Over the Binary: Conversations About Gender

Welcome back one and all, to Over the Binary: Conversations About Gender, a podcast by Gender Wellness of Los Angeles! At a time where trans & queer lives are under attack, we hope to provide not only Trans and Gender Diverse folks with an empowered digital space, but also their family members and allies. Today, both Casey and Grace join us for a summer recap of our best moments as a Gender-Affirming Therapy team in Los Angeles. Moments You Won't Want to Miss: 00:10 - Introductions & Catching Up 04:58 - Announcing our Newest Therapist! 05:50 - Audience Q&A 06:23 - Question #1: "How do I feel confident about myself when there is a fear of how others (especially non-trans people) will perceive me?" 11:09 -  Question #2: "How can I support someone who is still figuring out their identity, and may not have decided on a name & pronouns yet?" 13:33 - Question #3: "How can we serve our trans-masc community better, and what resources can we improve upon for the men in the TGI/2S+ communities?" 17:50 - Learn About Our Therapy Groups  Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Trans* Lounge: https://community.lalgbtcenter.org/trans-lounge/ Trans Pride LA: https://www.instagram.com/transpride.la/?hl=en  Support Groups for Trans Adults: https://genwell.org/therapy-support-groups/ Resources for Trans Masculine Folks: Trans Masc Support Groups by Schuyler Bailar: https://www.pinkmantaray.com/resources/supporttransmasc  Trans Dudes of LA: https://transdudesofla.com/  Trans Men in Media Over the Years: https://www.transmaleresources.com/  FREE Gender-Affirming Gear: https://queertransproject.org/  Trans Tape (as an alternative to binding): https://transtape.life/  Styling for Trans Men & Non-Binary Folks: https://www.annaliesestyle.com/non-binary-styling  More Resources for Trans Men via Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/resource_category/trans-masculine-men/  Connect With Us! Website: https://genwell.org/ Instagram: @genderwellnessla Tiktok: @genderwellnessla Email at frontdesk@genwell.org or call us at (818) 855-1105 Over the Binary is a podcast dedicated to providing resources, testimonies, and answers related to gender for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies. Our conversations aim to inform, support, and inspire as we work together toward a more inclusive world for people of all gender identities. Our Hosts: Casey Weitzman, LMFT (she/her) and Grace O'Connor, LMFT (she/her), are licensed marriage and family therapists specializing in gender identity at Gender Wellness of Los Angeles. Listen and Subscribe: Find "Over the Binary: Conversations About Gender" on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeart Radio. You can view the video version of the podcast on our Youtube Channel.

We're back! After a short hiatus, we're relaunching with a special reunion episode featuring our very first guest, Luke S. In this heartfelt conversation, we explore how Luke's gender journey has evolved since we last spoke, the transition from high school to college, as well as his insights on navigating the world as a young transgender person in today's America. In This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to Gender Wellness and Special Guest 01:52 Luke's Journey: From High School to College 03:33 Family Dynamics and Support 05:19 The Importance of Gender Affirming Care 07:25 Medical Transitioning as A Young Person 09:28 Letting Your Authentic Self Shine 11:01 Navigating Therapy and Support Systems 13:35 Advice for Trans Teens in Today's Climate 17:07 Reflection and Closing Thoughts Key Topics: Moving from high school to college as a transgender student Nuturing family support systems and relationships Accessing and benefiting from gender-affirming care Finding and utilizing appropriate mental health resources Practical advice for transgender teens navigating today's political and social climate Building resilience and community in challenging times Resources Mentioned: Gender Wellness of Los Angeles - Therapy and gender affirming services: 1-818-855-1105 Trevor Project Crisis Support: 1-866-488-7386 Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 PFLAG - Support for families and allies Connect With Us! Website: https://genwell.org/ Instagram: @genderwellnessla Tiktok: @genderwellnessla Email: frontdesk@genwell.org About Our Hosts: Casey Weitzman, LMFT (she/her) and Grace O'Connor, LMFT (she/her), are licensed marriage and family therapists specializing in gender identity at Gender Wellness of Los Angeles. Listen and Subscribe: Find "Over the Binary: Conversations About Gender" on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Audacy. Over the Binary is a podcast dedicated to providing resources, testimonies, and answers related to gender for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies. Our conversations aim to inform, support, and inspire as we work together toward a more inclusive world for people of all gender identities.

You won't want to miss this latest episode of Over the Binary Podcast. This week, Casey and Grace discuss how to seek a fulfilling journey toward trans joy; featuring the one and only Gina Bigham of the LA LGBT Center's Trans* Lounge.    Gina Bigham is the Program Manager of the Trans* Lounge at the Los Angeles LGBT Center and a woman of trans experience. She has been a Center employee since 2011 and has made her mark on the organization not only with the Trans* Lounge, but also as the long-time lead organizer of Trans Pride L.A., one of the oldest and highest-attended trans specific pride events in the country. Along with her work at the Center, Gina is known throughout the community as one of the co-founders of WildSide's Sin City Soirée. Founded in 2007 and continuing to this day, the Sin City Soirée is a week-long empowerment party in Las Vegas bringing together hundreds of trans individuals from all over the globe.   When asked how we can support 'Gender Wellness' in today's world, Gina says "To support gender wellness is to have support. Support keeps us well."   To find out which amazing resources are available to you through the LA Trans* Lounge, click here: https://community.lalgbtcenter.org/trans-lounge/   If you need immediate support, please utilize the following hotlines: Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 Trevor Project: 866-488-7386 (call) or 678678 (text) Suicide Crisis Hotline: #988    Over the Binary is a podcast hosted by Gender Therapists Casey Weitzman, MA, LMFT & Grace O'Connor, MA, LMFT of Gender Wellness of Los Angeles. Casey and Grace are joined by a variety of guests to discuss issues related to transgender, gender-diverse, and non-binary individuals. Over the Binary can be streamed on all your favorite podcast platforms including Spotify, Audible, and Apple Podcasts.  

Dr. Marci Bowers began working with the trans community in the mid-1990's, prior to her transition. Flash forward to today, she is a well-known pioneer in the field of gender-affirming surgery, the first transgender woman to perform such surgeries.  In addition to her work as a physician/surgeon, Marci is the current President of WPATH, the first transgender woman to hold the post, and also serves on the Board of Directors for The Trevor Project. Previously, she has served on the Boards of GLAAD and the Transgender Law Center. Over the years, Dr. Bowers has been called upon — or been the subject of — numerous documentaries, interviews, news reports, and articles. Marci and podcast co-host Casey Weitzman, the President and Founder of Gender Wellness of Los Angeles, have been friends and colleagues for over 10 years. All (above) things considered, it's no wonder that OTB, Episode 9 took lots of twists and turns. Even after editing, it runs a little longer than expected, so we've outlined the episode to help you navigate the range of topics discussed. CHAPTER 1 (6:21) Trans-Surgical History Gives Way to Progress Marci's time in Trinidad, Colorado — dubbed the "sex change capital of the world" — which began in 2003, before her move to the West Coast which led to further development of gender-affirming surgery programs. - - - CHAPTER 2 (16:37) The Science of WPATH As President, Marci talks is emphatic that WPATH "is as science-based as any organization that I've ever been a part of." - - - CHAPTER 3 (20:40) Informed by DSM & Informed Consent The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a formal classification of mental health disorders, featuring symptoms, diagnostic criteria, culture and gender-related features, and other important diagnostic information. Recent updates to the DSM, regarding care for gender-diverse folks, are discussed as Marci resoundingly states that GAS patients need to "do your research."  - - - CHAPTER 4 (28:17) The Plight of Gender-Diverse Youth Questions about the writings of Abigail Shrier direct the conversation towards thoughts about appropriate care for trans youth, the fear and doubt of parents, puberty blockers, and more. - - - CHAPTER 5 (40:43) The Importance of Mental Health A transition involves much more than just physical transformation, and mental health guidance along the way is paramount to one's journey. - - - CHAPTER 6 (46:51) A Vagina Dialogue: Vaginoplasty - - - Presented by Gender Wellness of Los Angeles, OTB is a podcast hosted by Casey Weitzman, MA, LMFT and Grace O'Connor, MA, LMFT. Casey and Grace are sometimes be joined by a variety of guests to discuss topics designed that expand the collective understanding — and raise awareness — of issues important to transgender, gender diverse, and gender nonbinary people. OTB may also be streamed from popular podcast platforms like Audible and Apple Podcasts.

For reasons not understood, gender-diverse people are three to six times as likely to be autistic as cisgender people. In Episode 8, Casey and Grace welcome special guest, Dr. Laurie Stephens, to discuss the connection of autism diagnoses among the gender-diverse population. Dr. Stephens is a developmental psychologist who has been working with children, teens, and young adults on the autism spectrum for over 25 years. She currently serves as The Help Group's Senior Director of Autism and LGBTQ+ Programs.   Why this episode is relevant, especially for parents of transgender and non-binary children and for our fellow mental health clinicians According to Spectrum, a prominent publisher of news and analysis about autism research, "People who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth are three to six times as likely to be autistic as cisgender people are, according to the largest study yet to examine the connection. Gender-diverse people are also more likely to report autism traits and to suspect they have undiagnosed autism." NOTE: Researchers often use "gender diverse" as an umbrella term to describe people whose gender identities — such as transgender, non-binary or gender-queer — differ from the sex they were assigned at birth. Spectrum also reports "Nearly 70 percent of autistic gender-diverse adolescents say they need medical gender-related care, according to a small 2018 study, and 32 percent say their gender identity has been questioned because of their autism diagnosis." As you watch/listen to Episode 8, you'll discover why Dr. Stephens says — addressing fellow mental health clinicians: "If you work with the autistic population, you really need to be familiar with the gender diverse population. And if you work in the gender diverse world, you need to understand autism."   More about Dr. Laurie Stephens Prior to her current position with The Help Group, Dr. Stephens served as the Director of Clinical Services for Education Spectrum for 12 years. She provided diagnostic and psycho-educational evaluations, individual and family therapy, social skills training, educational consultation and professional, academic and parent training. While working with her clients and their families, Dr. Stephens became extremely interested in the overlap between transgender, non-binary and gender-queer identifications among folks on the spectrum, as many of her clients began to reveal their authentic selves to her. Dr. Stephens' passion led her to her current role overseeing all of Kaleidoscope's programming and events. She has been instrumental in establishing a specialized diagnostic clinic for LGBTQ+ children, teens, and young adults who suspect they have an autism spectrum disorder. - - - Presented by Gender Wellness of Los Angeles ( https://genwell.org ), OTB is a podcast hosted by Casey Weitzman, MA, LMFT and Grace O'Connor, MA, LMFT. Casey and Grace are sometimes be joined by a variety of guests to discuss topics designed that expand the collective understanding — and raise awareness — of issues important to transgender, gender diverse, and gender nonbinary people. OTB may also be streamed from popular podcast platforms like Audible and Apple Podcasts. +++ Is there a topic that you'd like OTB to consider for an upcoming episode? Reach out to us and let us know: https://genwell.org/contact/

In most cases, the mental health care that Gender Wellness of Los Angeles provides to gender expansive individuals and their families is sufficient in addressing behavioral health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and social difficulties that often accompany the trans / non-binary person's journey at a given point in time. However, there are cases when the severity of emotions — and the resulting behaviors — are so intense that more care is needed. Suicidality and incidents of self-harm, for example, are all too common within the transgender and non-binary population — among adolescents and adults. In Episode 7 of Over the Binary (OTB), hosts Casey Weitzman, MA, LMFT and Grace O'Connor, MA, LMFT welcome Dr. Nicole Siegfried, the Chief Clinical Officer for Lightfully Behavioral Health. Lightfully provides a process-based therapy via residential treatment, partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient program, and virtual services — when more care is needed. Nearly one-third of Lightfully's clients identify as LGBTQ.

Episode 5 of OTB, "We Are Unerasable," is a conversation between hosts Casey Weitzman, MA, LMFT & Grace O'Connor, MA, LMFT — both compelled to comment on the rash of anti-LGBTQ legislation being passed in many parts of the country and its effect on the trans and nonbinary community, noting how their clients — and other people close to them — are reacting. Ultimately, they sound a message of hope and perseverance as the they underscore the value of coming together during these "uncertain times."

For Episode 5 of OTB, we decided pivot a little from the way we normally do things. Within mostly audio presentation, Grace O'Connor, MA, LMFT assumes the role as solo host as she moderates a conversation with guest, Los Angeles Gender Center co-founder, Elise Turen, Phd, ASC, and GWLA President and Founder Casey Weitzman, MA, LMFT — normally, OTB's other co-host. At GWLA, we think it's important to take time and reflect on he Trans/Nonbinary community's history, as we try to clear the hurdles we face every day. With Episode 5, we are provided with a unique perspective earned over time, from two clinicians, once workplace colleagues at the LA Gender Center nearly 30 years ago, and still friends today. Both Elise and Casey were true pioneers, among only a handful of professionals — truly — who created institutions and mechanisms for the community to receive Trans-affirming care in Los Angeles, for decades now.

In Episode 4, Casey and Grace welcome special guest, Paria Hassouri. One might say that she's a "perfect" guest for this podcast, for two reasons: 1. Paria is a mother of three and a writer. Her amazing memoir, Found in Transition: A Mother's Evolution During Her Child's Gender Change, suggests — in part, anyway — why she is also, now, a transgender rights activist. Much of Episode 4 springs from her personal story, and it's one that any parent of a transgender child will definitely want to learn more about. The vulnerability and honesty that's so evident in her memoir is clearly on display throughout this episode. 2. Paria Hassouri is also a pediatrician. She practices at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where she most recently started the Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Wellness Clinic. As such, she is uniquely qualified to speak about puberty blockers, hormone therapy (HRT), and fertility preservation — all of them, important topics related to transgender youth and the parents that love and care for them. Dr. Hassouri addresses all three subjects in an easy-to-understand way. In sum, Episode 4 is touching and informative. Paria, Casey, and Grace, address a cross-section of mental + emotional + physical health themes that parents of transgender kids will find enormously helpful. To WATCH this episode, go here: genwell.org. +++ Is there a topic that you'd like OTB to consider for an upcoming episode? Reach out to us and let us know: feedback - - - - Presented by Gender Wellness of Los Angeles, OTB is a podcast hosted by Casey Weitzman, MA, LMFT & Grace O'Connor, MA, LMFT. Casey and Grace will also be joined by a variety of guests to discuss topics designed to expand the collective understanding — and raise awareness — of issues important to transgender, gender diverse, and gender nonbinary people. For more info, visit genwell.org.

Body mass index (BMI) requirements for gender affirmation surgery (GAS) are ubiquitous and vary among medical providers. In this episode of Over the Binary (OTB), Casey and Grace talk with esteemed nutritionist — and author — Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD-S, about the subjective BMI requirements that can limit access to GAS, sometimes negatively impacting a transitioning person's health and safety. As the conversation unfolds, they also discuss problematic media portrayals effecting body image perceptions and the sensitivity and awareness that some healthcare providers lack, in general, when treating transgender individuals. Presented by Gender Wellness of Los Angeles ( https://genwell.org ), OTB is a podcast hosted by Casey Weitzman, MA, LMFT and Grace O'Connor, MA, LMFT. Casey and Grace will sometimes be joined by a variety of guests to discuss topics designed that expand the collective understanding — and raise awareness — of issues important to transgender, gender diverse, and gender nonbinary people. +++ Is there a topic that you'd like OTB to consider for an upcoming episode? Reach out to us and let us know: https://genwell.org/contact/

The (normally) respected television series 60 Minutes recently aired a segment that was widely criticized for its unbalanced portrayal of "detransitioning." Consistent with this outrage from trans advocates everywhere, Casey and Grace discuss the unfortunate broadcast, and more.

Casey and Grace chat with Luke S., a trans male teen. He's a soon-to-be high school grad who's enrolling in college this fall — and, he's an all-around rock star. __ Feeling lost in recent conversations about gender? "Over the Binary: Conversations About Gender with Gender Therapists" is the place to seek education and answers for both allies and LGBTQ+ community members alike. Hosted by therapists Casey Weitzman, LMFT (she/her) and Grace O'Connor, LMFT (she/her) of Gender Wellness of Los Angeles, Casey and Grace are joined by a variety of experts to discuss the most pertinent topics related to transgender, non-binary, and queer identities in today's America. Over the Binary can be streamed on all your favorite podcast platforms including Spotify, Audible, and Apple Podcasts. Your journey to your most authentic self starts here.