#320 - Sasha Ayad, LPC - Exploring Youth Identity, Gender Affirming Care & Mental Health

Sasha Ayad joins Something For Everybody this week. Sasha is a licensed therapist, author and speaker who focuses on the way gender dysphoria and personal identity impacts children and families.

In this conversation, Sasha Ayad and I explore the complexities of balance in life, the evolving nature of identity, particularly in youth, and the implications of gender identity discussions. We delve into the importance of exploration in identity development, the impact of social media, and the controversies surrounding gender-affirming care. Sasha shares her insights on the challenges faced by young people today and the need for a more nuanced understanding of identity and gender. We explore the authoritarian nature of current gender identity politics, the courage required to speak out against prevailing narratives, and the impact of emerging research on gender medicine.

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0:00 Navigating Balance and Harmony in Life

03:00 Understanding Identity and Its Evolution

05:49 The Complexity of Gender Identity in Youth

08:57 The Role of Exploration in Identity Development

11:58 The Impact of Social Media on Identity Perception

15:05 The Controversy Surrounding Gender-Affirming Care

17:53 The Evolution of Gender Identity Discussions

21:02 Challenges in Gender Identity Treatment Approaches

28:40 The Evolution of Gender Identity Discussions

29:00 Understanding Gender Identity vs. Sexual Orientation

32:29 The Demands of Gender Identity

34:28 The Authoritarian Nature of Gender Identity Politics

37:36 Courage in Speaking Out

40:50 The Impact of Research on Gender Medicine

47:46 The Sunk Cost Fallacy in Gender Medicalization

53:04 The Manipulative Suicide Narrative

58:44 Understanding Mental Health and Gender Identity

01:01:12 The Role of Relationships in Youth Development

01:04:38 The Importance of Genuine Conversations

01:08:38 The Transformative Power of Strength Training

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Referenced data and numbers of prescriptions for minors and gender related medical interventions, that data comes from here: 

https://donoharmmedicine.org/2024/10/08/stop-the-harm-national-database-child-trans-industry/

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Extra Stuff:

Website: https://sashaayad.com/

Substack: https://sashaayad.substack.com/

X: https://x.com/SashaLPC

Podcast: https://linktr.ee/WiderLensPod

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(Recorded on November 18th, 2024)

Edited by Ben Rogerson (@BenRogerson_)

Intro music by Residual Audio (Residualaudio.com)

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