Author Archives: admin

My TDOV GENECIS Rally Speeches

On March 31, 2022 a number of us anonymously held a rally at the University of Texas South Western Medical Center in Dallas to protest the closing of the Children’s GENECIS program that provided health and hormonal care for transgender … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries, Transgender | Comments Off on My TDOV GENECIS Rally Speeches

77 Years Young, Transitions

Here is an article I wrote in 2009. It never found a home in the LGBT press, so I am sharing here as a blog post. I wish I had shared it sooner, rather than ten years later. I enjoyed … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries, Transgender | Comments Off on 77 Years Young, Transitions

30 Years Later – Remembering UTD

By Renee Baker for the UTD Mercury Our forebears love to tell us when we are young that life blazes by in the blink of an eye.   I would roll my eyes at such pronouncements.  Certainly when I moved to … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on 30 Years Later – Remembering UTD

Spring Chicken

In case I haven’t mentioned it to you before, I love to read health books.   My dad especially likes studying longevity.   He is a great role model for staying well.   At the moment, he is 82 and still plays tennis.  … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on Spring Chicken

The Plant Paradox

The Plant Paradox is an interesting health book written by Dr. Steven Gundry, who is a cardiologist and surgeon that has shifted his focus to dietary ways of healing.  As the saying goes, let food be thy medicine.  And Gundry … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on The Plant Paradox

The Marshmallow Test and Affirmations of Self-Control

About a month ago or so, I found myself at Barnes & Nobel Bookstore in Plano, a pretty likely place to find me actually, and I was looking for a book to help me with my weight.  I readily admit … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmations, BLOG Entries | Comments Off on The Marshmallow Test and Affirmations of Self-Control

Response to Colette Chiland’s Transsexualism

Here is my pointed response to “Transsexualism: Illusion and Reality”, written by Colette Chiland in 1997 and translated by Philip Slotkin in 2003, published by Wesleyan University Press. This is an older book written about 20 years ago and as … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Response to Colette Chiland’s Transsexualism

My 10 Year Gender Anniversary

Today is a special 10 year birthday for me. It was ten years ago today that I took a little trip to Quebec, home of my grandmother, to find a little more peace with my life. It was a 12 … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries, Transgender, Uncategorized | Comments Off on My 10 Year Gender Anniversary

Hallucinations, Not Just For Porky Pig

Hallucinations are not just for Porky Pig.  If you are as old as me, then you may well remember the old Looney Tunes cartoon with Porky Pig and his camel lost in the desert in Egypt, dying of thirst, wanting … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on Hallucinations, Not Just For Porky Pig

Mind Up!

Most of us have heard the impossible phrase, “to pull oneself up by their bootstraps.” It makes us pause to wonder how do we do this. It’s like jumping straight up one foot, then when we get there, keep jumping … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on Mind Up!

Memorial Day Words

Some words for Memorial Day this year… My heart hurts to think of all the loss For families hurt by the death of their children Fathers and mothers that never came home Brothers and sisters that are now all alone … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on Memorial Day Words

Is You?

Here is where my mind is this morning: So I look at my cat and ask him squarely, “Is you or is you ain’t my constituency?” He looks at me and shakes his head. I said “Why? Haven’t I promised … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on Is You?

Are You Glad You Transitioned?

People often ask me, “Are you glad you transitioned?” While the answer is always yes, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a hard thing to go through. It’s like asking somebody, “are you glad you had the triple-bypass?” In a lot … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on Are You Glad You Transitioned?

Affirmation: I Have a Brave Heart

Affirmation of the day: I have a brave heart. I cut through the fear. I take a risk. I do the right thing. I face my challenges. I snap out of it. I am a hero on a heroic journey. … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmations | Comments Off on Affirmation: I Have a Brave Heart

Breathe In, Breathe Out

I breathe in – I breathe out. I close my eyes gently. I let my mind stop. I choose not to choose. My hands rest in my lap. Posture erect. Comfortably I sit. I bob my head from side to … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmations | Comments Off on Breathe In, Breathe Out

On the Eve of April Fools

I wanted to share a little personal history before bedtime. On April 1, ten years ago, I was out for a walk/jog. I was physically out of shape and my life was really exhausting me. I was frustrated and often … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on On the Eve of April Fools

Affirmation For Easter

Affirmation for Easter: Today is a good day to begin again! I am reborn today. I recreate my life anew. I allow life to unfold in a graceful way. I stay in touch with this moment. I forgive myself. I … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmations | Comments Off on Affirmation For Easter

Affirmation: It’s Easier Than I Think

Affirmations Inspired By S. Boorstein’s “It’s Easier Than You Think” Written By Renee Baker   I allow myself to stay open to a spiritual path.  My spiritual path need not be complex.  Simplicity is okay.  As I explore this road, … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmations | Comments Off on Affirmation: It’s Easier Than I Think

My Contribution to the Red Circle Project

I am adding the following entry I wrote last year on Sept 1, 2012 for The Red Circle Project.  I am sharing today on June 2, 2013..respectfully Renee Baker. Rising and falling My breath be not still And this mind … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on My Contribution to the Red Circle Project

The Best Breast

I’m a bit hesitant to share, but this is a true story as written back in 2007. The Best Breast was written by Dr. John Tebbetts, a well-known plastic surgeon in Dallas. I would like breast augmentation and since he … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on The Best Breast

The Knots Prayer

A school friend of mine gave this prayer on a bookmark.  It is really a beautiful prayer and affirmation. The Knots Prayer Dear God, please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life. Remove the … Continue reading

Posted in Spirituality & Stillness, Uncategorized | Comments Off on The Knots Prayer

50 Tips for Counselors: A Compilation of Irvin Yalom’s Advice

Fifty Tips for Counselors: A Compilation of Irvin Yalom’s Advice Renee Baker, Ph.D. The following is a list of tips and tidbits I consolidated from Irvin Yalom’s book The Gift of Therapy – An Open Letter to a New Generation … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries, Counselors and Healers | Comments Off on 50 Tips for Counselors: A Compilation of Irvin Yalom’s Advice

Bipolar Disorder in Adolescence: Diagnosis and Modern Treatment

Bipolar Disorder in Adolescence: Diagnosis and Modern Treatment Renee S. Baker, Feb 8, 2011 Introduction In the fall of 2007, just a few years ago, Carmen Moreno and her colleagues made national and even international news when they released a … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on Bipolar Disorder in Adolescence: Diagnosis and Modern Treatment

Coming Out of the Darkness

A SAFE PLACE AT LAST | Alex Fitzgerald says school officials in Lewisville and Flower Mound did nothing to protect him from bullies. Now he attends iSchool in Lewisville, a private school where faculty and staff mean it when they … Continue reading

Posted in LGBT Publications | Comments Off on Coming Out of the Darkness

An Ode to Reece Manley (1/14/69 – 2/3/11)

I wrote this for my Professional Counseling Class in May of 2010.  He shared many intimate details of his life with me.  He passed away this month from the many complications he faced.  He was often in great pain, so … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on An Ode to Reece Manley (1/14/69 – 2/3/11)

Cutting Away at Emotional Pain Handout (Nuestras Voces Conference 2010)

This is the handout I am providing for the November 2, 2010 Arte Sana Nuestras Voces / Our Voices National Conference on self-injury.  If you need a MS Word copy, let me know. Cutting Away at Emotional Pain Handout Renee … Continue reading

Posted in Self-Injury | Comments Off on Cutting Away at Emotional Pain Handout (Nuestras Voces Conference 2010)

Maybe I Just Will

When I was studying to be an electrical engineer, our academic requirements laid out a path for us to take of study outside of core engineering.  They wanted us to have breadth as individuals, not just core depth.  But how … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries | Comments Off on Maybe I Just Will

Stillness Newsletter Archive

I have written a number of newsletters over the 2008-2009 time period to capture a few thoughts I have had here and there regarding stillness.  Stillness is one of the most beautiful words to me.  It says everything about what … Continue reading

Posted in Spirituality & Stillness | Comments Off on Stillness Newsletter Archive

Thixotropic Man – Or, Our Ground Substance Hero? Say what?

Look, up in the sky, no I mean laying there firmly in bed, it’s Thixotropic Man.  Can we help him?  Yes, quick, give him a massage before it’s too late.  It’s working, he’s starting to move, he’s warming up.  There, … Continue reading

Posted in BLOG Entries, Massage Therapy | Comments Off on Thixotropic Man – Or, Our Ground Substance Hero? Say what?

Youth First Texas – Pride Beneficiary

Story by Renee Baker in Dallas Voice Tavern Guild Pullout – Fall 2010 When Brian Jacobs marched in his first Pride Parade, he said he felt “like nothing else mattered but being who I am.”  He felt a “oneness” that … Continue reading

Posted in LGBT Publications | Comments Off on Youth First Texas – Pride Beneficiary