"So if someone's anxious and having an identity crisis, let's bring up the fact that the whole world is against them right now, and call it therapeutic? Um, no."
Excellent episode. About the 40 minute mark in the podcast, Pamela started talking about what is sometimes referred to as a savior complex. This excerpt captures this complex:
“therapists who always think they're like the nicer, more virtuous, more righteous group. They think, well, I know better than these parents. They don't understand their kid. I understand this kid and I can help them. And they're all seeing kids without parental consent. And of course, one of the biggest fallouts of this is the transgender thing. I remember at the program in 2021, one of the therapists actually said about one of the kids was that the parents were mismatched with this child. So not only was the child supposedly born in the wrong body, she was born in the wrong family, according to the therapist. So that's how they think. And these bills have enabled that, have emboldened them to think, well, I can do it better and I can help these kids. I'm going to rescue and save all these children."
Thank you for talking about the undermining of parents. Most people do not know or believe that is happening.
Another great one, Jenny! I loved the end, where you first noted that it used to be the norm that, when teens said bonkers things like “I’m the opposite sex,” the goal of adults was to bring the kid back to - what’s that thing? - oh yes, reality! Then your guest nailed it with the bold (but incredibly obvious to us here) statement that we are not helping anyone by lying to them. EXACTLY!
This was terrific. By the way, a "manufactured crisis of medicalized self-harm" has happened before in history. We called it "patent medicine fraud." I wrote an essay about that almost two years ago and by happenstance I am planning to re-run it this week.
If you’re referring to the one featuring Johanna Olson Kennedy, I think it’s now part of the discovery in the lawsuit against her and UCLA. I don’t know the rules of evidence in a civil case (or any case) but guessing we’ll have to wait until it goes to court? I’d love to see it too.
Excellent episode. About the 40 minute mark in the podcast, Pamela started talking about what is sometimes referred to as a savior complex. This excerpt captures this complex:
“therapists who always think they're like the nicer, more virtuous, more righteous group. They think, well, I know better than these parents. They don't understand their kid. I understand this kid and I can help them. And they're all seeing kids without parental consent. And of course, one of the biggest fallouts of this is the transgender thing. I remember at the program in 2021, one of the therapists actually said about one of the kids was that the parents were mismatched with this child. So not only was the child supposedly born in the wrong body, she was born in the wrong family, according to the therapist. So that's how they think. And these bills have enabled that, have emboldened them to think, well, I can do it better and I can help these kids. I'm going to rescue and save all these children."
Thank you for talking about the undermining of parents. Most people do not know or believe that is happening.
Another great one, Jenny! I loved the end, where you first noted that it used to be the norm that, when teens said bonkers things like “I’m the opposite sex,” the goal of adults was to bring the kid back to - what’s that thing? - oh yes, reality! Then your guest nailed it with the bold (but incredibly obvious to us here) statement that we are not helping anyone by lying to them. EXACTLY!
When did we get so pro-hate and anti-kindness, H'esq? I've been (w)racking my brain trying to remember the moment it happened...
This was terrific. By the way, a "manufactured crisis of medicalized self-harm" has happened before in history. We called it "patent medicine fraud." I wrote an essay about that almost two years ago and by happenstance I am planning to re-run it this week.
Thanks, Matt. Looking forward to reading it!
Is your guest able to share that recording she made publicly? I would be very interested to listen to it.
Unfortunately, it’s not public. YET.
If you’re referring to the one featuring Johanna Olson Kennedy, I think it’s now part of the discovery in the lawsuit against her and UCLA. I don’t know the rules of evidence in a civil case (or any case) but guessing we’ll have to wait until it goes to court? I’d love to see it too.
Gotcha, thanks. Yeah, discovery on that one should be fascinating when it's released...