Can Therapists Speak Freely to Children in Therapy? (Trending with Timmerie)

On Trending with Timmerie, Timmerie and Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse of the Ruth Institute took up a difficult and urgent question: Should children be free to speak openly with a therapist about struggles related to gender identity and sexuality? Their conversation centered on the concern that some laws and professional pressures leave little room for honest dialogue. Timmerie described the issue as one of basic freedom, especially for young people who need space to talk through confusion without being pushed in one direction. Dr. Morse agreed, calling it “a slam dunk free speech case” and warning that even when one legal challenge is resolved, new efforts can quickly arise to intimidate therapists into silence. What made the discussion especially striking was its focus on children. Rather than reducing young people to labels, both Timmerie and Dr. Morse argued that the children deserve careful, compassionate help. Therapy, in that view, should begin with listening, not an agenda or ideology. As Dr. Morse put it, “You talk to the kid before you start chopping or prescribing.” The conversation also explored how public debates around sexuality and gender are often driven by fear, politics, and shaky research rather than a genuine concern for the good of the child. Dr. Morse pointed to the importance of sound data, representative samples, and the courage to question cultural narratives that treat every form of affirmation as automatically life-giving. For Catholic listeners, this episode was a reminder that every child is made in the image of God and must be treated with dignity, patience, and truth. Real care never abandons love, and real love never abandons truth. In a culture eager to rush vulnerable children into fixed identities, this conversation called for the kind of accompaniment that seeks the good of the whole person, especially when dealing with children. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.