Transgender London

Psychological Damage

First of all we need to understand that one cannot "treat" Gender Identity Disorder. This position is upheld by most professionals in the field as being a basic truth and this opinion is spearheaded by WPATH. First a bit of history.

Dr. Ray Blanchard of the Psychology Department at the University of Toronto published the theory that transsexuals are sexually obsessed with being female and in order to be truly transsexual, one had to be an effeminate gay male. This controversial theory has its supporters but not among the transgender community or progressive pdocs treating transgender.

There are other academics who support this theory as well as a notable transsexual, Anne Lawrence. The problems with the research in this model show flaws in the research since only those that fell into the model proposed by Blanchard were used to gather data. (unconfirmed)

Dr. Kenneth Zucker of the CAMH (Center for Addiction and Mental Health - formerly Clarke Research Institute) practices Reparative Theory in treating child (and adult) transsexualism. Reparative theory was initially formulated by Frued. It holds to the belief that sexual behaviours (and consequently gender) can be changed and are due to environmental factors growing up. This theory has been outright rejected by every psychological body in the world. Dr. Zucker was expelled from his membership in WPATH for his steadfast refusal to discontinue treatment using Reparative Theory.

It is particularly noteworthy that the CAMH and U of T have very close ties including both of these men. In all fairness to Dr. Blanchard, he is one of the few researchers willing to engage in transgender.

The current state of medicine points toward physiology as the cause of transgender NOT psychology. Acceptance of the current knowledge although slow is gaining momentum and within many if not most psychologists and psychiatrists "treating" gender, physical causality is generally accepted. In that light these doctors are exercising a Humanist Existentialist approach which tackles the issues the transsexual has created around their gender, not gender itself. This approach gives the transsexual the insight and healthy approach to making good decisions for their own treatment. However if any transition is involved the Standards of Care outlined by WPATH are the guidelines used by the doctors, not the patient's specific desires. This reduces any errors while still meeting the needs of the patient/client.

Acceptance and use of Blanchard and Zucker's practices reduces transsexuality to a sexual dysfunction and if that is accepted it also encompasses the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual communities as also being in sexual dysfunction. This means that all in the LGBT communities are mentally ill with a sexual disorder. This is complete and utter nonsense. This approach gives no credence to the patient/client, his or her feelings, or self acceptance.

The real danger to all of this lies with the child transsexual. Practice of reparative theory only damages the psyche of the child by forcing repression of feelings in order to present an acceptable persona to the world.

"...when I was living in Ontario I was directed by a therapist to the Clarke Institute for diagnosis and "treatment" of my disorder. The treatment consisted of session after session with psychiatrists, medical doctors, and God knows who over a period of about 6 months. I never saw the same person twice, always a new person and always the questions about my childhood, my parents, my feelings. After about the 6th month my wife told me they were not doing anything for me and that I should quit going. I agreed because all the time I was there I felt like a lab rat, an inferior one at that. ... wanting photos of me in lingerie and undergarments, ... because I couldn’t identify a person in the same waiting room was a man going through “RLE” that I was not TS."

"Picture a maze that at each corner was a person examining you and telling you that you are not a crossdresser or worst, the forbidden word “transsexual”. That was the Clarke Institute."

"20+ years later I am now in Alberta and have to say I got more help from my therapist and psychiatrist at the first visit than I got from all the sessions at the Clarke Institute."

Carolanne

The above quotes were taken from emails with a friend who outlines only a glimpse into the so called treatment she endured at the hands of Drs. Zucker and Blanchard's theories and practicum. - Kimberley

Acceptance of Autogynephilia (Blanchard) or Reparative Theory has proven time and again to do damage to the clients. In spite of a reported 12% error in treating transsexualism by these methods, their practictioners cling to their methodologies with passion.

It is a shame their passion is at the expense of human beings.

Addendum: April 2008. The APA (American Psychiatric Association) has appointed both of these men to high positions for examination of and rewriting the DSM for its 5th edition due out in 2011. If their positions are adapted once again, the gains made by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual communities will be set back 30 years and hope for acceptable dignified diagnosis and treatment for transgender will again probably be damaging at the least to nonexistent for the trans community.

This site was last updated 08/11/10