Pamela Garfield-Jaeger, aka The Truthful Therapist, empowers parents with the knowledge necessary to navigate the world of therapy infected by the deceptively-named so-called “social justice” lens. Working in the field for over twenty years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she understands the importance of choosing the right therapist, especially for vulnerable children.
In this episode, we examine the current state of the institution and the potential consequences for families needing help. How is woke therapy promoting victim mentality? What should parents know before finding a therapist for their child? We also dive into the dangers of gender affirmation and what impact it can have on families.
The creator of
Parent’s Guide to Mental Health, Pamela provides invaluable insight into the state of the profession today. Therapy should be a healing process that is tailored to the needs of the individual, not as a collective intervention. Join us as we discuss how to find what you need in the mental health system.
Pamela Garfield-Jaeger is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with over 20 years of experience. She has worked in a variety of settings including NY community-based agencies, residential programs for foster youth, schools and mental health clinics in California. She has been a clinical supervisor for up-and-coming therapists for 10 years. In 2017, she had to leave her profession due to a severe disability and when she returned, so much in the mental health profession had changed, particularly when it comes to treatment of gender dysphoric patients. In the teen clinic she was at in San Mateo County, California in 2021, 3 out of 10 kids identified as trans. Since she had been in the field with vulnerable youth for over 20 years, this was a drastic change.
Pamela has spoken to many therapists who agree that instant affirmation of young people with complex mental health conditions is inappropriate, however, they're being heavily silenced. Because Pam continues to cope with chronic pain and receives disability, she has been emboldened to speak out on these issues and build her own program.
Pamela is taking her 20 years of experience and building a comprehensive online parents' guide to mental health with the tag line "therapy not indoctrination". Since so many families need mental health support, Pamela's vision is to provide information for parents so they are empowered to know what to expect, the questions to ask the therapist, understand what skilled therapy looks like, know how much they should be involved (answer: a lot!) and information on numerous current mental health topics. The program will include pre-recorded lessons, live workshops and she will be providing consultations for parents so they can ask personal questions about concerns about the therapy their child is receiving.
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What is You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist?
A podcast at the intersection of psychology and culture that intimately explores the human experience and critiques the counseling profession. Your host, Stephanie Winn, distills wisdom gained from her practice as a family therapist and coach while pivoting towards questions of how to apply a practical understanding of psychology to the novel dilemmas of the 21st century, from political polarization to medical malpractice.
What does ethical mental health care look like in a normless age, as our moral compasses spin in search of true north? How can therapists treat patients under pressure to affirm everything from the notion of "gender identity" to assisted suicide?
Primarily a long-form interview podcast, Stephanie invites unorthodox, free-thinking guests from many walks of life, including counselors, social workers, medical professionals, writers, researchers, and people with unique lived experience, such as detransitioners.
Curious about many things, Stephanie’s interdisciplinary psychological lens investigates challenging social issues and inspires transformation in the self, relationships, and society. She is known for bringing calm warmth to painful subjects, and astute perceptiveness to ethically complex issues. Pick up a torch to illuminate the dark night and join us on this journey through the inner wilderness.
You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist ranks in the top 1% globally according to ListenNotes. New episodes are released every Monday. Three and a half years after the show's inception in May of 2022, Stephanie became a Christian, representing the crystallization of moral, spiritual, and existential views she had been openly grappling with along with her audience and guests. Newer episodes (#188 forward) may sometimes reflect a Christian understanding, interwoven with and applied to the same issues the podcast has always addressed. The podcast remains diverse and continues to feature guests from all viewpoints.