I recently invited a young client of mine to do something similar to the empty chair exercise but in writing. Writing notes to her younger self.
This exercise is also quite similar to IFS, in which the therapist helps these different parts communicate with each other and process trauma. The empty chair exercise may be more appropriate in certain situations and with younger clients. I will begin utilizing it in my practice with adolescents.
Love this: "I contain a lot of contradictions. I’m a reluctant rebel. I want to people-please and be liked, but I also I don’t like to be told what to do or think. I’ll comply up to a point but if I’m pushed too far I will walk away. I used to wish I could be more bold and just say what I really think without fear of what others might think in return, but as I’ve gotten older I also appreciate that more cautious side of myself. I do care what others think, and I don’t think that’s a bad quality. I care about others and I hope they will care about me too. That’s not a weakness."
"And then there’s all these voices out there now that basically want to wipe out trans people from public life completely. I don’t support that either, obviously. There’s not a lot of empathy out there, for anyone. It worries me."
Within this line is a link to the state of Kansas law that requires that public documents need to have accurate sex markers- but the characterization that this law means that anyone is seeking to "wipe out trans people from public life completely" seems really overblown. How does an accurate sex marker equate wiping anyone out?
Heartbreakingly beautiful. Both/and. Thank you.
Thank you for this. Absolutely brilliant.
I recently invited a young client of mine to do something similar to the empty chair exercise but in writing. Writing notes to her younger self.
This exercise is also quite similar to IFS, in which the therapist helps these different parts communicate with each other and process trauma. The empty chair exercise may be more appropriate in certain situations and with younger clients. I will begin utilizing it in my practice with adolescents.
Love this: "I contain a lot of contradictions. I’m a reluctant rebel. I want to people-please and be liked, but I also I don’t like to be told what to do or think. I’ll comply up to a point but if I’m pushed too far I will walk away. I used to wish I could be more bold and just say what I really think without fear of what others might think in return, but as I’ve gotten older I also appreciate that more cautious side of myself. I do care what others think, and I don’t think that’s a bad quality. I care about others and I hope they will care about me too. That’s not a weakness."
"And then there’s all these voices out there now that basically want to wipe out trans people from public life completely. I don’t support that either, obviously. There’s not a lot of empathy out there, for anyone. It worries me."
Within this line is a link to the state of Kansas law that requires that public documents need to have accurate sex markers- but the characterization that this law means that anyone is seeking to "wipe out trans people from public life completely" seems really overblown. How does an accurate sex marker equate wiping anyone out?
We did share a Press Release directly on this issue: https://lgbcouragecoalition.substack.com/p/lgb-courage-coalition-statement-on-113?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Gender Crossroads is trying to say the truth while trying not to offend anyone by repeating at least some of the trans shibboleths.