Evolutionary Psychologist Edward Dutton

Affirmation versus exploratory therapy

“Affirmation” and “exploration” are often presented as opposing approaches to a young person’s gender distress. In practice, the terms describe different emphases rather than two neatly separate clinical methods. Both should begin with kindness, safeguarding, and serious attention to distress. Neither should involve shaming a child for gender non-conformity, nor attempting to force a preferred identity.

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