Colt Keo-Meier: Clinical Psychologist & Transgender Advocate

On today's show, I have Colt Keo-Meier who is a Clinical Psychologist and Transgender Advocate located in Galveston, Texas.I asked Colt to come on to not only discuss what it's like to be a Clinical Psychologist but also as someone who is transgender and an advocate.

My whole purpose behind starting this podcast is to show that even though our day-to-day tasks may all look vastly different, there are similarities we all have. We all have struggles. We all have fears. We all have insecurities. We all just want to be accepted in the world and be who we truly are.Colt is very open and honest about his experience coming out to his family and the challenges he faced growing up in a small, south Texas town. He also shares misconceptions people have about transgender men and women as well as advice for people who want to talk more openly with their transgender friends and family members but aren't sure how to start.This episode came out in April 2018 and my hope is that it is a resource for those wanting to learn more about what life is like for someone who is transgender. If this topic is new and/or uncomfortable to you, my hope is that you will listen with an open mind.If you want to discuss this further, please join the Day in the Life Facebook group.I also want to link to a suicide crisis hotline that is specific for transgender people. Please contact them if you are considering suicide. Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs members of our community might have: https://www.translifeline.org/ Phone Number: US: (877) 565-8860 CANADA: (877) 330-6366

Colt Keo-Meier | Clinical Psychologist & Transgender Advocate

Show notes

In today's episode, you'll find out:

• The differences between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.
• How Colt's mental health has changed since transitioning.
• What he wants people to understand about transgender men and women.
• His biggest struggles being a clinical psychologist and transman.
• Misconceptions he thinks people have about transgender men and women.
• Advice he'd give to people who want to talk more openly with their friends and family about gender identity, but aren't sure how to start.

Colt Keo-Meier is a Texas Licensed Psychologist and a preeminent researcher with expertise in gender and sexuality. He is also a transgender man specializing in working on a part-time basis with sexual and gender minorities (i.e., LGBTQIA), their families, and individuals questioning their sexual and/or gender identity. He is also the Co-founder of Gender Infinity, an organization dedicated to connecting trans and gender expansive individuals and their families with resources in the southern United States.

Key takeaways from this episode:

“I always wanted to be a medical doctor growing up.” - Colt Keo-Meier[bctt tweet="“When we practice avoidance of things that make us anxious, our anxiety grows bigger.”- Colt Keo-Meier" via="no"]“What I found out through my process of graduate school, no one really knew anything at all about being transgender.” - Colt Keo-Meier“What I found from my dissertation is the main thing that helps transgender people is medicine.” - Colt Keo-Meier[bctt tweet="“Something I've learned over the years is that people are going to ask questions that are hurtful but they don't mean to hurt you.” - Colt Keo-Meier" via="no"]“I work really hard to call folks into conversations instead of calling folks out.” - Colt Keo-Meier“I don't think people have been communicated a set of social norms for speaking with and about trans people.” - Colt Keo-Meier“From my earliest memories, I absolutely know I'm not a girl. That was something that was very clear to me.” - Colt Keo-Meier[bctt tweet="“There are more people that don't have support than there are that do have support.” - Colt Keo-Meier" via="no"]“I have been supported at every turn by 99% of my community and it really started with how well my parents have created a foundation of support around me.” - Colt Keo-Meier[bctt tweet="“There will be plenty of people in this world that will attempt to invalidate you and not even allow you to explore or questions whether or not you might be transgender.” - Colt Keo-Meier" via="no"]“Because I knew if I spent some time during self reflection and figuring out who I was, I'd probably find some things I'd be scared to find. And what would that mean?” - Colt Keo-Meier“Gender identity is not the same as who you're attracted to.” - Colt Keo-Meier[bctt tweet="“What you don't know can actually hurt people.” - Colt Keo-Meier" via="no"][bctt tweet="“I think I've learned the most the people I'm the most different from.” - Colt Keo-Meier" via="no"]

Links to resources

• Transgender Alliance Facebook group
• PFLAG
• Gender Infinity Conference
• Family Acceptance Project

Follow Colt:

• Website
• Colt's children's book, Stacey's Not A Girl

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