#320 - Sasha Ayad, LPC - Exploring Youth Identity, Gender Affirming Care & Mental Health

Sasha Ayad joins Something For Everybody this week. Sasha is a licensed therapist, author and speaker who focuses on the way gender dysphoria and personal identity impacts children and families. In this conversation, Sasha Ayad and I explore the complexities of balance in life, the evolving nature of identity, particularly in youth, and the implications of gender identity discussions. We delve into the importance of exploration in identity development, the impact of social media, and the controversies surrounding gender-affirming care. Sasha shares her insights on the challenges faced by young people today and the need for a more nuanced understanding of identity and gender. We explore the authoritarian nature of current gender identity politics, the courage required to speak out against prevailing narratives, and the impact of emerging research on gender medicine. - 0:00 Navigating Balance and Harmony in Life 03:00 Understanding Identity and Its Evolution 05:49 The Complexity of Gender Identity in Youth 08:57 The Role of Exploration in Identity Development 11:58 The Impact of Social Media on Identity Perception 15:05 The Controversy Surrounding Gender-Affirming Care 17:53 The Evolution of Gender Identity Discussions 21:02 Challenges in Gender Identity Treatment Approaches 28:40 The Evolution of Gender Identity Discussions 29:00 Understanding Gender Identity vs. Sexual Orientation 32:29 The Demands of Gender Identity 34:28 The Authoritarian Nature of Gender Identity Politics 37:36 Courage in Speaking Out 40:50 The Impact of Research on Gender Medicine 47:46 The Sunk Cost Fallacy in Gender Medicalization 53:04 The Manipulative Suicide Narrative 58:44 Understanding Mental Health and Gender Identity 01:01:12 The Role of Relationships in Youth Development 01:04:38 The Importance of Genuine Conversations 01:08:38 The Transformative Power of Strength Training - Referenced data and numbers of prescriptions for minors and gender related medical interventions, that data comes from here: https://donoharmmedicine.org/2024/10/08/stop-the-harm-national-database-child-trans-industry/ - See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://everybodyspod.com/deals/ - Shop For Everybody Use code SFE10 for 10% OFF 👉 https://shopforeverybody.com/ - Extra Stuff: Website: https://sashaayad.com/ Substack: https://sashaayad.substack.com/ X: https://x.com/SashaLPC Podcast: https://linktr.ee/WiderLensPod - Subscribe to my newsletter: https://aaronmachbitz.com/ - Something For Everybody Merchandise → https://shopforeverybody.com/collections/somethingforeverybody - To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/AaronMachbitz (Recorded on November 18th, 2024) Edited by Ben Rogerson (@BenRogerson_) Intro music by Residual Audio (Residualaudio.com) Episodes You Might Enjoy: #295 - How to Use What You Have To Get What You Want - Jason Silver https://everybodyspod.com/jasonsilver/ #300 - The Darkside of OnlyFans - Victoria Sinis https://everybodyspod.com/sinis/ - Get in touch: iG: https://www.instagram.com/AaronMachbitz Twitter: https://twitter.com/AaronMachbitz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMachbitz/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AaronMachbitz Email: https://www.aaronmachbitz.com/contact/