Tag: mental health support

Posted on by

Myths and Facts of Gender-Affirming Care

myths

Myths about gender-affirming care persist due to a lot of misinformation. Gender-affirming care is an essential component of healthcare for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals. However, despite its positive impact on well-being, this type of care is often misunderstood or surrounded by misconceptions. In this post, we’ll explore some common myths about gender-affirming care and provide factual, evidence-based responses to debunk them.

Myth 1: Gender-Affirming Care is Only for Adults

Fact: Gender-affirming care is tailored to the individual’s age and stage of development. For young people, this care often focuses on social affirmation, such as using chosen names and pronouns, or reversible interventions like puberty blockers. Contrary to myths, surgery is almost never performed on children under the age of majority.

The data on gender-affirming surgeries for minors under the age of 16 in the United States is limited, but available research suggests that such procedures are extremely rare. For example, a study published in 2023 found that among individuals aged 12 to 18, only a small percentage underwent gender-affirming surgeries, with most procedures being chest surgeries rather than genital surgeries. Additionally, from 2019 to 2023, approximately 5,747 minors received gender-affirming surgeries, though this figure includes individuals up to the age of 18.

In all cases, when the child is under the age of legal consent, parents are guardians have given consent. It is a myth that gender-affirming surgery can be performed on a person under the age of legal majority without parental permission.

Gender-affirming care for people under the age of legal majority is generally reversible and designed to give individuals time to explore their gender identity safely, without making permanent changes. Medical procedures like hormone therapy and surgeries are typically reserved for adults or older adolescents, with careful consideration and consent.

Myth 2: Gender-Affirming Care Forces People to Transition

Fact: Gender-affirming care is not about pushing anyone toward transition. Instead, it’s about supporting individuals in aligning their lives with their authentic selves. For some, this may involve medical interventions, while for others, it might only involve social changes or mental health support. The goal is to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their care, based on their unique needs and desires.

Myth 3: Gender-Affirming Care is Experimental

Fact: Gender-affirming care is supported by decades of clinical research and evidence. Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA) and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), recognize it as safe, effective, and essential for improving mental health outcomes. Studies consistently show that gender-affirming care reduces depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among transgender and gender-diverse individuals.

Myth 4: Gender-Affirming Care is Always Irreversible

Fact: This is a nuanced topic. Some aspects of gender-affirming care, like puberty blockers, are entirely reversible—when treatment is paused, puberty resumes naturally. Hormone therapy may have some reversible effects, depending on the duration of use. However, certain surgical interventions are permanent and undertaken only after thorough evaluation and consent. No underage child can receive surgery without the consent of a parent or guardian. Also contrary to popular myth, gender-affirming surgery is never something done on impulse or a whim. The process is always guided by informed decisions from the individual and their healthcare team.

Myth 5: Gender-Affirming Care is a Quick and Easy Process

Fact: Gender-affirming care is a thoughtful, individualized process that takes time. In spite of what the myths out there might want you to believe, it involves consultations with medical professionals, mental health assessments, and discussions about goals and expectations. Each step is taken with care to ensure the individual’s safety and well-being. The myth that it’s a quick or impulsive decision ignores the depth of the process and the care taken in providing it.

Myth 6: Gender-Affirming Care Harms Children

Fact: Gender-affirming care is shown to significantly benefit children and adolescents. It provides a supportive framework for young people to explore and express their gender identity. Research demonstrates that access to gender-affirming care reduces risks of mental health issues, including depression and suicide, in transgender youth. The care is always age-appropriate and designed to prioritize the child’s best interests.

Myth 7: All Transgender People Pursue Medical Transition

Fact: Not all transgender or nonbinary individuals seek medical interventions. Gender-affirming care is highly personalized, and people’s needs vary widely. Some individuals may opt for hormone therapy or surgeries, while others may choose social changes like name or pronoun usage. The spectrum of gender-affirming care reflects the diversity of experiences within transgender and gender-diverse communities.

Myth 8: Gender-Affirming Care is Not Supported by Science

Fact: Gender-affirming care is grounded in substantial scientific evidence. Peer-reviewed studies and clinical research consistently highlight its benefits for mental health and overall well-being. Leading medical institutions worldwide endorse gender-affirming care as a critical aspect of healthcare for transgender individuals.

Conclusion: Fostering Understanding Through Education

Dispelling myths about gender-affirming care is essential for creating a more inclusive and supportive society. By relying on factual information, we can better advocate for the rights and well-being of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals. Understanding the truth behind gender-affirming care helps foster empathy, acceptance, and equitable access to essential healthcare.

Share Your Thoughts!

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel for more information and content!

Schedule a Teletherapy Appointment with Charlton Hall, MMFT, PhD, LMFT

For those seeking personalized guidance in incorporating Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy into their lives, Charlton Hall, MMFT, PhD, LMFT, offers professional teletherapy sessions. With extensive expertise in MBE, Dr. Hall provides tailored strategies to help individuals overcome insomnia and achieve restorative sleep.

How to Schedule an Appointment:

  1. Visit the Mindful Ecotherapy Center Website to find more information about Dr. Hall’s approach to sleep wellness and mindfulness-based therapies.
  2. Book a Consultation – Easily schedule a teletherapy session that fits your availability.
  3. Receive Expert Guidance – Work one-on-one with Dr. Hall to develop a personalized sleep-improvement plan using MBE techniques.

By integrating Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy into your daily routine, you can naturally enhance your sleep quality, reduce stress, and achieve long-term wellness.

Schedule an Appointment Today!

Ready to take the next step? Schedule a session with Charlton Hall today and start your journey to better sleep through the healing power of nature.

Schedule an Appointment

Posted on by

School Shootings – Charlton Hall on WSPA Channel 7

school shootings

Click here to watch the video

Understanding School Shootings: Focusing on Probability Over Possibility

When Charlton Hall, MMFT, PhD, served as Chair of Behavioral Health for ReGenesis Health Care in Spartanburg, South Carolina, he became a trusted voice on issues affecting children’s mental health and safety. Among the many topics he addressed, one particularly sensitive subject was that of school shootings. As tragic and terrifying as these events are, they present unique challenges for both parents and educators in how they discuss safety with children without instilling excessive fear. In interviews with local reporters, Dr. Hall emphasized a subtle but crucial distinction: when children ask about the likelihood of a school shooting, it is often more helpful to focus on probability rather than mere possibility.

The Normalization of School Shootings

In our current cultural climate, news of shootings appears frequently and often with intense coverage, giving the impression that such events are a constant, ever-present threat. For children and adults, this can trigger heightened anxiety and a sense of impending danger. Dr. Hall recognized that children’s natural curiosity and concerns about safety needed to be addressed with honesty, but also with perspective. His guidance was clear: while it is technically always possible that a school shooting could happen at any given school, the probability that it will occur at their particular school is relatively low. By framing the conversation around probability, children can develop a realistic understanding of risk without being paralyzed by fear.

Probability vs. Possibility

Dr. Hall’s approach utilizes behavioral health principles and child development research to help children understand risk and probability. Children may misinterpret rare events as common due to media coverage, but adults can assist by contextualizing these events and comparing them to more frequent risks. For instance, despite media reports of multiple school shootings, the actual probability of a child experiencing such an event at their own school is very low. Understanding the difference between possibility and probability can help children feel safer while acknowledging real dangers.

Pay Attention to the Emotional Component

Importantly, Dr. Hall also highlighted the emotional component of these conversations. Children often ask about school shootings not only to understand the facts but also to seek reassurance. By emphasizing probability, adults validate children’s concerns while simultaneously reinforcing that most schools remain safe environments. This balanced approach reduces anxiety without resorting to false assurances, which can undermine trust if children later encounter distressing news.

Beyond individual conversations, Dr. Hall advocated for proactive safety measures in schools, such as well-trained staff, emergency preparedness drills, and clear communication strategies. While these measures cannot eliminate the possibility of a school shooting, they do reduce risk and empower children and educators to respond effectively if an incident were ever to occur. By coupling probability-focused discussions with tangible safety practices, children gain both cognitive and practical tools for navigating their environment confidently.

Informed, Compassionate Conversations

In a society where sensationalized news and social media coverage amplify fears, Dr. Hall’s perspective is particularly relevant. Focusing on probability rather than possibility is not a matter of ignoring danger but of teaching children to weigh realistic risks against anxiety-inducing scenarios. This approach fosters resilience, critical thinking, and a grounded sense of personal safety, all of which are essential components of behavioral health.

Charlton Hall’s guidance on this delicate topic demonstrates the importance of informed, compassionate communication when addressing children’s fears. By explaining that while a school shooting is always possible, the probability of it occurring at their particular school is low, he provided parents, educators, and children alike with a framework for understanding risk, reducing anxiety, and maintaining emotional balance in the face of alarming news. His work continues to serve as a model for behavioral health professionals navigating the complexities of child safety, perception of risk, and media influence in contemporary society.

Transcript of the WSPA Interview

Charlton Hall chairs the behavioral health department at ReGenesis Health Care, and said the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, made it to the minds of his patients who’ve dealt with trauma.

“Because it’s just another reminder that the world isn’t always a safe place,” said Hall.

It’s a conversation, he said, parents need to have in their homes, too.

“[Help children] understand that unfortunately, this is the world we live in now and these things do happen,” he said. “The longer you [parents] sweep it under the rug, the more you’re going to have to deal with it at some point in the future.”

Hall advised limiting how much children are exposed to news of these shootings and leaving out the graphic details for younger children, while avoiding information they don’t ask for.

“Too much information for a small child would be something like going into graphic detail about what happened, about how many people were killed. Just let them know that something bad happened, and let the child be your guide,” he said. “But, in the same way, be realistic. Don’t try to minimize the danger, either.”

He says to remind children that school shootings are possible, but not always probable.

“Assure them that they’re safe. Review the procedures with the school,” said Hall, “And it’s important that they are looking to you as a role model as well, so if they feel stressed out, they’re looking to you as to how to respond to that.”

And, while at their own schools, he says kids need to know that making threats is never funny.

“If I hear a child making what they think is a joke, saying that they’re going to shoot up a school, or if a teacher hears that, or any kind of professional who’s a mandated reporter hears that, they’re required by law to report that,” said Hall. “It’s a very serious thing and can impact the rest of your life – it can keep you from getting into college, getting a job.”

Share Your Thoughts!

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter!

SUBSCRIBE