The key issue at stake concerns 'gender critical' views (i.e., holding beliefs that sex is essential and immutable and that you are simply born male or female) and what implications this has for our practice. Alternative positions include being 'gender affirmative' which supports and affirms gender identity as separate from biological sex and being 'gender neutral' where there is a belief that social institutions should not distinguish people on the basis of being male or female. Gender critical feminists views the male-female divide as one of inequality where women can be oppressed. Case law confirms that 'gender critical' beliefs are protected under the Equality Act of 2010. However, the expression of that belief if it causes harm and distress is not acceptable.
I support the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy Professions) policies and practices which are inclusive and respectful of the autonomy of all clients including all genders. However, recent moves by the UKCP shows that their policies/practices are inconsistent or confused/confusing, not least because 'gender' is downplayed. Specifically, particular issues arose when the UKCP withdrew their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Conversion Therapy due to concerns that the existing MoU only applied to adults and did not adequately address the safeguarding specific needs of children and young people. This decision also caused some members to question the process and lack of consultation regarding the withdrawal.
The Open Letter to challenge the UKCP's position started circulating in November 2023 and these are the key take-aways where I paraphrase a long, layered letter:
1. There is a need to acknowledge a broad spectrum of sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. We support therapy which affirms trans, non-binary and gender questioning clients, supporting their right to self-define their gender. It is important for therapists to acknowledge what clients want/need/feel and to encourage their agency to define themselves. In other words, the therapeutic goal should be to be with the client on their journey as they figure out where they want to go.
2. We remain firmly against 'conversion therapy' while appreciating the idea of 'exploratory therapy' can be understood in different ways. We support exploratory therapy which starts with an acceptance of 'trans' being one of many potentially favourable outcomes. Any therapy which is designed to pathologise or uncover reasons and 'fix' gender identity would be considered 'conversion therapy'.
3. To be ethical, therapists need to be free of particular agendas which favour specific gender identities and must learn about their preconceptions and unconscious biases (and maybe unlearn some) when working with different sexualities and gender expansive experiences. Therapists lack of awareness and competence in working with gender can be a barrier to gender expansive and trans clients accessing safe/effective therapy. It is also incompatible to be staunchly gender critical while offering genuine exploratory therapy with trans, non-binary and gender questioning clients.
4. Therapists should not conflat working psychotherapeutically with trans with being involved in medical trans care. We are not medical professionals. Our concern should be confined to helping clients explore their life journeys.
As a lifelong feminist it has taken some time for me to get clear about my position. I would argue against any extreme and reductionist view. While I accept there is a difference between biological sex and gender identity (and or gender expression), I want to be open to different possibilities and potentials. I absolutely support the positions declared above about the need for therapists to be ethical, accepting and affirming. I believe it is possible for me to be supportive of women's and trans people's rights - indeed, I want to support anyone who is being oppressed and abused.
