SUPPORT FOR PARENTS OF TRANS + GENDER DIVERSE YOUTH
Learning that your young person is transgender, gender-diverse or gender questioning can bring up many emotions. You may feel love and commitment to supporting them, while also experiencing uncertainty, grief, fear, or questions about what comes next. Many parents don’t have a place where they can talk openly about these experiences without feeling judged or shamed. Therapy can offer a space where you can slow down, reflect, and explore what this transition means for you and your family.
My role is not to judge your feelings or push you toward a particular response. Instead, I support parents in processing emotions, deepening understanding, strengthening connection and learning how to best support, advocate and affirm your young person.
You may be fully supportive and simply want guidance. You may be navigating a new hurdle in your young persons gender journey/transition (i.e., social/legal transition, medical transition). You may still be learning and figuring things out. You may be at the very beginning of this journey and just learned of your young person's gender identity. Where ever you are at, it is all welcome here. I meet each parent/caregiver where ever they are at in their journey or process with their young person. What matters most is your willingness to show up with care for your young person and curiosity about the process. Therapy can help you move toward greater understanding, confidence, and connection as you support your young person's well-being.
In our work together, we may explore:
- how stress, fear, grief or uncertainty show up in the body
- ways to stay grounded during difficult conversations
- how to remain connected to your child even when things feel challenging
- how to affirm, celebrate and increase a sense of safety for your young person
My goal is to help parents stay regulated, reflective, and relational while navigating this journey, while learning how to embody an gender affirming and strengths-based parenting approach.
When a client’s needs extend beyond the scope of my practice, I provide referrals to trusted counsellors, psychotherapists, and community agencies. I am always happy to share a list of trans, non-binary, and QTBIPOC therapists who also specialize in this work.
My experience in this work:
Over the past several years, I have worked with parents/caregivers of trans and gender diverse kids, pre-teens and adolescents in a variety of settings:
- Clinical Placement with the Canadian Mental Health Association: providing gender-affirming counselling to adolescents and adults questioning or transitioning, where I experienced on-going supportive supervision, training and professional development, while also supporting their parents/caregivers and people who love them.
- Hospital for Sick Children, Gender Care Clinic: in my current role as a clinical social worker, I provide short-term therapy/counselling and resource navigation for parents/caregivers of trans and gender diverse youth. I work on a multi-disciplinary team with other Social Workers, Nurse Practitioners, Endocrinologists, Paediatricians and Psychologists. This work provides me with on-going training, supervision and professional development in area's related to both medical, social and emotional gender care.
In addition to my professional experience, I engage in continued learning and professional development to maintain and enhance my cultural competence in this area. Over the last 5 years I have completed the following trainings:
- Neuroqueer Complexities, CTYS, Finn Gratton & Alyssa Fenix
- Families in TRANSition Facilitator Training, CTYS
- Supporting trans & non-binary clients with transitioning, Gavrel Feldman
- 2SLGBTQ+ Foundations Course, RHO
- 2SLGBTQ+ Emotional and Mental Health, RHO
- 2SLGBTQ+ Trauma Informed Care, RHO
- Trans 101 - Children and Adolescents (up to 18 years), RHO
- Modifying Social Work Practices for Neurodiverse Operating Systems, Wendy McGuire
- Trans and queer affirming birthwork (Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings)
I bring both personal and professional experience to this work, and feel honoured to support parents/caregivers in my practice. Exploring gender identity and expression is a deeply personal journey that the entire family goes through together once learning about their young person's gender incongruence. When a young person trusts a parent enough to share that they are questioning their gender, it often reflects a foundation of love, care, and safety in the relationship. Your child chose to share something deeply personal with you, and that trust speaks volumes about the connection you have built together. What a gift!
If you are a parent or caregiver of a trans or gender-diverse youth and are looking for support, I offer a free 15-minute consultation to see if working together feels like a good fit. You are welcome to book that now here!
