1 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly 2 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small 3 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: decisions we can make to become the best possible versions 4 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor Joy Harden Bradford, a 5 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or to 6 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: find a therapist in your area, visit our website at 7 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you love 8 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: listening to and learning from the podcast, it is not 9 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: meant to be a substitute for a relationship with a 10 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much for 11 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: joining me for a special bonus episode of the Therapy 12 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our conversation 13 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: after a worry from our sponsors. Earlier this week, we 14 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: shed some light on the experience of dating as a 15 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: transgender woman, and today we want to delve a little 16 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: deeper into that conversation, this time from the lens of 17 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: certified sex therapist Tia Evans. Tia has a private practice 18 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: in which she holds space for people from all cultures 19 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: and backgrounds. She holds a Master of Social Work from 20 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 1: Fayeteville State University, a Master of education in Human Sexuality 21 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: from Widner University and is a licensed clinical social worker 22 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: in the state of North Carolina. During our conversation, we 23 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: explored ways for a transgender person to identify signs of 24 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: safety and a potential friend or partner, how to establish 25 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: boundaries around intimacy with a new partner, and how cisgender 26 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: individuals can best support their transgender place partners. If something 27 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: resonates with you while enjoying our conversation, please share with 28 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 1: us on social media using the hashtag TVG in session 29 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 1: or join us over in the sister Circle to talk 30 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: more about the episode. You can join us at Community 31 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:22,519 Speaker 1: dot Therapy from blackgirls dot com. Here's our conversation. Thank 32 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: you so much for joining us today, Tire, of course, 33 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 1: thank you for having me. Absolutely absolutely so. You are 34 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: a licensed clinical social worker and a kink friendly sex therapist. 35 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: Can you talk to us a little bit about what 36 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: you do in the communities you serve? 37 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 2: So my role is people come to me when they 38 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 2: have issues in the relationships and their sex lives, questions 39 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 2: about a gender, sexuality, all that fun. 40 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: Stuff, got it? Got it? And what does it mean 41 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: to be kink friendly? 42 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 2: That means that I'm pretty well versed in things in 43 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 2: the kink community. So like BDSM, anything that's unconventional I 44 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 2: have a pretty good knowledge base of. And so I 45 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 2: come into a place of the non judgmental. You can 46 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 2: come ask your questions, you can ask your opinions, and 47 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 2: we can run just hash things out that they may 48 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 2: not feel comfortable doing in regular therapy. 49 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: And so in a large part of your caseload and 50 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: a lot of the work you do is also as 51 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: a part of the trans community. 52 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 2: Correct, Yes, a huge base. 53 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: Yes, So I think it's important for us when we 54 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: are having these kinds of conversations to make sure we 55 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: have good definitions and that people are kind of operating 56 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 1: from the same place. So I want to ask you 57 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: a couple of words to see if you can give 58 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 1: us a definition so that you know people have a 59 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: better understanding. So what are we talking about when we 60 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: say cis gender? 61 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 2: So a cist gender person is a person that identifies 62 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 2: with the gender that they were assigned at birth. 63 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: Okay, and what about trans feminine? 64 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 2: For somebody who identifies as transfeminine, that means that they 65 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 2: have been assigned one particular gender that may have been 66 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: assigned male as their gender. But they identify as female 67 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 2: or they identify as being more or into feminine based things. 68 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: And what about trans masculine. 69 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: So then that's going to be the opposite of that. 70 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 2: So that's a person who's tender, maybe a signed female 71 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 2: at birth, but they identify as male or they are 72 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 2: into masculine things or identify with things that are traditionally 73 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 2: labelled as a masculine. 74 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: So, Tia, you know, I know so much of like 75 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,799 Speaker 1: how we know about ourselves and how we are interested 76 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: in dating and our dating habits are shaped by like 77 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: our upbringing, right, And I know that for people in 78 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: the trans community, they're often being raised by CIS people. 79 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: So can you talk a little bit about how like 80 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: that lack of representation impacts identity and dating choices. 81 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 2: So when people aren't used to seeing how they would 82 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 2: love to date or they are in clinent today being 83 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 2: represented let's stay in the media or even in their 84 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 2: own community, it makes them feel isolated or it makes 85 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 2: them feel like what they're doing is and people tend 86 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 2: to and if they're put into that box, they tend 87 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 2: to kind of shut down and maybe go into themselves 88 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 2: and they withdraw. You might see somebody end up being 89 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: very anxious or depressed, or just seemingly not connected to 90 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 2: society as a whole, maybe like even checked out. 91 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: And you mentioned the media for a lot of people 92 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: who are in morginalized communities, if you don't see yourself 93 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 1: represented in your home or in your community, and you 94 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: will turn to media, right, So, TV, film, books, those 95 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: kinds of things. Can you talk a little bit about 96 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: the impact that you have seen on the trans community 97 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: from looking at depictions of trans life in the media. 98 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 2: I think that when we see things that are in 99 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 2: a positive light, then you see more of a whilely 100 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 2: seeing my patients, more of happy, upbeat. But then when 101 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: you see things in the media that might show trends 102 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: people in a negative light, then I see them coming 103 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 2: with more of being down themselves or maybe even questioning 104 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 2: where they fit in society or in their own lives 105 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 2: and their own community. So I think it definitely ebbs 106 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 2: and flows with what you see on TV or on 107 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: the radio, with how people who are a part of 108 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 2: the community tend to reflect in the day to day. 109 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: And to your earlier points. So, I recently had a 110 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 1: chance to watch the Disclosure documentary on Netflix. Have you 111 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: seen that I haven't seen it, Okay. So there was 112 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,559 Speaker 1: a lot in the documentary just about not having trans 113 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: representation in the media, or if it was then it 114 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: was always this thing that was like looked upon negatively 115 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: or it was like a joke, right, Like a joke 116 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: was made out of trans people's lives, and that the 117 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 1: people in the documentary were talking about how that impacted 118 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: their identity and like their self concept until they grew 119 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:44,679 Speaker 1: up and maybe met trans people in later life. 120 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 2: I don't have to check that out. It sounds really good. 121 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: Mm hmmmmm, Yeah, it definitely would be one. I think 122 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 1: you'd appreciate. The other thing that they talked about as 123 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 1: a part of the documentary was like having to unlearn 124 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: so much of like the negative stereotypes that they saw 125 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: about trans people in the media. Can you talk a 126 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: little bit about maybe what that has looked like with 127 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: your clients, Like what kinds of things have they had 128 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: to unlearned. 129 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,279 Speaker 2: Believe it or not, some people who identify as trans 130 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 2: are in the community may have a bit of transphobia 131 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 2: themselves just because of what they've seen or what's been 132 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 2: spilled back into them. So part of what I do 133 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 2: is kind of unpack what they've learned, and we decipher 134 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 2: what is good to keep and what is not so 135 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: good to keep, and I really get in there and 136 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 2: discover what do they want to be, how do they 137 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 2: want to represent themselves? So what does it mean to 138 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 2: be authentic? And that's what comes across my desk a 139 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: lot is how do I live authentically when the world 140 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 2: doesn't want me to be present? And so part of 141 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: that is really just sitting into that and maybe just 142 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 2: defining what does it mean to be authentic? And how 143 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 2: do we persevere and look past the negativity? How do 144 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 2: we look past the stereotypes, and how do we get 145 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: people to be seen and heard as it deserved to 146 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 2: be seen and heard. 147 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I was gonna say, I would imagine that 148 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: your job has become that much harder in recent years, 149 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: right with all the additional like anti trans legislation that's 150 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: being passed. Can you talk a little bit about how 151 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: all of that has impacted your work and your clients. 152 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 2: So I am in North Carolina and where's a lot 153 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 2: of negative trans bills floating around right now, and some 154 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: of the bigger ones are being targeted towards my little 155 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 2: trans people. So my under eighteen people. And so that's 156 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: where we see a lot of not just the patience, 157 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 2: but the parents too try and decide or what we're 158 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 2: gonna do because a lot of people are option to move. 159 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 2: That's the biggest impact that's happening right now. Within this day, 160 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 2: there's people making exit plans to leave the state, to 161 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,839 Speaker 2: seek refuge and places that are safer or places that 162 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 2: are more welcoming. It's devastating. 163 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, So when you talk about like sitting with people 164 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: and helping them to kind of appreciate authentically who they are, 165 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 1: what does that look like? What kinds of conversations are 166 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: you having or exercises that might help with some of that. 167 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,719 Speaker 2: So I asked them to define who they are. If 168 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 2: they have to describe themselves to anybody, how will they 169 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: describe themselves? And then we'll go into well how does 170 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: that look? How do you represent that adjective with the physical? 171 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 2: How do you want to present? How do you want 172 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 2: to look? What do you want to give to the world. 173 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 2: That's pretty much how we start, and then I send 174 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 2: them home, Well, this is what you need to work on. 175 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 2: Here is how you can present and the way you 176 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 2: want to present. And let's see what feels good for you, 177 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:26,439 Speaker 2: and let's see what doesn't feel good for you, and 178 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 2: let's reshape it if it doesn't. 179 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 1: Tea earlier, you mentioned that even people in the trans 180 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: community themselves will sometimes experience transphobia, and that feels similar 181 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: to you. Even black people experiencing anti blackness right and 182 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: are having anti black kinds of thoughts. So what kinds 183 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: of things do you do to help them unpack like 184 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: some of their internalized transphobia. 185 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 2: So I normalize people being able to present the way 186 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 2: they want to present. So sometimes you see some trans 187 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 2: people talking about how I want to make sure that 188 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,839 Speaker 2: I pass or what does it mean to be passable? 189 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 2: And what does it mean to be able to blend in? 190 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 2: And then there are some people in the community that 191 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 2: just are free to look and feel how they want 192 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,319 Speaker 2: to feel, and that may not be mainstream, that may 193 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 2: not be the norm, so to speak. And so I 194 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 2: work with patients to normalize. You look how you want 195 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 2: to look, You represent how you want to represent, and 196 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 2: that doesn't make you any more or less of how 197 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 2: you want to be seen or viewed. And how you 198 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 2: look doesn't affect how the next person looks, and so 199 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 2: less normalize your own style, your own authenticity, your own esthetic. 200 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 1: Can you talk to you about any additional kinds of 201 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: struggles that you see with maybe some of your black 202 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:41,199 Speaker 1: trans clients. Are there additional kinds of conversations, additional things 203 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: to kind of work through as being a part of 204 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: the black community. 205 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 2: Oh? Absolutely. The biggest thing I see is issues with 206 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 2: the church and their spirituality and religion that intersects heavy. 207 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 2: Especially a lot of the people who are in the 208 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 2: trans community that come from a very heavily spiritual Christian 209 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 2: base will often be conflicted on well, this is what 210 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 2: my religion says, but this is how I feel. Or 211 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 2: I can't go home because my grandmother, who is a 212 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 2: deepness in church, or my father who's a pastor in 213 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 2: the church, doesn't want me around because of how I 214 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 2: look to them, and how the church might see my 215 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 2: parents not even meet, but how I see my parents. 216 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 2: So what it trickles down, that's what I see the 217 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 2: most within the black and brown communities is how their 218 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,199 Speaker 2: religion crosses over into the identity. 219 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: Thank you for sharing that tea, You know it makes 220 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: me think about there's obviously then some grief to I 221 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: would imagine process when maybe you have to let go 222 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: of some of those relationships, either as parents or with 223 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: a church. Can you talk a little bit about how 224 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: you might help somebody process. 225 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 2: That so that might even look like maybe a mini funeral, 226 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 2: or what do you want to say to your family 227 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 2: that you may not be able to say? If you 228 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 2: want to write a letter, even if you send it 229 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 2: or not, what do you want that letter to say 230 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 2: as your goodbyes to whoever you have to let go, 231 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 2: If it's the or if it's religion as a whole, 232 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,319 Speaker 2: what can you do to find peace with that within yourself? 233 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 2: And what does that mean for you to maybe get 234 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 2: your spiritual cut field in a different way. So we 235 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: look up ways to process letting go, but looking forward 236 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 2: to being able to be free. Is that sacrifice worth 237 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 2: the freedom? And if it is, then we move forward. 238 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 2: If it's not, well, what does that mean? How can 239 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 2: you find those little pieces of peace in the struggle. 240 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: Can you say more about the ceremony. I think that's 241 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: often a very powerful kind of imagery for people to do, 242 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: like these kind of funerals, or it kind of reminds 243 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:39,839 Speaker 1: me of like an empty chair technique. Can you say 244 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: a little bit more about the ceremony, like would you 245 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: encourage them to invite other people to be a witness 246 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: to that? What does that look like? 247 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 2: Only if they feel safe doing so. But usually it's 248 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,199 Speaker 2: something that we might even do in session where the 249 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 2: person is maybe standing up and reading what their goodbyes 250 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,319 Speaker 2: could look like to the couch, which is again the 251 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 2: empty chair method, or even just saying hey, this is 252 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 2: who I used to be. I am memorialized and who 253 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 2: I used to be, and I'm letting go of that 254 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 2: so that the new week can be birthed. So it 255 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 2: really is one of those they write out what they 256 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 2: want to say. If they want to bring in our 257 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 2: article of clothing or something that they want to leave behind, 258 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 2: they're welcome to do that. Just something that memorializes who 259 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:31,079 Speaker 2: they were and maybe something to look forward to moving forward, 260 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 2: even if it's like a new tube of lipstick or 261 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 2: a new tie, just something to kind of complete the ceremony, 262 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 2: if you will. 263 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: Thank you for that more from our conversation after the break. So, 264 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: you know, I think even within the LGBTQIE community there 265 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: has often been even further marginalization for trans people as 266 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 1: a part of that community and kind of being made 267 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: to feel invisible. Can you talk a little bit about 268 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:13,239 Speaker 1: some of that backlash and supporting clients to find community 269 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: even within the community that they may be feeling pushed 270 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: out of. 271 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 2: And I think the biggest part about that too is 272 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 2: some people in the community see the tea in the 273 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 2: acronym is more gender based versus sexuality based, and that's 274 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 2: where a lot of intersection looks or a lot of 275 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 2: them being ostracized looks like, oh, this is a tack 276 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 2: on our sexuality, but they're folks on their gender, so 277 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: they should stay over there, when really there's a lot 278 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: of people who are trans that are very much steal 279 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 2: lesbian or gay or participate in the acronym as well. 280 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 2: So letting them know that they still belong, normalizing that 281 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 2: your place is here. If you want to identify within 282 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 2: this culture, then you have every right to do so, 283 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 2: and nobody can take they're from you. I love to say, 284 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: who gonna check you in my sessions? Because really and truly, 285 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 2: who has the right to do that? 286 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: Right right? I love that? And can you talk a 287 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: little bit about helping people in the trans community find 288 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: community for themselves, because I think if you can't be 289 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: a part of some of these larger communities. Sometimes that 290 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: means you have to create it for yourself. So can 291 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: you talk about supporting clients through that or with that? 292 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 2: Absolutely? So what I do is I talk about, well, 293 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 2: what does your support system look like now, and how 294 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 2: many people aren't in supports who are also trans, and 295 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 2: what does that look like? Would you like more trans friends? 296 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 2: And we talk about ways to maybe find trans friends, 297 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 2: ways to if their city has an organization that's dedicated 298 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 2: to the trans community, I might direct them there, if 299 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 2: there's resources onlines or even Facebook groups that seem safe. 300 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 2: Just trying to encourage them to find their tribe and 301 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 2: what speaks to them. Because and then because everybody's not 302 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 2: going to accept everybody, and that's the unfortunate reality of 303 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 2: the world. So my job is to get back to 304 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 2: them and say, you find your people. Who do you 305 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 2: want your people to be? Let's find your people. Let 306 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 2: me help you find your people. 307 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: We definitely talk about, you know, finding community and friendship 308 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 1: here at TVG a lot. Can you talk a little 309 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: bit about how people can assess whether somebody is actually 310 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: a safe person to be in their circle. 311 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 2: It looks like asking specific questions, maybe not necessarily outing 312 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 2: themselves if they don't need to, but asking questions about 313 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 2: how they feel about even just the lgbt QIA community 314 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 2: as a whole. How do you feel about what's happening 315 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 2: in politics? Maybe, oh, have you seen this show? What's 316 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 2: your take on this show? Those little feeling questions to 317 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 2: put those feelers out without out themselves they don't have to, 318 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 2: that's where you start, and. 319 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 1: I would imagine that's why, you know, finding like the 320 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: Facebook groups and different kinds of communities where like you 321 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: already know that there is some acceptance and hopefully affirmation, 322 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: maybe feel like a better place to start then, you know, 323 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: like random strangers. Oh correct, absolutely, yeah, yeah, but. 324 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 2: More so you want us to do the filling out 325 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 2: in social media or insights that may be more public 326 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 2: and less provas. We want to be selective regardless, it's 327 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 2: easy to infiltrate these spaces sometimes. Yeah, that's a big 328 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 2: part of being safe too, is really knowing where you're 329 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 2: putting yourself out there and really being on your p's 330 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:29,159 Speaker 2: and q's. 331 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: You're saying that makes me think, you know, we talked 332 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: a little bit about like some of the additional challenges 333 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: that black people in the trans community have and we 334 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: know that some of the highest levels of violence happened 335 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: to black trans women. Is there any safety planning that 336 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: you do with clients or like bringing in additional agencies 337 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 1: or resources to help support clients in that area. 338 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 2: I like to ask them what are they doing to 339 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 2: stay safe? Just straight up, Especially if I have people 340 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 2: who are trying to day or are new today, they 341 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 2: are wanting today, and I say, well, what's your exit plan? 342 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: What's happened if you meet this stranger and it comes 343 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 2: out in that moment and it gets a little heck 344 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 2: that what are you going to do? Talk about maybe 345 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,119 Speaker 2: making sure that you're closer to the door versus the 346 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 2: other person. Just I don't want to say basic safety 347 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 2: book because really some things would just take for granted, 348 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:25,440 Speaker 2: like watching your surroundings, looking around, checking license plates of Nebee, 349 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 2: just those little things. 350 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know. And as you're talking about this, Tia, 351 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 1: I'm wondering how that impacts like intimacy, because you're already 352 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: going into these situations thinking like, Okay, what is my 353 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: safety plan going to be? 354 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 2: Right? 355 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: And I think most of us have to. I mean, 356 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 1: we should be thinking about that because you just never 357 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: know what it does feel like there's a particular kind 358 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: of burden for folks in the trans community. So can 359 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: you talk a little bit about how that might impact 360 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 1: intimacy or the ability to even settle into relationships when 361 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:54,880 Speaker 1: you're kind of always thinking about safety planning. 362 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 2: I think that it takes a little longer for some 363 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 2: just because the respector right and really making sure that 364 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 2: they feel safe to even divulge their gender identity. I 365 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 2: think that's a huge part of a huge part of 366 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 2: it is actually when do I have this conversation with 367 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 2: my partner or what does that conversation look like? And 368 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 2: so those are the kind of things that we work 369 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 2: through in session, where how do you want to disclose, 370 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 2: how do you want to operate if that person maybe 371 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 2: gets angry or that person might need more time to 372 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 2: think about what they want to do, and normalize and 373 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 2: give them space, to give their partner space because that 374 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 2: could be apprehensive too that weight and gain wait and 375 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 2: to see what the response is going to be and 376 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 2: kind of normalize them. Well, these are your options, and 377 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 2: what do these options look like if it falls to 378 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 2: A to B or the C category. 379 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 1: So what kinds of guidelines are conversations? Do you typically 380 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: talk about with your clients around like when do you 381 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 1: disclose this information or when is it necessary? 382 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:00,959 Speaker 2: Well, that's a big question, just asking them when they 383 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 2: feel when it's necessary, because I can't be the judge 384 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 2: of that. But it goes case by case scenario. It's 385 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 2: usually around comfort level. How have you experienced this before? 386 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 2: Have you had an opportunity to disclose a gender before? 387 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 2: And what does that feel like? What are you gonna 388 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 2: do differently this time or if you've never done it before, 389 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 2: give me a sign that makes you feel safe, Tell 390 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,879 Speaker 2: me something that's gonna make you feel safe enough to 391 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 2: disclose that or are you the type that you want 392 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 2: to disclose off the top And if you do, are 393 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 2: you willing to accept what happens or do you know 394 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 2: what could happen if you disclose off the top your 395 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 2: gender identity. So a lot of it is just planning 396 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 2: and overplanning and going through scenarios and role playing and 397 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 2: really hashing out the benefits and consequences of these particular 398 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 2: actions and then coming behind with the safety plan on 399 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 2: top of it. It's a lot of preparation in the 400 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 2: front end. 401 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, And I'm wondering to ya if this 402 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 1: feels like a pie in the sky kind of questioning, 403 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 1: But it feels like we are asking people from this 404 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: marginalized group to do like all of this thinking, like 405 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: what kinds of conversations and things could we be having 406 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: as people who are not members of the trans community 407 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 1: so that this burden is not so heavy for people 408 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: in the trans community. 409 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 2: I think it starts about just having conversations in general 410 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 2: and correcting people or correcting friends or peers if the 411 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 2: wrong pronouns are being used or this negative talk comes along. 412 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 2: Somebody has to be the change agent and say, hey, 413 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 2: it's not okay to talk about this community or talk 414 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 2: about this person in this way. Because we're all humans, 415 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 2: we have the right to live. And how is one 416 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 2: person's decision directly affecting you if that's not somebody that 417 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 2: you have in your traditional space and your space in general. 418 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 2: So just breaking down the stereotypes and checking people out 419 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 2: the door and being prepared to maybe lose some friends 420 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 2: or lose some loved ones behind it to be that 421 00:21:58,920 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 2: change agent. 422 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 1: So you gave us some great information around trying to 423 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 1: assess whether somebody is trustworthy as a friend. Are there 424 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: additional kinds of questions or things that people should be 425 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: looking out for in terms of like being a potential 426 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,239 Speaker 1: partner or somebody to date, in terms of whether they 427 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 1: are trustworthy. 428 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 2: I think that kind of parallels. I think once you 429 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 2: get past the safetiness and a friend, it kind of 430 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 2: transpires into the next section. And especially at that point, 431 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,880 Speaker 2: if they feel safe enough to disclose, maybe asking somebody 432 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 2: if they dated a trans person before and what that 433 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 2: looked like for them and how they felt about it, 434 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 2: and really seeing what somebody's current knowledge is within dating 435 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 2: in the community. 436 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 1: So for trans people who maybe are feeling like some 437 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: societal pressure to disclose, right because you already said that's 438 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 1: up to the person's kind of individual comfort. So let's 439 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 1: say people are listening to our conversation now and they 440 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: are feeling like this pressure to disclose. What kinds of 441 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: things might you tell them, or what kinds of questions 442 00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 1: might they want to ask themselves? 443 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 2: Are you ready? Are you really ready to disclose or 444 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 2: you just feel like you need to just because? And 445 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 2: if it's just because, what's stopping you from waiting another 446 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 2: day or waiting the nextra week. For those who feel 447 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 2: that they are ready, that they do want to disclose, well, 448 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 2: what does it feel like? What are you feeling currently? 449 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 2: What's your reason for wanting to disclose? How do you 450 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,719 Speaker 2: think you're going to feel after you do disclose? And 451 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 2: if you feel like disclosing, try it with a very 452 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 2: trusted friend first and go from there. If you already 453 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 2: have your tribe and you've already disclosed the people in 454 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 2: your tribe, do you need somebody there with you to 455 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 2: support you as you disclose? And if you do, that's 456 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 2: okay too. It's nothing wrong with having a support person 457 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 2: present with you when you need to have these difficult 458 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 2: conversations or conversations where you don't quite know how the 459 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 2: ending is going to be. And then also ask yourself, well, 460 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 2: once the cat's out the bag, I can't put the 461 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 2: cat back in the bag. So what is life going 462 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:00,080 Speaker 2: to look like from me? 463 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 1: Me? 464 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:03,160 Speaker 2: Or how do I want my life to look once 465 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 2: I have disclosed? It's a lot of soul searching. 466 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I would imagine too, like what kinds of support 467 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: is going to be there after I disclosed? Right? Like 468 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: what kinds of communities might I want to be able 469 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:18,240 Speaker 1: to be a part of? More from our conversation after 470 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:30,719 Speaker 1: the break, so it sounds like people are using therapy 471 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:33,159 Speaker 1: for lots of different reasons. Especially you know in the 472 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: work that you're doing, what are some of the conversations 473 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 1: or situations that maybe have come up for people like 474 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: when they started dating, that they didn't even think about that. 475 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: Maybe you have tried to or helped a client work 476 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 1: through labels. 477 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:50,160 Speaker 2: I think labels are a big thing, especially if somebody 478 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 2: is navigating dating a person in the community that may 479 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 2: not have even been in the community when they first 480 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 2: started dating. As a common topic that I work with 481 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 2: see is well what does that mean for you? Now? 482 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:05,239 Speaker 2: Am I now gay and my now a lesbian? What 483 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 2: does this mean for me? And I try to take 484 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 2: a step back and say, well, you don't have to 485 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 2: jump the gun so fast. You don't have to put 486 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 2: any label on yourself that you don't want to identify with. 487 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 2: What do you see as a partner, who do you 488 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 2: want as a partner? And what does dating for you 489 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 2: mean or look like? And as far as intimacy goes, 490 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 2: there's levels to it, right, So who says that you 491 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 2: have to do everything that you feel like should be done. 492 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 2: Just do what feels natural for you and let your 493 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 2: instincts take you there. I find a lot of people 494 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 2: in the community, they don't necessarily change their sexual identity, right, 495 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:47,880 Speaker 2: So it looks like, well, how do you want to date? 496 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,119 Speaker 2: Do you want to be a pursuer? Now? Do you 497 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 2: want to be pursued? What's your style or what do 498 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 2: you think your style is going to look like? If 499 00:25:56,320 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 2: you're trying to navigate the dating field as a new person, 500 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 2: how do you want to present yourself? How do you 501 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:06,120 Speaker 2: want to be treated? What do you have to give 502 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 2: the world, and what do you want the world to 503 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 2: give you? As you're navigating dating, just really looking at 504 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 2: the who do you see as a potential partner? Who 505 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 2: do you want as a partner, and how can we 506 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 2: get that for you? How can we obtain that for you? 507 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:25,680 Speaker 2: I think those are the biggest things that come across. 508 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 2: And then also well, how do I date? How am 509 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 2: I supposed to dress for this first day? Or am 510 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 2: I supposed to be the one to open the door now? 511 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 2: Or do I wait to have the door open for me? 512 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 2: Just these little nuances that we work through. 513 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and something else that has come up for us 514 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: I think in the community recently is like there's a 515 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: lot of anxiety about like the first time you're going 516 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,679 Speaker 1: to be physical with somebody, and I would imagine that 517 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: is the case here too. Can you talk a little 518 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,920 Speaker 1: bit about how do you prepare for your first time? 519 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: Like what kinds of conversations should you be having, what 520 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 1: kinds of things can be helpful to kind of manage 521 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 1: anxiety around your first time? 522 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 2: The biggest thing is boundaries. What are your boundaries? What 523 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 2: are you willing to do, what are you not willing 524 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,239 Speaker 2: to do? How are you willing to be touched? And 525 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,919 Speaker 2: how do you want to touch others? What does consent 526 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 2: look like? How do you withdraw consent if need be? 527 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:18,919 Speaker 2: Just again, I hate to say the word basic, but 528 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,160 Speaker 2: these things that we don't think about now as adults 529 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 2: because maybe if we've navigated these as young adults, but 530 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,159 Speaker 2: it's kind of like, well, how do you want your 531 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,119 Speaker 2: body to be perceived or how do you want to 532 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 2: use your body in a sexual manner or at an 533 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 2: intimate level with your partner, And how do you want 534 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 2: to have these conversations about body parts or how do 535 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:44,640 Speaker 2: you want to have this conversation about what your body 536 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 2: may have looked like or how bodies may have changed 537 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 2: over time, and how does that affect you when you 538 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:51,919 Speaker 2: look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you 539 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 2: feel sexy? 540 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:52,920 Speaker 1: No? 541 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 2: How can we get you to feel sexy? What do 542 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 2: you need to feel better about yourself or better about 543 00:27:57,800 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 2: what you see when you look in the mirror, because 544 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:00,360 Speaker 2: that's where it really istess arts. 545 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 1: So you mentioned the term that I think a lot 546 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,360 Speaker 1: of people may not be familiar with, Tia, withdrawing consent. 547 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:07,680 Speaker 1: So can you talk a little bit more about what 548 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,400 Speaker 1: that means? And like, how would you even withdraw consent? 549 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:13,359 Speaker 2: So with drawing consent just means that you want to 550 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:16,359 Speaker 2: stop whatever activity is happening. So that looks like saying 551 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,879 Speaker 2: stop or no, or I think we should shade this 552 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 2: for a later date, or I thought I was ready 553 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 2: for I don't think I'm ready now. So anytime you 554 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 2: might have said Okay, I do want to do this activity, 555 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 2: but then you change your mind later, its withdrawing consent. 556 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:31,719 Speaker 1: And I think a lot of people don't know that 557 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: even if you have done something before, you can still 558 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: withdraw consent and say I don't want to do that again. 559 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:37,879 Speaker 2: Absolutely. 560 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, So you mentioned something Tia that I wanted to 561 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 1: follow up on. You talked about a lot of these 562 00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: conversations actually need to happen before anybody gets nikeked. Right, 563 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 1: So all these conversations around boundaries, how would you introduce 564 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 1: this conversation with a potential partner. 565 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 2: I think a lot of it is a natural progression. 566 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 2: So it may happen with that first kiss, so that 567 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 2: first makeout session, or when things start to feel like 568 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 2: they're getting hot and heavy, and it starts with somebody's saying, 569 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 2: let's really talk about this. What are our expectations and 570 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 2: what does it look like for me to say I'm ready? 571 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 2: What does it look like for me to say I 572 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 2: may not have had sex this way before, but I'm 573 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 2: willing to try. And it's something really special about being vulnerable, 574 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 2: And all of this is assessing somebody's vulnerability level and 575 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 2: what are they willing to do, what are they willing 576 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 2: to talk about? And again, if they're not ready, maybe 577 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 2: let's take a step back and do that at a 578 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 2: later date. Let's just focus on building our mental intimacy 579 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 2: or our romantic intimacy and not just straight sexual intimacy. 580 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: So so much of dating today, when you've already talked 581 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 1: about this a little bit, but so much of dating 582 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 1: today is happening online, right, so we know you've already 583 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: mentioned that people can easily infiltrate spaces. So what kinds 584 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 1: of conversations are What kinds of suggestions would you give 585 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: to people around kW to navigate online dating to defend 586 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 1: against transphorb me as much as possible. What kinds of 587 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 1: suggestions would you have there. 588 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 2: Trust your instincts, trust your gut, let somebody know if 589 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 2: you're going on a first date, let somebody know your 590 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 2: surroundings of what's happening around you. And as far as 591 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 2: trying to select a partner or you know, read through 592 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 2: who could be a potential is just look for those keywords, 593 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 2: look for how that person is talking about trans people, 594 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 2: or look about how that person is talking about people 595 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 2: in the community as a whole, and just be alert. 596 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 2: Ask questions. There's nothing wrong with too many questions. And 597 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 2: then for somebody who their style they prefer to disclose 598 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 2: off the top, be okay with the backlash, be okay 599 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 2: or normalizing or not taking that personal that person doesn't 600 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 2: want to continue, and know when to take a break. 601 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 2: If are you're seeing on these Dayton profiles is transphobia? 602 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 2: Of are you've seen is negative outlook on the internet, 603 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 2: or social media. Just cut the computer off for a 604 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,720 Speaker 2: little bit, take some time. It's okay to come back 605 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 2: to that later day. You don't have to digest this 606 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:19,040 Speaker 2: all day every day. It's already waiting out there for 607 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 2: you anyway. So you take your time and you take 608 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 2: a step back from everything from Dayton peruse and social media. 609 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 2: Stick to your support system and ask for help if 610 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 2: you need help. 611 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 1: So you know. Another first that I think can bring 612 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 1: up a lot of anxiety for people is meeting a 613 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 1: partner's family for the first time. Right and again, I 614 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 1: would imagine that this can be, you know, an additional 615 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:43,640 Speaker 1: level of stress for a trans person. Can you talk 616 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 1: about what kinds of things should the non trans partner 617 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 1: maybe do to prepare their family, Like, what kinds of 618 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: conversations should be happening to make sure this is an 619 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:55,440 Speaker 1: affirming kind of opportunity for the person. 620 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 2: For the non trans person bringing their trans partner into 621 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 2: their family, it starts with again boundaries talking to their famils. Ka, Okay, 622 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,000 Speaker 2: we're not gonna talk about this, We're not gonna bring 623 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 2: this particular subject up. We're gonna let that person and 624 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 2: they share pronouns. This is their pronouns. Is the pronouns 625 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:16,239 Speaker 2: that we're using. If somebody uses an incorrect pronoun, I 626 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 2: expect you to either correct yourself or be prepared to 627 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 2: be corrected. And just setting those firm boundaries that this 628 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:24,080 Speaker 2: is not gonna fly. This is the person that I'm 629 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:27,640 Speaker 2: choosing to be with, and if that can be accepted, 630 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 2: then maybe we can't have dinner on Sunday. It looks 631 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 2: like being very firm in their support and then their 632 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:35,520 Speaker 2: affirmation of their partner. 633 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I would imagine that there are again some 634 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:40,560 Speaker 1: conversations that need to happen with the partner even before 635 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:43,040 Speaker 1: you meet the family, right around what kinds of things 636 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 1: feel comfortable? What kinds of things don't feel comfortable? 637 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, so then you're definitely gonna have that conversation with 638 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 2: your partner about, well, okay, what are your boundaries with 639 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:54,560 Speaker 2: my family or what kind of things do I need 640 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:56,880 Speaker 2: to look out for if you're feeling uncomfortable? What kind 641 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 2: of support do you need if you're feeling uncomfortable, and 642 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:01,000 Speaker 2: what's our exep plain and if we need to leave, 643 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:04,360 Speaker 2: we can leave and remind that partner that they don't 644 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:06,080 Speaker 2: have to be in a space that they're uncomfortable being 645 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 2: in and if any kind of discomfort is there, we're 646 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 2: gonna remove ourselves. And those kind of things can be 647 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 2: happening way before the meeting, in the car on the 648 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 2: way to the meeting, as far as reaffirming that is 649 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:22,440 Speaker 2: going to be okay, I'm here, letting your partner know 650 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:25,239 Speaker 2: that you are there for them, This is just the 651 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:28,200 Speaker 2: next station in your relationship and that you're here. 652 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 1: So you talked earlier Tia about the importance of media 653 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:36,520 Speaker 1: and like solid positive depictions of trans people. Can you 654 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,480 Speaker 1: point to any like shows or films or things that 655 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 1: you've seen recently that you think have done a good 656 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:44,200 Speaker 1: job of really presenting trans people. 657 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:47,920 Speaker 2: So I really love POSS and I know it's not 658 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:51,680 Speaker 2: on anymore, but I just recently rewrited the series, and 659 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:54,680 Speaker 2: I think a lot of that is very very affirming 660 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:58,200 Speaker 2: to see people in the community even that far, even 661 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:00,160 Speaker 2: it's not that far, but you know, talking about the 662 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 2: eighties and early nineties, the depictions of the trans population 663 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:07,239 Speaker 2: there is really where I pull from the most. I 664 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 2: see a lot of people on social media as far 665 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:13,520 Speaker 2: as like TikTok is Concerned or even Facebook coming out 666 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:16,160 Speaker 2: more and sharing their stories and sharing their journeys, and 667 00:34:16,200 --> 00:34:20,160 Speaker 2: that's usually where I direct a lot of my patients too, 668 00:34:20,239 --> 00:34:22,959 Speaker 2: if they're looking for a more positive light or more 669 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:27,319 Speaker 2: of how do I see myself on the screen, So 670 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:30,040 Speaker 2: a lot of me is showing them social media. 671 00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:32,520 Speaker 1: So you are also working on a workbook, Tia, tell 672 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,799 Speaker 1: us more about your work wook and what your plans are, 673 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 1: your hopes are for the work. 674 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:41,440 Speaker 2: So it's a work in progress. It is about intimacy. 675 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:46,680 Speaker 2: How to build intimacy with your partner or partners if 676 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 2: you are in nom monogamous relationships, and what that looks 677 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 2: like from a physical aspect, from a romantic aspect, en 678 00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:57,640 Speaker 2: fron mental aspect, and so it's just about those little 679 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 2: things to get your intimacy back to where there it 680 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 2: was or better than what it was beforehand. People are 681 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 2: looking to pull that spark back, all right. 682 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 1: So let us know where we can stay posted so 683 00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:10,319 Speaker 1: that we know when the workbook drops. What is your 684 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:13,080 Speaker 1: website as well as any social media channels you'd like 685 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:13,480 Speaker 1: to share. 686 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 2: So my website is Beth change hky dot com. You 687 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:21,880 Speaker 2: can find me on Instagram at t the Sex Therapist, 688 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:25,239 Speaker 2: no Ian sex. Because social media they will pull you. 689 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 2: Also on Facebook, as Ta Evans sexuality and relationship therapist, 690 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:34,840 Speaker 2: I believe is what it is currently. And then my 691 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:38,240 Speaker 2: brick and mortar practice is based out of Hickory, North Carolina, 692 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:41,760 Speaker 2: and it's called The Change within the Counseling Center Perfect. 693 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:43,440 Speaker 1: We'll be sure to include all of that in the 694 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 1: show notes. Thank you so much for spending some time 695 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 1: with us today, Tya, absolutely, I'm so glad Tia was 696 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 1: able to join us and share her expertise for this conversation. 697 00:35:55,640 --> 00:35:57,919 Speaker 1: To learn more about her and her work, be sure 698 00:35:57,920 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 1: to visit the show notes at Therapy from Black Girl 699 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 1: slash trans Dating, and don't forget to textas episode to 700 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:06,680 Speaker 1: two of your girls right now and encourage them to 701 00:36:06,760 --> 00:36:09,480 Speaker 1: check it out. If you're looking for a therapist in 702 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 1: your area, check out our therapist directory at Therapy for 703 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:16,040 Speaker 1: Blackgirls dot com slash directory. And if you want to 704 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:18,719 Speaker 1: continue digging into this topic or just be in community 705 00:36:18,760 --> 00:36:21,319 Speaker 1: with other sisters, come on over and join us in 706 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:24,320 Speaker 1: the Sister Circle. It's our cozy corner of the Internet 707 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:27,040 Speaker 1: designed just for black women. You can join us at 708 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:31,400 Speaker 1: community dot Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. This episode was 709 00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:35,640 Speaker 1: produced by Frida Lucas Elise Ellis and Zaria Taylor. Editing 710 00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:38,960 Speaker 1: was done by Dennison Bradford. Thank y'all so much for 711 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:41,880 Speaker 1: joining me for this bonus episode. We'll be back with 712 00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:49,640 Speaker 1: our regular episode next week. Take good care, what's