Happy Halloween! In honor of the holiday, let’s talk about masks. We all wear (metaphorical) masks every single day. You may wear a mask that covers your entire face, obfuscating your identity, and choose to let it down only when [...]
A lot of people say that they wouldn’t go back to being 14 years old for $1,000,000. Why do you think that is? I want you to think about the last time you were standing at the crossroads of a [...]
I was at the Hollywood Bowl the other night, and in the box next to me was a group of women in their late 20s. Svelte and sophisticated, wine glasses in hand, they appeared to be thoroughly in their element. [...]
As a therapist, I have the privilege of sitting with people and helping them manage their insecurities and fears. Something that I've found to be profound and humbling is that as I go through my day, I hear the same [...]
It was clear that the client sitting in front of me was in pain. I listened to her story, I acknowledged and validated her hardships, and I nodded as she told me she sometimes wrestled with the decision of whether [...]
Emotions are important. A lot of people are taught to squash their feelings and push them aside, or to express them as minimally as possible, and I think the rationale behind this is that they’re pesky things that get in [...]
I was recently contacted by a middle school student in Kansas who was doing a research study about the impact of gender roles. Her questions were thought-provoking, especially given her young age (I thought she was a university student when [...]
You have privilege.* I hate to break it to you, but it’s true. I hear you – you’re saying to me, “but Jennie, I’m a lesbian transwoman of color.” Yes, and I don’t want to discount any of that… but are you able-bodied? Are [...]
Something I've struggled with my whole life is being told that I should be "more feminine" - wear makeup, dress in more feminine clothing, get my nails done. And this has always rubbed me the wrong way. My upbringing never [...]