Normalcy, Nuance & Narratives

Short Description and chapters

Join host Charlie Wells on Self Matters as he interviews Laura Scarrone Bonhomme, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Author specialising in gender, sexual, and relationship diversity. This episode traces Laura's remarkable career, from providing aid to earthquake victims in Chile to her impactful work in the UK advocating for gender diversity. Explore her experiences at London's NHS Gender Identity Clinic and her efforts in redefining notions of 'normalcy' within mental health services. The discussion also emphasises the importance of personalised care for trans individuals and the necessity of comprehensive training for healthcare professionals.

00:08 Meet Laura Scarrone Bonhomme

01:16 Laura's Early Life and Interest in Psychology

03:30 Challenges and Learning in Chile

08:17 Transition to the UK and New Opportunities

10:03 Understanding Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diversity

18:25 The Importance of Labels and Language

20:57 Gender and Medicine: A Complex Relationship

28:01 Training and Bias in Therapy

31:59 Insights from the Book

37:29 Eradicating Normal

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People in this episode

Host

Charlie Wells

Charlie Wells is Founder & CEO of HelloSelf. He is dedicated to improve mental wellbeing for all. After a life-altering brain haemorrhage in 2011, he embraced a second chance at life, prioritising personal wellbeing and positive impact.

Inspired by this journey, HelloSelf, the company behind the Self Matters podcast, was born to address the growing demand for mental health services.

Main guest

Laura Scarrone Bonhomme

Laura Scarrone Bonhomme (she/her) is a Consultant Psychologist specialised in gender, sexual and relationship diversity. She trained and developed her career internationally, working in Spain, Chile, and the United Kingdom. Laura delivers psychotherapy, assessment, and supervision, and she frequently provides public speaking and training. Laura is co-founder of Affirm (www.affirm.lgbt) an online training platform dedicated to providing training on gender-affirming care to healthcare providers. Laura was Associate Editor of Counselling Psychology Review, the journal of the British Psychological Society (BPS). She has authored ‘Gender Dysphoria and The Mirror: A Mediator Between the First Person and Third Person Perspective’; the chapter ‘The Age of Rediscovery: What is Like to Gender Transition When You Are 50+’, and the book ‘Gender Affirming Therapy: A Guide to What Transgender and Non-Binary Clients Can Teach Us’. Laura is a Committee Member of the Psychology of Sexualities Section of the BPS, a Member of the British Association of Gender Identity Specialists, and a member of World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Laura is part of the HM Courts & Tribunals Service List of Specialists in the Field of Gender Dysphoria