can

fire you therapist in fact if you

therapist has all these four flags and

they are really misrepresenting

themselves as a gender

therapist I would highly encourage for

you to fire them because I in my opinion

you would just waste that only money but

your time now having said that I also

know and realize that finding a gender

specialist specifically somebody as

deeply specialized in gender issues and

especially gender disor as I am is

incredibly difficult I can count on my

fingers how many psychologists I

personally know who Solly and I mean

Solly focus on gender dis the way that I

do and that's very very

unfortunate having said that it doesn't

mean that you can't find a therapist

that apart from focusing on other issues

also has somewhat remotely good

experience working with gender diverse

individuals that is more possible than

finding a gender specialist now will

that individual be as deeply

knowledgeable as for example I am

probably not and that's okay I don't

want you to stress out if feel like

gender specialist is somebody who is

absolutely deeply knowledgeable and yes

they should be right but if you don't

have access to them and you only have

access to somebody who is much more um I

would say generalized in a way but still

is benefiting you because you do have

somewhat good relevant experience that's

also very

valuable in the end of a day what's

really important is whether you find

that the therapist you're working with

is helping you the four flags that I

will be discussing are primarily aimed

at

helping you to steer away when you are

in therapy and you paying money you're

spending your time and you're scratching

your head and you're wondering why am I

not further along why are things not

working out uh why haven't I got

referral for a or C why is this taking

so long for them to figure things out

about

me if you are able if you're in that

position if you see any of those four

Flags then you're working with somebody

who is really misrepresenting themselves

and today we have a lot of of those

people because people jump on the band

wacon of being gender therapist it's

like everybody today's lgbtq friendly in

my opinion we all should be lgbtq

friendly that just means being a mindful

human being so what are those four flags

that I want you to watch out for last

thing I want to mention is if you are

working with therapist and they meet

those four Flags but they have been very

transparent with you from the Geto that

you're my first client I really don't

know much about and you really like

working with them you please do continue

work with them because you know if

they're being that transparent and you

already know what you're stepping into

and you make the decision based on that

knowledge that's also valuable things to

keep in mind red flag number one red

flag number one is you go to their

website and today I can't imagine meta

house provider not to have some form of

web representation right so you go to

their website and on

website they just have one single

mention lgbtq friendly or work with

transgender individuals or work with you

know gender

dysphoria and they have nothing else

nothing else the whole website maybe

they're blacking about depression or

anxiety but they have nothing else

mentioned about gender dysphoria

transgender folks non-binary Fox and get

the claim to be gender therapist or

gender specialist you go to any other

social media presence you go to their

Instagram if they have one you go to

their Facebook if they have one you go

to the linked at account if they have

one and again their Ser it's Cricket

right other than that one mention it's

Cricket crickets other than putting

rainbow FL on their website it is

cricket and yet they are there telling

you that they are knowledgeable this is

a big red flag all you have to do is

take a look at my website from the getco

you can see that the only thing I do are

working with strs and nonbinary adults

and I'm very skilled at gender Foria why

because there is a ton of blog posts on

the issue there's a ton of videos

there's a ton of content I have programs

you signed all around this topic nowhere

else is it mentioned that I work with

any other issues period now that's

obvious an exception you're looking at

somebody who is very specialized right

and I don't expect your gender therapist

to be that special but she should have

something something something to

Showcase that they know what they're

talking about and their social media

presence is going to be the first step

so that's number one no media presence

whatsoever other than little rainbow

flag here little trans FL here in my

opinion that is just not enough red flag

number

two when you sit down V you can tell

they have a very dragmatic archaic old

approach approach what is dogmatic Arc

cold approach it's an approach that

dates back to Thousand Years well really

not but I feel like it's thousand years

ago it's an approach when trans

individuals in order to get access to

care had to have a narrative had to

stick to a narrative particular

narrative that was so severe in order to

get permission for gender affirming care

and that narrative was something along

the lines of I really hate my body parts

I think 247 about getting myself free of

those body parts I feel trapped in a

wrong body I have severe

dysphoria it's borderline very extreme

something things that we know a lot of

people today don't feel and some still

do but a lot of people the this 4 is

going to range and for some of you it's

going to be pretty mild for some of you

it's going to be severe on some days for

some of you on old days but that old

archaic dogmatic narrative

now you can tell that a clinician or a

provider is not knowledgeable when they

stick to it why because that means that

they probably got a training or read a

book that is published again thousand

years ago that discusses this type of

approach that discusses other areas of

dogmatic approaches such as you have to

evaluate a patient for a long period of

time 6 months to a year to conclude the

have

dysphoria what the heck who has 6 months

to a year that's a long that's 6 months

to a year for you to suffer with gender

dysphoria while the provider who is not

knowledgeable has to jump through the

hoops and jump through their own anxiety

about whatever it is they're anxious

about in order to conclude that

something is that somebody who is

remotely knowledgeable should come to

conclusion relatively quickly unless you

have a very complicated case even then

should be no more than three months

that's for very complicated case for

everybody else it should be several

sessions 2 to three to make that

conclusion assessment of gender dor

should not take that long it takes me a

single session for most individuals two

maybe to three sessions for the rest

it's it's really not that challenging

once you know and had at least remotely

some experience with gender 4 so if

they're saying they need to see 6 to 12

months just to derive a diagnosis of

gener dysphoria that's an archaic tartic

way of doing and that mean that they

don't know what the heck they're looking

for so they're buying time for

themselves in order to figure things out

and that's not all right in my opinion

that is not only uh incredibly negligent

but it is just it's really brutal and

pardon my French up because it

puts a client in a position of enduring

suffering at expense of a therapist

ignorance and lack of experience

so that's how you know that's number two

is you're seeing those type of dogmatic

approaches to treatment another form of

dogmatic approach that archaic toward

treatment is going to be when they tell

you things such as um I want you to

present for 12 months in your desired

gender

until you know I can refer you for

hormones which by the way you don't even

need referral for hormones in pretty

much every single state this days so

keep that in mind and in those states

where you may need a referral you can

still get hormones without referral

online through a lot of online gender

clinics so if they're putting it to jump

through the Hoops which are unreasonable

nobody is going to suddenly present in

their gender I mean most people are not

going to without at least going through

some changes in hormones and feeling

more confident because you're putting

yourself out there that means your

potential risk of being misgendered is

increased that means you risk being

traumatized by our messed up culture is

also being increased it's unsafe it's

incredibly unsafe in a lot of States and

it's just not way to approach the

treatment so that's another um

indication that they're dealing this

dragmatic archaic

approach red flag number three you have

to educate them you bring up a

vocabulary you say for example you know

at one point I felt like EnV was

something that resonated with me and

they look at you completely blank

blinking their eyes trying to figure out

how quickly session can end so they can

Google NB and you can tell they don't

know what the heck you're talking about

when you bring up desire for any kind of

gender affirming care gender affirming

shers they don't know what the heck

you're talking about when you bring up

that you're considering between ponal

pulse Rion applies to or you considering

between for example a penal inversion

they don't know the difference when you

bring up that you already had vaginaly

and you're struggling with vaginal

stenosis they don't know what the heck

you're going you're talking about that's

a red flag when you have to sit there

and you're talking about your context

your life and they don't even know

Basics basic knowledge about what kind

of car is out there uh what kind of

vocab out there even a very rudimentary

uh language in regards to variety of

gender identities out there that's

another red flag I had somebody who came

to work with me and they said and it

this is kill me they said that at one

point they shared a particular book with

their therapist because their therapist

was like a knowledge and there was one

session they had when therapist was

reading out of the book to the

client this is wildly wildly messed up

and wildly

inappropriate we are trained to be

competent in our fields and we're

ethically prohibited by prct practicing

outside of our

competency every therapist for Li insure

had to learn this we had it was drilled

into our hats that if you have zero

experience you and if you're the only

provider in geographic area and you have

a patient with gender just 40 for

example and you have zero experience yes

you can treat the patient but you have

to tell them you have zero experience

and you have to seek consultation and

guidance and support outside of your

competen if you somebody else who has

that

experience if you are especially in a

state where there's other people who are

competent and you're not competent that

you marketing yourself as such that's a

big no no so when you have to educate

your therapist that's an indication that

the lack competence that's red flag

number three final red flag number

four it comes a time when you need one

of those still required evaluation

letters in order to get insurance

approval or maybe you surgeon wants it

even though you're paying out of a

pocket to get gender affirming surgery

and all of a sudden your so-called

gender therapist has no idea how to do

it how to write one and they refer you

out to somebody else like myself maybe I

had people come to me and they say oh

yeah my gender therapist referred you

referred me to you so that you can

evaluate me for my gender affirming

surgery coming up and I look at them

thinking your G gender therapist refer

to to me for a letter they should know

how to write it is 101

Basics that's another big red flag

number

four they should not they should not

only know how to do that that should be

part of your treatment plan that should

be part of the services they provide I

also have a ppef and you're already

paying a therapist for their time and

then they charge you addition money to

write you that letter because to be

honest it's not like they're doing

additional assessment it's just a letter

it's not much and they shouldn't charge

your money in my opinion I mean this is

kind of like controversial opinion every

terapist has the right to set their own

value to decide what they do in my

opinion that just why it's a single one

pager letter I have a template for that

letter you put in information you put in

certain characteristics after working

this client for some time because you

already know they qualify and that is it

it doesn't take much of my time so

that's another red flag number four so

these are four very important red flags

to watch out for especially if you're

working with somebody that does in fact

Market themselves as a gender therapist

or gender specialist and they have one

or is they have all of these four Flags

if you have an option to go and work

with somebody else please do so even if

you have an option to go and work with

somebody else who is not knowledgeable

at all but is transparent with you about

that that honesty is there

willingness to work with you it's their

willingness to at least perhaps even

reach out to somebody and consult and

learn versus somebody who is

masquerading behind a label but they

can't deliver and they're wasting your

time and they're wasting your mind so

remember those four red flxs number one

they have no online or media

representation whatsoever number two

they're using the dogmatic old 10,000

year old approach number three you're

sitting there educating them teaching

them and number four that don't know how

to write your gender affirming

evaluation letter comment below if you

had experience seeing somebody who

claims to be a gender therapist or a

specialist and you were deeply

disappointed what would it like for you

what was a telling sign it really sucks

when it does happen it shouldn't happen

um I also understand the reality of life

is every profession has bad apples but I

really wish it didn't had to have bad

apples especially when it comes to

mental health something that is so

important to all of us and something

that a lot of us take at a big quality

for ourselves so comment below share

what your experience has been and I will

see you all next time goodbye