Adolescence is a natural time for identity exploration. In this episode, Sasha and Stella address the challenges schools face when dealing with students questioning their gender identities. They focus on strategies for finding a balanced approach, honoring students' self-expression, preserving opportunities for further developmental progress and discovery, and respecting family dynamics. They highlight the pressure on schools to quickly respond and adopt policies, often without sufficient evidence of their effectiveness. They discuss the misconception that social transition is the only solution, questioning the long-term efficacy of this intervention and its potential for unintended psychological consequences. The conversation also touches on the fear of suicide, internalized homophobia, and common comorbidities including autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression that could be contributing to the students' experience. This episode offers valuable insights intended to empower educators to provide a nuanced approach, seeking a balance between offering guidance and respecting the multifaceted journey of identity discovery during the adolescent years.

Links:

Suicide by Clinic-Referred Transgender Adolescents in the United Kingdom

Biggs M. Suicide by Clinic-Referred Transgender Adolescents in the United Kingdom. Arch Sex Behav. 2022 Feb;51(2):685-690. doi: 10.1007/s10508-022-02287-7. Epub 2022 Jan 18. PMID: 35043256; PMCID: PMC8888486

https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/35043256 

Sasha Shares About Her Experience Working as a Middle School Counselor

https://youtu.be/vI54mth3qxs 

A Clinical Guide for Therapists Working with Gender-Questioning Youth

http://www.genderexploratory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GETA_ClinicalGuide_2022.pdf 

School Policy: Gender Identity (USA)

https://genspect.org/comprehensive-gender-identity-school-policy-usa/ 

School Policy: Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity (Ireland)

https://genspect.org/school-policy-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-ireland/ 

Brief Guidance For Schools

https://genspect.org/guidance-for-schools/ 

Brief Guidance On Social Transition

https://genspect.org/guidance-on-social-transition/ 

The Secret Gender Files - Substack for Malcolm Richard Clark

https://substack.com/@malcolmrichardclark 

For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups:

Sasha Ayad: https://inspiredteentherapy.com/parents-start-here 

Stella O’Malley:

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