You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist 61. A Gender-Critical Meet-Cute: Zach and Cynthia of the Paradox Institute
Is it possible to fall in love over the internet? Today I welcome two very special guests about to welcome their first baby, whose love story began on Twitter. This was my first time interviewing a couple, and it was utterly delightful. Zach Elliott and Cynthia Breheny of The Paradox Institute join me this week to delight us with their love story, touch us with the personal experiences that directed them to this work, inspire us with methods to assist in healing families, and guide us as to how to protect and consider the long term needs of children while providing comprehensive education and care for them.
What has Cynthia learned about the needs of gender dysphoric youth from her own experiences of struggling with, and recovering from, hatred of her female body? How exactly are children impacted by “gender affirming care” in the current culture? Are they perhaps empowered by pitting parents against medical professionals? Are they vulnerable to harm as a result of that support? How exactly do we address the needs of children while acknowledging and recognizing the rightful concerns of parents?
Zach Elliott is an author of two books on sex and gender and the producer of 20+ animated videos on sex differences. His fascination with the biology of sex and desire to learn and educate led him to create the Paradox Institute in January 2020. Cynthia Breheny is a digital artist, animator, and author. Her lifelong experience with gender dysphoria and her professional design skills provide her with unique abilities to communicate sex and gender concepts. Together, they developed a pamphlet on the myths of “gender affirming care.” Additionally, Zach has a YouTube channel for the Paradox Institute where he posts audio essays, thoughtful video responses and animated videos. You can follow Zach on Twitter, along with Cynthia to stay up-to-date on their latest works.
You can find Zach’s book, “The Gender Paradox: Discrimination and Disparities in the Postmodern Era,” and Alan Gordon’s book which I mentioned in today’s episode, “The Way Out: A Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing and Chronic Pain” in my bookshop!
In my discussion, I mentioned a recent episode of the Some Kind of Therapist podcast: 47. The Scapegoated Body: Transition Regret in Psychotherapy with Bob Withers
I also mentioned a substack, Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) that you can access 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.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.
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