The Gender Identity Development service was the only gender identity clinic for people under the age of 18 in England and Wales. Operating since 1989, it was closed on March 28 2024. In today's episode we speak to Marcus Evans, who was previously on the board of governors for the service. Marcus was also one of the whistleblowers (along with his wife Sue Evans) responsible for bringing the clinic under judicial review.

Among other topics, today we discuss:
- The series of events which led to the clinic's closure
- The problem with the gender affirmative model of approaching gender dysphoria
- Psychoanalytic perspectives on gender dysphoria
- Best practices for approaching gender dysphoria
- The influences of politics and culture on healthcare
- The recently published Cass report which outlined problems with the service and which provided reccomendations as to how such a service should be run

Marucs Evans is a consultant psychotherapist with 40 years of experience in mental health as a practitioner, supervisor, lecturer, and manager, including at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust. He is a member of the British Psychoanalytical Society and the Institute of Psychoanalysis.

Interviewed by Dr Alex Curmi. Watch the full podcast on youtube:
https://youtu.be/kOCarWJL84A

If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com.

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Mark L. Ruffalo, M.S.W., D.Psa., is a psychotherapist in private practice in Tampa, Florida, and serves as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and Adjunct Instructor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. He has broad clinical experience in the psychoanalytic treatment of mood disorders, personality disorders, and psychosomatic illness, and has particular interest in the psychotherapy of schizophrenia. He is also the editor-in-chief of the Carlat Psychotherapy report.

In today's episode we discuss borderline personality disorder, the most common symptoms and problems associated with the condition, how it is treated, the pros and cons of diagnosis and much more.

His article on "double binds" in borderline personality disorder can be found here:
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/double-binds-in-borderline-communication

Interviewed by Dr Alex Curmi. Watch the full podcast on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDGzku4PqNQ

If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Join Our Mailing List! - https://thinkingmindpod.aidaform.com/mailinglistsignup

SUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmind

Kat Brown is an author & journalist whose work on mental health stigma and other social and entertainment commentary has appeared in The Telegraph, The Times and The Guardian. Her first book, No One Talks About This Stuff, is an anthology sharing people’s untold experiences of infertility and baby loss. Her second book, It's Not A Bloody Trend: Understanding Life as an ADHD Adult, was published a month before her first, which is a ridiculousness she really enjoys.

Interviewed by Dr Alex Curmi. If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Join Our Mailing List! - https://thinkingmindpod.aidaform.com/mailinglistsignup

SUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmind