In therapy, collusion happens when the therapist (consciously or unconsciously) participates in a client’s bid to avoid an important issue instead of helping the client to gain a deeper understanding or take a more helpful perspective. In the collective, society has colluded with the fantasy of gender identity, much to the detriment of dysphoric and transgender people themselves. Sasha and Stella discuss what factors contribute to this kind of collusion and how individuals have the power to steer us towards a more truthful and thoughtful direction.

Links:

• JK Rowling Essay: Jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/
• Pluralistic Ignorance: “When no one believes, but everyone thinks that everyone believes.” Sk.sagepub.com/reference/socialpsychology/n402.xml
• The Asch Conformity Test: Simplypsychology.org/asch-conformity.html
• The Milgram Experiment: Simplypsychology.org/milgram.html
• Carl Rogers, the Core Conditions in Person-centered therapy: Simplypsychology.org/client-centred-therapy.html
• Diverse thresholds: Think.ing.com/articles/want-to-change-the-world-behavioural-science-offers-someadvice/#:~:text=The%20second%20microfoundation%20of%20social,what%20they%20say%20or%20do
• Californian policy congenital growth: Insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2020/release140-2020.cfm

Extended Notes

• What does collusion mean in this context?
• What’s the difference between a good therapist and a bad therapist? They are able to step back when they’ve colluded with their client.
• There is collective collusion among therapists as well as collective collusion among languages.
• Stella showcases how the JK Rowling situation is the perfect example of collective collusion. She is not transphobic!
• A person-centric therapist might be very reluctant to give honest feedback and to challenge their client.
• They’re afraid that they’ll rupture the client's trust if they question whether someone with gender dysphoria is a boy or a girl.
• However, this approach can lead a client to feel stuck and they become a prisoner to their own narrative.
• It’s important the therapist doesn’t take the word of their client at face-value. Take a bird’s eye view of it instead.
• People are more than just a walking identity. It’s important for a client to explore all the different reasons why they might have an issue.
• Stella outlines how therapists fall into collusion instead of exploring the client’s feelings and emotions. It happens because they’re very empathic toward their feelings.
• By trying to protect your client, you end up hurting them because reality will always hit hard.
• Stella shares her thoughts on trans therapists and what they need to be aware of when it comes to collusion.
• It’s easy to be kind short-term, but to be kind long-term is preparing...
  
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