When Kids Say They're Trans: A Guide for Parents - Paperback

by Sasha Ayad (Author), Lisa Marchiano (Author), Stella O'Malley (Author)

Being the parent of a gender-questioning child is confusing. You want to do what's best for your child, but doctors and therapists might be making recommendations that conflict with your own instincts as a parent. Do you immediately affirm a newly professed gender identity, watch and wait, or pursue some other path? While many books have been written for parents who choose to facilitate their child's gender transition, there are almost none for parents who do not think that social or medical transition is the best option for their child. Written by three mental health professionals who collectively have decades of experience working with adolescents struggling with issues of gender, Is My Child Trans? is a resource designed for those parents who do not think that hasty affirmation or medicalization is the best way to ensure the long-term health and well-being of their child--or who simply wish to explore other approaches. Is My Child Trans? tells you all you need to know as a parent to help your child struggling with gender issues--and will give you the confidence to trust your own instincts as you guide and support your child on the path toward growth, acceptance, and maturity.

Author Biography

Lisa Marchiano is a licensed clinical social worker and a certified Jungian analyst. She consults with parents of trans-identifying teens and detransitioners and is the author of Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself. Stella O'Malley is a psychotherapist and best-selling author whose work focuses on teenagers, parenting, and family dynamics. In addition to facilitating a parent coaching site that provides practical help to parents who are navigating their child's gender-related distress, she is the cohost of Gender: A Wider Lens podcast and director of Genspect, an international organisation that offers a healthy approach to sex and gender. Sasha Ayad is a licensed professional counselor in private practice who works with teens and young adults struggling with issues of gender dysphoria and gender identity. She also runs a robust parent coaching membership group to help parents navigate their child's identity exploration with discernment, wisdom, and compassion. Sasha is cohost of the podcast, Gender: A Wider Lens.