How to File a Complaint About the Fraudulent “Gender-Affirming” Therapy That Harmed You
A guide for detransitioners, lost-in-transitioners, and other survivors of gender malpractice
Have you ever thought about filing a formal complaint with the licensing board of the therapist who provided your “gender-affirming care,” but felt too daunted to complete the process? Fear not. I’ve simplified it for you.
It essentially comes down to two steps: finding the appropriate board to report to, and writing a letter.
To help you with step 1, I’ll point you toward the right board to complain to.
To help you with step 2, I’ve written a template you can use, and provided a sample letter based off of that template. Please customize these to suit your situation.
Licensing boards need to hear from people who have been harmed. It’s an essential component in bringing about change. Otherwise, the only people they hear from are loud, angry activists who haven’t (yet!) been through what you have.
As a consumer of mental health services, you have certain legal protections. While as a survivor of malpractice you have certainly faced your share of incompetence, dismissal, and maybe even flat out discrimination, the worst thing that can happen to you when you file a complaint is facing the anxiety-provoking silence of waiting to hear back. And then after that, maybe, facing the anxiety of talking about your situation further, should an investigator request to speak with you. And then after that, maybe, in the worst case scenario, you find out that the therapist was not sanctioned at all, and you’re disappointed by that verdict. But you will not be harassed or treated unkindly, and your privacy will be respected.
Overall, the worst thing that can happen is that feelings will get stirred up in the process. And if that happens, I hope you’ll write to me about it. But the best case scenario is that reports like yours will help turn the tide and stop these unethical practices from being allowed to continue. I hope you’ll find it worth the effort.
So, let’s figure out how to help you do this, shall we?
Step 1: Find the proper board to report to
Find the licensing board for your state here. From your state board’s website, click your way around to find how to submit a complaint about a licensee as a consumer.
For some reason, California is missing from this list. Not to worry. The org you need in CA is the Board of Behavioral Sciences. You can file a complaint with a BBS licensee here.
Step 2: Write your complaint
Here’s a template. Below that, you’ll find a sample letter based on this template.
My name is [name you go by; you may need to include details of birth vs current legal name, if for instance you changed your name while trans-identified but haven’t changed it back yet.]
I am ___ years old. [Any relevant background & context]
I would like to submit a formal complaint against [name of therapist you saw], [license type, eg: LMFT, LPC, LMHC, LCSW, PsyD, PhD, MFT Intern/Associate, LPC Intern/Associate, etc].
This therapist caused me harm and failed to uphold their duty of care to me in the following ways: _____________
I saw [therapist] through [name of therapist’s private practice, group practice, community mental health clinic, etc] at [location] when I was __ years old, in [year], from [date] to [date] for (approximately) [number of sessions].
I originally sought counseling for [presenting issue],
believing I needed help with [how you saw your problems at the time].
In retrospect, I now realize [how you see your problems differently now].
This therapist [diagnosed me with _____] or [did not give me a diagnosis to the best of my recollection],
and [described my treatment options to me as ____] or [did not describe my treatment options to me to the best of my recollection].
I feel that this diagnosis was [accurate or not accurate] based on [what you have since learned].
When [therapist] recommended [type of “gender-affirming care”] I initially felt/thought ______. However, [personal details, reflections]
I have since been diagnosed with [new diagnosis] by [therapist/doctor], or suspected but not confirmed that I actually have [e.g. autism].
I believe this diagnosis is one of the underlying reasons for my former trans-identification or
I believe my mental health has worsened / I have developed PTSD / _____ as a result of the trauma of my experiences with “gender-affirming care.” [Details as you wish]
I have [received proper treatment] / [not received proper treatment] / [thought about pursuing treatment, but ____]
The permanent consequences and negative effects on my life include [details as you wish]
This therapist failed to uphold the duty of care to properly diagnose, assess, and treat my condition in the least invasive, harmful, and permanent manner possible.
Further, my concerns about this therapist and why they should be investigated are: [details]
Example
My name is John Smith.
I am 26 years old.
I would like to submit a formal complaint against Amanda Adams, LCSW.
This therapist caused me harm and failed to uphold their duty of care to me in the following ways:
She rushed me into viewing all my problems through the lens of gender, pinning my hopes and expectations for recovery on the idea that I could change sex. She failed to properly assess and diagnose the complexity of my issues, instead issuing me a diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria and placing all clinical emphasis on that. She told me I had the psychological maturity to make a life-altering decision when, in retrospect, I clearly did not. She wrote a letter recommending “gender affirming” hormones and surgeries after two visits. These hormones and surgeries have had a permanent and devastating impact on my health and on all aspects of my life.
I saw Amanda through Inner Oasis, LLC in Boston, MA when I was 18 years old, in 2014, from March to June for approximately 6 sessions.
I originally sought counseling for gender dysphoria,
believing I needed help with getting my family to understand that I was trans.
In retrospect, I now realize that I had a lot else going on, including a resurgence of OCD (a diagnosis I had at age 10) that was manifesting as fixation on gender; conflict with my family, which involves alcoholism and incest; and difficulty with “failure to launch.” Gender served as a catch-all explanation for my distress, but it was a distraction.
This therapist diagnosed me only with gender dysphoria and did not ask about my history of OCD, even though I noted it on the intake documents. She also did not ask about my family problems with alcohol and incest.
She described my treatment options all as pertaining to gender, recommending hormones and surgeries as the next steps. She did not propose other ways we might explore and address my distress.
I feel that this diagnosis was not accurate based on what I have since learned about myself and the way my OCD manifests, and the fact that “gender affirming care” has made me miserable.
When Amanda recommended that I proceed with hormones and consider surgeries, I initially felt validated and thought this would be the solution to my problems. However, looking back, I was not in the right state of mind to be making these kinds of decisions. I was desperate, impulsive, depressed, and not functioning very well. I was fixated on the idea of a radical, quick, transformational solution because it represented relief from distress. Unfortunately, that faulty thinking has cost me dearly.
I have since been diagnosed with OCD once again, as well as PTSD, by Dr. Jason Brown. I am currently in treatment with him for both, but it was very hard for me to take the risk of trying to trust a therapist again after my mistreatment by Ms. Adams.
I believe this OCD diagnosis is one of the underlying reasons for my former trans-identification.
I also believe my mental health has worsened and I have developed PTSD as a result of the trauma of my experiences with “gender-affirming care.”
The permanent consequences and negative effects on my life include:
Although I did not end up pursuing any surgical changes to my body, I now have breast growth I am ashamed of, and a feminized distribution of body fat. I continue to feel my mood has been altered by the female hormones. I have erectile dysfunction and penile pain as a result of the hormones. My doctor is as of yet not certain whether I have permanently lost fertility as a result of taking estrogen. I may be unable to have children. I feel ashamed of what I have done to myself. I feel that I wasted years of my life pursuing a false sense of self and an imaginary solution that only led me down the wrong path in my quest for identity, love, and self-esteem. I have lost trust in healthcare providers.
This therapist failed to uphold the duty of care to properly diagnose, assess, and treat my condition in the least invasive, harmful, and permanent manner possible.
Further, my concerns about this therapist and why they should be investigated are:
It was not at all necessary for me to go through what I went through in order to get better. It did not solve my problems; it made them much worse. I am horrified at the thought of how many other confused, young, vulnerable people are being told by this therapist that gender transition will essentially solve all their problems.
Disclaimer
This is not medical or legal advice. You should talk to your own therapist and/or lawyer. However, you don’t need a therapist or a lawyer in order to file a complaint with a licensing board.
In the example given, both the complainant (“John Smith”) and the licensee (“Amanda Adams”) are fictional characters. Any resemblance to real people is coincidental, not deliberate.
Was this helpful?
I’d love to know! If even one person gained the courage and clarity to file a complaint that would make this effort worthwhile.
Leave your thoughts in the comments!
(I moderate all comments so doxxers don’t waste your breath.)
