Autonomy – Freedom to be independent and able to protect one’s self from harm is a vital right that everyone deserves; all actions and engagement should support the autonomy of others.
This is a guiding principle of Darling Mental Health’s ethical structure and is one for which we hold dear. Not only is the principle of bodily autonomy about the ability for a person to advocate for their body’s health, but also that of how one is able to survive and live on in their body. For many, living in a physical human body has felt like some sort of prison. For some, the extent of distress about this causes dysphoria and even dysmorphia, both of which challenge a person’s ability to enjoy life or release trauma. For this reason, healing ethics dictate we reflect on science, insight, and empathy on how to support clients in best managing their bodies.
Providing insight to a person about their body’s health ensures a person can make an informed decision about their body, including surgical procedures. That is why we stand with Planned Parenthood as an affordable community resource for people to get care they need when unable to otherwise receive it.
Bodily autonomy at its core asserts that no one deserves to be the victim of rape and that any language seeking to blame a victim is perpetuating an amoral mythos that allows for rape to have a loophole from consequence. When we are not allowed to own our own bodies and determine who may or may not enter them, then we live in a world where freedom and the right to self-determination have been destroyed. Politically and legally, it is vital that at all opportunities people take stands to support institutions that affirm a person has a right to address their bodies as needed for functioning and survivability.
We also firmly stand with the intersex community, that advocates until a child has clear insight into what having surgery on their genitals would entail, no minor should receive elective/cosmetic surgery without their consent, regardless of how ambiguous their appearance may be. Urinary functioning is what matters, fistulas happen and should be addressed for health and functionality. A person’s genitals are otherwise their own, and until they have matured and understand what effect altering their structure will have, they do not need to have genitals that appear clearly penile or vulvic in shape.
To prevent suicide, it is vital that gender affirming care exist so that post-pubertal children who are in distress about their secondary sex characteristics can pause development for a limited time, seek out essential therapy space to process their identity and crisis, and with professional insight determine if hormonal treatment is needed to survive the rest of development. Several factors affect the different binary transitions in ways that require slow and effective discussion for which Darling Mental Health advocates, trains, and provides education & supervision on.
At our core, it is important to believe each and every person knows their body well enough to make permanent shifts to its presentation. That adults have personal wisdom, and adolescents that go through a therapeutic discernment process know better than a frightened senator. Be mindful of what is being talked about regarding gender-affirming care and bodily autonomy. Surgeries are rarely done on minors, and testosterone’s impact on bone development is harder to correct for than estrogen. Trust doctors and therapists to help gate-keep children who do not have enough insight to be able to consent to such permanent changes.
Access to gender-affirming care prevents suicide and helps trans folks get the care they need.
Protect the Dolls
Listen to the Dolls
Remember the Dolls
