Paul Garcia-Ryan is a conservative American social worker and ex-transgender activist. Garcia-Ryan believes people under age 26 should not get trans healthcare under an informed consent model.
Do not go to Garcia-Ryan for therapy. If you are a minor forced to see Garcia-Ryan, do everything in your power to end the sessions and find a supportive local therapist.
Background
Paul A. Garcia-Ryan was born on June 17, 1991. At age 15, Garcia-Ryan reportedly met with a therapist about gender identity and expression.
As an adult, Garcia-Ryan began using the name Charlotte Garcia-Ryan and took medical transition steps.
Garcia-Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree from Alfred University in 2014 and a master’s degree from Hunter College in 2018.
In 2021, at age 30, Garcia-Ryan made additional gender changes following reportedly poor surgical results.
Practice
Garcia-Ryan is president of Therapy First, a directory of therapists who believe they should be paid to determine if trans and gender diverse people should be allowed to undertake medical transition steps.
Garcia-Ryan has been affiliated with the Open Therapy Institute and was listed with these therapists:
- Camilo Ortiz
- Katherine Cullen
- Neil Kressel
- Paul Garcia-Ryan
That site stated: “Paul Garcia-Ryan is a New York City based psychotherapist providing care to a wide variety of patients, including gay and lesbian adults who don’t feel they have a place in LGBT culture and individuals/families facing gender related challenges.”
Garcia-Ryan feels that young adults should not be allowed to make a gender transition unless they pay for “gender exploratory therapy” from Garcia-Ryan or other conservative colleagues.
Garcia-Ryan is listed on the Gender Exploratory Therapy Association site. “Gender exploratory therapy” is a non-affirming model of care. The American Academy of Pediatrics calls this practice “delayed transition” and advises against it.
Garcia-Ryan’s promotional site includes quotes from anti-trans activists Lisa Marchiano, Leonore Tiefer, and Lisa Selin Davis.
Ex-transgender activism
Garcia-Ryan was an invited participant at a 2023 anti-trans conference organized by the SLPC-designated hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine.
In 2024, Garcia-Ryan was featured in a New York Times article by anti-trans activist Pamela Paul. Garcia-Ryan stated:
“When a professional affirms a gender identity for a younger person, what they are doing is implementing a psychological intervention that narrows a person’s sense of self and closes off their options for considering what’s possible for them.”
Paul (2024)
References
OTI (November 7, 2024). Coming soon: OTI shines light on overlooked clinical populations with Dr. Phil. Open Therapy Institute https://opentherapyinstitute.substack.com/p/whats-new-at-the-open-therapy-institute-3fb
Ryan, Benjamin (October 19, 2024). Pain, confusion and compassion: How the US has reached a trans ‘tipping point.’ New York Post https://nypost.com/2024/10/19/us-news/pain-confusion-compassion-how-the-us-has-reached-a-trans-tipping-point/
Kirkey, Sharon (July 17, 2024). Kids identifying as transgender need ‘talk therapy,’ not drugs, therapists say. National Post https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/transgender-gender-dysphoria-treatment
Ryan, Benjamin (February 24, 2024). A landmark Finnish study is changing how we approach transgender kids. New York Post https://nypost.com/2024/02/24/opinion/a-finnish-study-is-changing-how-we-approach-trans-kids/
Staff report (February 14, 2024). Young adults tell of irreparable damage caused in teens by trans-affirming medics. Christian Institute https://www.christian.org.uk/news/young-adults-tell-of-irreparable-damage-caused-in-teens-by-trans-affirming-medics/
McGhee White, Kaylee (February 8, 2024). For these detransitioners, there’s no reversing the cost of gender ideology’s lies. Washington Examiner https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/2843144/for-these-detransitioners-theres-no-reversing-the-cost-of-gender-ideologys-lies/
Foley, Ryan (February 7, 2024). Founder of first pediatric gender clinic in the US fears providers are rushing gender transitions. Christian Post https://www.christianpost.com/news/doctors-are-rushing-gender-transition-process-psychologist-warns.html
Alexander, Harriet (February 3, 2024). Gay teens who couldn’t come to terms with their sexuality share how they removed their breasts and genitals in false hope that becoming transgender would ‘cure’ them, as concerns mount that ‘gender-affirming care’ for children is homophobic. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13040507/transgender-children-gay-teenagers-surgery-hormones-detransition.html
Hays, Gabriel (February 2, 2024). Detransitioners open up to NY Times about feeling abandoned, harm of ‘gender-affirming care:’ ‘It’s a mess.’ Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/detransitioners-open-ny-times-feeling-abandoned-harm-gender-affirming-care-mess
Paul, Pamela (February 2, 2024). As Kids, They Thought They Were Trans. They No Longer Do. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/02/opinion/transgender-children-gender-dysphoria.html
Action Network (2024). Raising the Alarm on Gender Identity Change Efforts Disguised as Talk Therapy. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/raising-the-alarm-on-gender-identity-change-efforts-disguised-as-talk-therapy [archive]
SPLC (December 12, 2023). Group dynamics and division of labor within the anti-LGBTQ+ pseudoscience network. https://www.splcenter.org/captain/defining-pseudoscience-network
Reed, Erin (January 13, 2023). Unpacking ‘gender exploratory therapy,’ a new form of conversion therapy. Xtra https://xtramagazine.com/health/gender-exploratory-therapy-243833
Selected writing by Garcia-Ryan
Garcia-Ryan, Paul (April 18, 2024). Opinion: A new report roils the debate on youth gender care. Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/18/cass-review-young-people-gender-transition/
- Resposes https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/25/cass-review-transgender-kids-treatment/
Resources
Paul Garcia-Ryan (paulgarciaryan.com)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Licensure
- NPI 1326685694
- NY License # 093503
Brooklyn Holistic Therapy (brooklynholisticpsychotherapy.com)
Open Therapy Institute (opentherapyinstitute.org)
Therapy First (therapyfirst.org)
Instagram (instagram.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)
Psychology Today (psychologytoday.com)
- Paul Garcia-Ryan
- psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/paul-garcia-ryan-brooklyn-ny/427351