Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Quick Notes:
Joe Burgo is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst who’s been in practice for almost 40 years. He also writes books for a popular audience mostly focused on shame and narcissism. In this episode Joe explains how a sense of shame can be a root cause of gender dysphoria and how gender transition can be idealized as a “cure” for all kinds of shame – gay shame, outsider shame, survivor of sexual abuse shame, feeling weird or different shame, and so on. The impact of the medical model on society is also lifted up as Joe describes how his depth-approach to psychological pain is often dismissed in a world seeking a solution for every problem and a pill for every ill.
Links:
Joe’s blog: afterpsychotherapy.com
Joe’s books:
Why Do I Do That? Psychological Defense Mechanisms and the Hidden Ways They Shape Our Lives: amzn.to/3NCn8Bb
The Narcissist You Know: Defending Yourself Against Extreme Narcissists in an All-About-Me World: amzn.to/3O2DP8O
Building Self-Esteem: How Learning from Shame Helps Us to Grow: amzn.to/3tqBU67
Extended Notes
● Joe is a member of the Gender Identity Therapy Association.
● Shame and guilt are commonly merged with gender identity.
● Joe cut his teeth on gender identity issues with a very early client of his.
● Narcissism is created from a wounded sense of self.
● Some transitioning people believe anxiety and shame will be left behind when they change identities.
● The blogger, Tulip, writes about their deep shame.
● Some homosexuals feel shame about their same-sex attraction.
● Is the idea of masculinity under assault?
● This generation has a pattern of losing themselves between the ages of 10‒20.
● Pornography is widely available to children before they have figured out their identity.
● Narcissists are abusive. They make themselves feel better by making you feel bad.
● Those who challenge the narrative that biological sex is real often face legal implications.
● When Joe’s child came out as trans they had difficulty getting support from the psychological or medical establishment.
● Gender dysphoria is a solution-focused concept creep.
● Pain is part of the human condition yet many run from it toward medication.
● Many of the detransitioners Joe works with were looking for a cure for other issues.
● Be cautious around narcissists not to do things that invite an attack.
--
This podcast is sponsored by ReIME and Genspect. Visit Rethinkime.org and Genspect.org to learn more. For more about our show: Linktr.ee/WiderLensPod
Quick Notes:
Joe Burgo is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst who’s been in practice for almost 40 years. He also writes books for a popular audience mostly focused on shame and narcissism. In this episode Joe explains how a sense of shame can be a root cause of gender dysphoria and how gender transition can be idealized as a “cure” for all kinds of shame – gay shame, outsider shame, survivor of sexual abuse shame, feeling weird or different shame, and so on. The impact of the medical model on society is also lifted up as Joe describes how his depth-approach to psychological pain is often dismissed in a world seeking a solution for every problem and a pill for every ill.
Links:
Joe’s blog: afterpsychotherapy.com
Joe’s books:
Why Do I Do That? Psychological Defense Mechanisms and the Hidden Ways They Shape Our Lives: amzn.to/3NCn8Bb
The Narcissist You Know: Defending Yourself Against Extreme Narcissists in an All-About-Me World: amzn.to/3O2DP8O
Building Self-Esteem: How Learning from Shame Helps Us to Grow: amzn.to/3tqBU67
Extended Notes
● Joe is a member of the Gender Identity Therapy Association.
● Shame and guilt are commonly merged with gender identity.
● Joe cut his teeth on gender identity issues with a very early client of his.
● Narcissism is created from a wounded sense of self.
● Some transitioning people believe anxiety and shame will be left behind when they change identities.
● The blogger, Tulip, writes about their deep shame.
● Some homosexuals feel shame about their same-sex attraction.
● Is the idea of masculinity under assault?
● This generation has a pattern of losing themselves between the ages of 10‒20.
● Pornography is widely available to children before they have figured out their identity.
● Narcissists are abusive. They make themselves feel better by making you feel bad.
● Those who challenge the narrative that biological sex is real often face legal implications.
● When Joe’s child came out as trans they had difficulty getting support from the psychological or medical establishment.
● Gender dysphoria is a solution-focused concept creep.
● Pain is part of the human condition yet many run from it toward medication.
● Many of the detransitioners Joe works with were looking for a cure for other issues.
● Be cautious around narcissists not to do things that invite an attack.
--
This podcast is sponsored by ReIME and Genspect. Visit Rethinkime.org and Genspect.org to learn more. For more about our show: Linktr.ee/WiderLensPod
