Skip to content

psychology

Sallie Baxendale is a British psychologist and anti-transgender activist.

Background

Sallie Ann Baxendale earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Surrey in 1990, followed by a master’s degree there in 1992. Baxendale earned a doctorate from UCL in 1997.

Much of Baxendale’s research involves epilepsy and brain development.

Anti-transgender activism

Baxendale began appearing in anti-trans media in 2021, starting with Transgender Trend.

Baxendale supports the ex-transgender movement and is critical of gender affirming healthcare for minors, especially use of puberty blockade. Baxendale was alarmed that some people describe puberty blockade as “fully reversible.”

Baxendale was an invited speaker at a 2023 anti-trans conference organized by the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM).

Since 2023 Baxendale has contributed to anti-trans publication UnHerd,

In 2024 Baxendale published a summary of the 2024 Acta Paediatrica literature review (described below) on anti-trans site Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender (CAN-SG).

2024 puberty blockade literature review

In 2024 conservative Swedish psychiatrist Mikael LandĂ©n leaked a pre-publication paper by Baxendale to anti-trans activist Bernard Lane. Baxendale’s academic literature review reflected LandĂ©n’s view that puberty blockade should be strictly controlled because of unknown risks, particularly cognitive effects.

On the day of publication, Baxendale published a piece in UnHerd about how this puberty blockade literature review was rejected by three journals as well as accepted by Acta Paediatrica, which previously promoted more gatekeeping of healthcare for gender diverse youth in Sweden’s healthcare system. Baxendale claimed, “it wasn’t the methods they objected to, it was the actual findings.” Of the rejection reasons that Baxendale shared, all were about the obvious bias of the author and the stigmatizing potential from how the material is tendentiously presented.

The obvious and simple answer is to skip puberty blockers and go straight to hormones. Baxendale cites studies about young people who experience central precocious puberty having more robust brain development and cognition, so Baxendale has made a strong case for use of puberty-inducing drugs in all minors who desire improved cognition and IQ.

References

Baxendale, Sallie (February 19, 2024). Why did three journals reject my puberty-blocker study? Trans children deserve to know the facts. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2024/02/why-did-three-journals-reject-my-puberty-blocker-study/

Baxendale, S. (2024). The impact of suppressing puberty on neuropsychological function: A review. Acta Paediatrica. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.17150

  • Gender diverse youth studies cited:
  • Staphorsius AS, Kreukels BPC, Cohen-Kettenis PT, Veltman DJ, Burke SM, Schagen SEE, Wouters FM, Delemarre-van de Waal HA, Bakker J (2015). Puberty suppression and executive functioning: An fMRI-study in adolescents with gender dysphoria. Psychoneuroendocrinology (Vol. 56, pp. 190–199). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.03.007
  • Arnoldussen M, Hooijman EC, Kreukels BP, de Vries AL (2022). Association between pre-treatment IQ and educational achievement after gender-affirming treatment including puberty suppression in transgender adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry (Vol. 27, Issue 4, pp. 1069–1076). SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221091652
  • Schneider MA, Spritzer PM, Soll BMB, Fontanari AMV, Carneiro M, Tovar-Moll F, Costa AB, da Silva DC, Schwarz K. Anes M, Tramontina S, Lobato, MIR (2017). Brain Maturation, Cognition and Voice Pattern in a Gender Dysphoria Case under Pubertal Suppression. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (Vol. 11). Frontiers Media SA. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00528

Baxendale, Sallie (January 21, 2024). Research Raises Concerns About the Impact of Puberty Blockers on the Development of Cognitive Function. CAN-SG https://can-sg.org/2024/01/21/puberty-blockers-and-teenage-brain-development/

Lane, Bernard (January 17, 2024). Evidently correct: New support for brain studies: the WHO steers clear of paediatric transition. Gender Clinic News https://www.genderclinicnews.com/p/evidently-correct

Manning, Sanchez (January 13, 2024). Puberty blockers given to children who say they were born in the wrong body and want to ‘change gender’ may lower their’ IQs. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12960869/Puberty-blockers-given-children-say-born-wrong-body-want-change-gender-lower-IQs.html

Baxendale, Sallie (July 7, 2023). Doctors have failed detransitioners. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2023/07/doctors-have-failed-detransitioners/

Baxendale, Sallie (July 26, 2023). Has Gids learned from its failure? UnHerd https://unherd.com/2023/07/has-gids-learned-from-its-failure/

Baxendale, Sallie (July 1, 2021). The Teenage Brain. Transgender Trend https://www.transgendertrend.com/teenage-brain/

Media

Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (January 16, 2024). SEGM NYC23 – Sallie Baxendale – The Effect of Puberty Blockers on the Teenage Brain. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ZnRKqqByg

Resources

University College London Hospitals (uclh.nhs.uk)

  • Sallie Baxendale
  • uclh.nhs.uk/our-services/find-consultant/professor-sallie-baxendale

Henrik AnckarsÀter was a Swedish psychologist and anti-transgender activist.

AnckarsÀter was affiliated with anti-trans group Society for Evidence-based Gender Medicine (SEGM) and with the Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health.

Background

PĂ€r Henrik Georg Söderström was born October 12, 1966 in Göteborg, Sweden.

In 2005 AnckarsĂ€ter was appointed associate professor at Lund University, and in 2008 assumed a professorship in forensic psychiatry at the University of Gothenburg. AnckarsĂ€ter was also a visiting professor at the University of Paris XII from 2006 to 2007 and in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Lund University, Malmö, from 2009 to 2015.

AnckarsĂ€ter’s spouse is Rolf AnckarsĂ€ter. AnckarsĂ€ter died on March 9, 2021 in Askim, Sweden.

References

Staff (May 11, 2021). In memory of Henrik AnckarsÀter. https://akademiliv.se/en/2021/05/74108/

Henrik AnckarsÀter 1, Christopher Gillberg (2020). Methodological Shortcomings Undercut Statement in Support of Gender-Affirming Surgery. Am J Psychiatry. 2020 Aug 1;177(8):764-765. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19111117

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Twitter (twitter.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

James Caspian is a British therapist and anti-transgender activist in the “ex-transgender” movement.

Caspian was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.

Background

James Caspian was born in ~1959.

Anti-transgender activism

In 2016, Caspian proposed studying “detransition” while in graduate school, but Bath Spa University rejected the proposal.

Caspian then became a cause célÚbre among anti-trans activists, who showered Caspian with money and attention.

Caspian appeared in the 2018 anti-trans propaganda piece Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk hosted by Stella O’Malley.

References

Staff report (September 25, 2017). Bath Spa University ‘blocks transgender research.’ BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41384473

Petherick, Sam (). Bath Spa University vetoes ‘politically incorrect’ transgender surgery reversal study -https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/bath-spa-university-vetoes-politically-533956

Media

Genspect (June 7, 2022). Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk | 4: James Caspian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXH_6CEjnRQ

Oren Amitay (January 27, 2018). Academic Cleansing: Fight for Truth & Free Speech vs Political Correctness and Trans Ideology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQIWoDW63ak

Resources

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

CrowdJustice (crowdjustice.com)

  • Free Speech Matters
  • https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/free-speech-matters-round2/

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077577183412)

  • https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077577183412

Alessandra Cavalli was an Italian therapist and anti-transgender activist.

Cavalli was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.

Background

Alessandra Cavalli was born in Italy on April 27, 1957 and grew up with five siblings in Concordia. Cavalli studied in Munich, then lived in Belgium.

In 1998, Cavalli moved to London to train in Jungian child analysis.

Cavalli died on May 17 2020, possibly from COVID.

References

Wiener, Jan; Bisagni, Francesco (May 27, 2020). Alessandra Cavalli, 1957 – 2020. https://iaap.org/alessandra-cavalli-1957-2020/

Dianna T. Kenny is an Australian psychologist and anti-transgender extremist.

Kenny was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.

Kenny contributed chapters to two anti-trans books by Heather Brunskell-Evans.

Background

Dianna Theadora Kenny earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Sydney in 1975, followed by training in music and education. Kenny then attended Macquarie University, earning a master’s degree in 1980 and a doctorate in 1988. While in school, Kenny worked in troubled students. Kenny taught at University of Sydney from 1988 to 2019. In 2019 Kenny founded DK Consulting.

Media

TERF Talk Down Under (Sep 15, 2022). TERF Talk #48 Dr Dianna Kenny, the truth about gender dysphoria. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZbEsaJMvRU

Resources

Dianna T. Kenny (diannakenny.com.au)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Twitter (twitter.com)

Tania Marshall is an Australian therapist and anti-transgender activist.

Marshall was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.

Background

Marshall attended University of Calgary, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1998 and an master’s degree in 2002.

Marshall has written frequently about neurodiversity.

Resources

Substack (substack.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Tania A. Marshall (taniaannmarshall.wpcomstaging.com)

Robert Withers is a British psychologist and anti-transgender activist.

Withers was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.

Background

Robert “Bob” Withers earned a master’s degree from University of Sussex.

Withers helped establish the Rock Clinic in Kemp Town in 1990.

Anti-trans activism

In 2015, Withers published an article titled “The seventh penis,” which was later withdrawn over patient consent issues:

The above article published online on 19 May 2015 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), and in print and online in issue 60:3 (cover date June 2015) has been withdrawn by agreement between the author, the journal’s Editors-in-Chief, Marcus West and Nora Swan-Foster, and John Wiley & Sons Limited. The withdrawal has been agreed because consent to publish was not obtained. The author and the journal apologize for this oversight.

References

Flourish, Clare (July 26, 2020). Robert Withers. https://clareflourish.wordpress.com/2020/07/26/robert-withers-transgender-professional-standards/

Admin (Sep 13, 2021). The full story: the misconduct of anti-trans psychotherapist Robert Withers. We talk with Ms. A. Transiness https://www.transiness.com/post/the-full-story-the-misconduct-of-anti-trans-psychotherapist-robert-withers-we-talk-with-ms-a

Withers R (2020). Transgender medicalization and the attempt to evade psychological distress. J Anal Psychol. 2020 Nov;65(5):865-889. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5922.12641

Withers R (2015). The seventh penis: towards effective psychoanalytic work with pre-surgical transsexuals. J Anal Psychol. 2015 Jun;60(3):390-412. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5922.12157.

Withdrawal statement: R. Withers, ‘The seventh penis: towards effective psychoanalytic work with pre-surgical transsexuals’, Journal of Analytical Psychology, 2015, 60, 3, 390-412, (https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5922.12157).

Resources

Rock Clinic Association (rockclinic.org.uk)

Jungian Therapy Sussex (jungiantherapysussex.info)

  • Bob Withers
  • http://www.jungiantherapysussex.info/our-therapists/bob-withers/

Twitter (twitter.com)

Open Therapy Institute (OTI) is an American psychology organization associated with several anti-transgender activists.

Do not go to people associated with Open Therapy Institute for therapy. If you are a minor forced to see an OTI therapist, do everything in your power to end the sessions and find a supportive local therapist.

Background

OTI is based in New York City. It operates on the belief that “political ideologies have become unquestionable orthodoxies,” stating on their site:

As mental health care becomes more political and one-sided, many clinical issues are going unaddressed. As political ideologies have become unquestionable orthodoxies throughout society, more people are struggling but patients are having a harder time finding therapists who are truly open, empathic, and supportive. As more organizations have become ideologically stifling, people are struggling to find innovate ways to keep the workplace free, nuanced, and truly inclusive of all viewpoints. Many people are looking for thoughtful solutions to address new challenges, and tools from clinical psychology are often indispensable.

People

Team

  • Andrew Hartz, founder
  • Sally Satel, senior advisor
  • Warren Procci, senior advisor
  • Ira Moses, senior advisor
  • Larry Amsel, senior advisor
  • Val Thomas, senior advisor
  • Pamela Paresky, senior advisor
  • Camilo Ortiz, clinical director
  • Richard Redding, head of research
  • Craig Frisby, head of research
  • Michael Strambler
  • Chloe Carmichael
  • Neil Kressel
  • Paul Garcia-Ryan
  • Katherine Cullen

People listed as OTI scholars include:

  • Chloe Carmichael
  • Craig Frisby
  • Andrew Hartz
  • Camilo Ortiz
  • Pamela Pareksy
  • Richard Redding
  • Sally Satel
  • Val Thomas

OTI has been promoted in the media by a number of anti-trans activists, including:

References

Satel, Sally; Redding Richard (February 27, 2023). Are Florida Universities Training Therapists to Be Political Activists? National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/02/are-florida-universities-training-therapists-to-be-political-activists/

Resources

Open Therapy Institute (opentherapyinstitute.org)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Twitter (twitter.com)

LinkedIn (inkedin.com)

Carole Sherwood is a British psychologist and anti-transgender activist.

Sherwood and Valerie Jean Thomas are associated with anti-trans group Critical Therapy Antidote.

Background

Carole Barbara Patricia Sherwood was born in February 1953.

Anti-transgender activism

Via the site Save Mental Health, Sherwood believes that “important areas of the behavioral sciences – in research, practice, and policy work – have been increasingly captured by censorious ideological orthodoxies.”

Save Mental Health lists other like-minded organizations:

  • Academics for Academic Freedom (afaf.org.uk)
  • BPSWatch (bpswatch.com)
  • Campaign for Common Sense (campaigncommonsense.com)
  • Centre for Male Psychology (centreformalepsychology.com)
  • Counterweight (counterweightsupport.com)
  • Critical Therapy Antidote (criticaltherapyantidote.org)
  • Don’t Divide Us (dontdivideus.com)
  • Free Speech Union (freespeechunion.org)
  • Heterodox Academy (heterodoxacademy.org)
  • The ManKind Initiative (mankind.org.uk)
  • New Discourses (newdiscourses.com)
  • Psychreg (psychreg.org)
  • Society for Open Inquiry in Behavioral Science (openinquirybehavio.wixsite.com/oibs)
  • Thoughtful Therapists (thoughtfultherapists.org)

References

Sherwood., Carole (November 2, 2022). The politicisation of clinical psychology. CIEO https://cieo.substack.com/p/the-politicisation-of-clinical-psychology

Carole Sherwood, Paul M. Salkovskis, Katharine Rimes Help-seeking for depression: The role of beliefs, attitudes and mood. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy 10.1017/s1352465807003815

Retired Clinical Psychologist email: [email protected] Report: https://save-mental-health.com/training-courses/

Resources

Save Mental Health (save-mental-health.com)

Critical Therapy Antidote (criticaltherapyantidote.org)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Reddit (reddit.com)

Thoughtful Therapists is an anti-trans consortium of therapists based in the United Kingdom

2021 survey

Their goal is to allow non-affirming models of care for gender diverse youth to be legalized. They frequently call this “gender exploratory therapy.”

In a 2021 survey, the organizers state: “We are concerned that the proposed Bill to Ban Conversion Therapy may criminalise or ban beneficial exploratory therapy in the context of gender dysphoria.”

People acknowledged as associated with Thoughtful Therapists

References

Jenkins, P. and Esses, J. (2021) Thoughtful Therapists: Scoping Survey for Government Equalities Office Consultation on Conversion Therapy. https://sex-matters.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ThoughtfulTherapistsScopingSurvey.pdf

Resources

Thoughtful Therapists (thoughtfultherapists.org)

Twitter (twitter.com)