You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist

In their desperation to protect their children from lifelong medicalization, parents of trans-identifying youth are often at risk of losing sleep, jobs, and even marriages. In this episode, I talk with life coach and ROGD parent, StoicMom, about how ROGD parents might save their sanity and develop pathways forward in support of healthy family dynamics. StoicMom presents solutions to parents outlined by her view of stoicism. She encourages parents to see trans-identifying children as life’s invitation for self assessment. She urges parents to present children with optional roadmaps to enter adulthood that provide alternative ways of being to mainstream cultural views. StoicMom encourages listeners to reclaim resilience in the face of struggle and restore deep meaning in life by motivating parents to model the best examples possible for their children. She inspires parents to detach from outcomes as children navigate the muddy, but normal, waters of individuation through adolescence. StoicMom reminds us that life is rich when we accept the invitation it offers us to provide emotional support to our loved ones as they embark on their journey of self discovery. 


StoicMom is a certified life coach using her daughter's trans ID as inspiration to become a better human. By adopting the Stoic principle of "the obstacle is the way," StoicMom transformed this incredibly destabilizing circumstance into an opportunity to create healing and discover wholeness. She now coaches other moms with trans-identified children who are looking to recover solid ground, create inner peace and restore quality of life. StoicMom also offers a private online learning community for growth-oriented, non-affirming parents of trans-identified humans. For more information, visit The StoicMom Project at stoicmom.substack.com 


In this episode, StoicMom mentioned two previous podcast episodes. The first was with Sasha Ayad and Stella O’Malley on their program, “Gender: A Wider Lens” where they discussed personal individuation called, “Using Her Child’s Trans Identity for Personal Individuation.” Additionally, on “The StoicMom Project” StoicMom was interviewed by Jessie Mannisto on an episode called, “Perceiving a Higher Path.” Those podcast episodes can be found here:

Gender: A Wider Lens - “Using Her Child’s Trans Identity for Personal Individuation"

Perceiving a Higher Path -Jessie Mannisto interviews StoicMom


I also mentioned my interview with Jessie Mannisto: 13. Jessie Mannisto - Brains and Bravery: Turning Breakdowns into Breakthroughs.

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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.

Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.

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What is You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist?

You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist intimately explores the human experience while critiquing the state of the counseling profession as it yields to cultural madness. Your host, Stephanie Winn, distills years of wisdom gained from her practice as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist as she pivots away from treating patients, and toward the question of how to apply psychology to the novel dilemmas of the 21st century. 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? Stephanie invites heretical, free-thinking guests from many walks of life, including current and former therapists, 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. Pick up a torch to illuminate the dark night and join us on this journey through the inner wilderness.