72. ROGD Parenting, Cult Recovery, Psychedelic Therapy, & Mindfulness with Alan Michael

Today we embark on a profound journey exploring the challenges of parenting a child experiencing Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD). Alan and I delve into the emotional rollercoaster that parents often experience when their child exhibits signs of ROGD, including stress, pain, and confusion, before embarking on Alan’s experience pursuing psychedelic treatment for complex PTSD to alleviate the secondary impact of his trauma symptoms on his family. Alan shares his transformative experience with meditation, the relationship between meditation and spirituality, how spirituality can provide solace and guidance during challenging times, and how meditation can help parents build emotional confidence. We also delve into the connection between psychedelics and meditation in the context of healing and personal growth, Alan shares how insights uncovered during his psychedelic journeys inform how he navigates ROGD parenting. For those interested in this therapeutic path, we provide practical (not medical) advice on using psychedelics safely and effectively, addressing matters of harm reduction, micro dosing and guided journeys, along with important do's and don'ts of set and setting. Drawing parallels between the dynamics of cults and certain aspects of the transgender movement is a crucial part of today's discussion where emotional and psychological traits can make individuals vulnerable to both. This week’s episode offers a comprehensive investigation into the challenges parents of ROGD children face, the role of trauma, and the transformative power of meditation and psychedelic therapy. Thank you for joining us! 

In our discussion today, I mentioned some recently aired episodes of Some Kind of Therapist: 

53. Awakening Beyond Transition with Laura Becker

59. Cat Cattinson on Reclaiming Her Voice After Detransition

62. To Suffer Well: Detransition, Psychedelics, and Faith, with Torren Danowski

69. Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans: Gigi & Josie

Along with some other podcasts that offer great tools for mindfulness like “Waking Up” with Sam Harris which can be found here. 

Or if you’re interested in learning more about psychedelics, check out the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, here. 

I also mentioned some great books in this episode including, “The Collapse of Parenting” by Leonard Sax and “Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers” by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté MD, both of which can be found in my bookshop!

And we mentioned Alan's article on PITT, which can be found here.

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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.

Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.

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