Feeling Lost?

TransFamily Support Services is here to help you navigate the journey.

My Child Just Came Out as Transgender or Non-Binary – What Do I do Now?

Respond slowly (rather than reacting quickly). Breath. Listen. Tell them you love them no matter what. Breathe. Listen. Know that you are not alone—your whole family has support and community available for this journey.

This is a huge way to show that you are on their team, supporting them on their gender journey, wherever it leads. (Not affirming name/pronouns is a major signal for trans/non-binary youth that they do not have your support or trust.)

This is a video meeting (usually), for your whole family, where you receive grounded support for wherever you are on the journey (not a diagnosis)—this includes specific resource recommendations (therapists, doctors, books, etc.) and connections with support groups (for youth and for their parents/guardians). Click here to contact us.

  • This may feel new and sudden to you but, most likely, your child has been on this journey internally for a long time, and has finally gathered the courage to let you in. You may feel unready, but your child is probably beyond ready to move forward with living as their true gender by the time they come out to you.
  • Will the gender identity your child expresses today, change later? The truth is: it doesn’t matter. For your long-term relationship, what matters is that they know you support them, affirm them, and listen to them, all along the way.
  • It’s OK to have whatever feelings you have—but save expressing them for when you are alone with trusted adults in your support circles. Your child does not need to hear your grief, doubts, fears, or struggles about their gender right now.This may feel like a shock or crisis to you today, but it won’t always feel like this. It truly does get easier. And there’s a wonderful community of families on this journey with you.

I need to find a good therapist for my child – What do I look for?

Ask your child if they feel they’d be most comfortable with someone of a certain gender, race, age, or other factors, to help narrow your search.

Insurance companies will often tell you any therapist who checks that box will do, but it’s simply not true. Therapists without proper training/experience with trans/non-binary youth can do emotional harm in their lack of true understanding/knowledge of working with youth with gender dysphoria. You can check therapist’s websites and/or call them to find out their training and if they’re actively working with trans/non-binary youth.

Within our support groups and Family Engagement Sessions at TransFamily Support Services, and in other supportive spaces, parents/guardians know and will share about effective and trustworthy gender therapists. They’re a golden resource.

We all prefer in-network providers financially, and TFSS can support you in trying to find one. But sometimes qualified therapists for trans youth are not in network. TFSS can assist you in filing claims and appeals to get the most possible coverage for the best-fit, qualified therapist for your child.

I’ve Made a First Appointment with a Therapist for my Child – What Should I Expect?

For help in doing this, see the other TFSS info sheet: “I Need to Find a Good Therapist for my Newly-Out or Questioning Transgender or Non-Binary Child—What Do I Look For?”

No test exists that will confirm or deny your child’s gender identity. A good gender therapist will create a safe space, meet your child where they are, and listen, affirm, and guide them toward what makes them feel most aligned and peaceful within themself. The therapist will likely talk more generally about gender diversity with young children and work closely with parents.

A gender therapist’s job is to provide mental and emotional support for trans/non-binary youth and their families. While they may discuss medical transition steps with tweens or teens who desire it (not younger children, who only socially transition), they are not directly involved in the medical transition process. They will not do anything medical with your child.

Even with incredibly supportive parents, some trans/non-binary youth may feel more comfortable sharing certain thoughts, experiences, or questions with a therapist before they can share them with you. It can help you both to honor this.

Everyone’s gender journey is different. Some trans/non-binary youth may only need very few therapy appointments. Sometimes parents may need only a few sessions to get the family on the right page so everyone can move forward together. Other youth may need ongoing, longer-term therapy if they’re questioning or struggling with other issues alongside gender identity.

We all prefer in-network providers financially, and TFSS can support you in trying to find one. But sometimes qualified therapists for trans youth are not in-network. TFSS can assist you in filing claims and appeals to get the highest possible coverage for the best-fit, qualified therapist for your child.

My Tween/Teen Wants to Meet with a Doctor to Discuss Medical Transition Options – What Should I Expect?

Medical doctors who work with trans/non-binary youth can be endocrinologists, pediatricians, adolescent medicine, or family medicine doctors—but not all doctors in these categories have experience/training with trans youth medical transition. Try to find a doctor in a hospital-based gender clinic or a referral through the trans family community (such as TransFamily Support Services support groups or Family Engagement Sessions, or other groups like PFLAG). Call the doctor’s office to confirm their training/experience with trans/non-binary youth; if they have none, keep looking.

No test exists that will confirm or deny your child’s gender identity. A good gender doctor will create a safe space, meet your child where they are, and listen, affirm, and guide them toward additional medical transition steps that make the most sense for them. The team comprised of youth, parents, doctors, and therapists will work together for the next steps.

Good gender doctors highly respect trans/non-binary youth, including giving them more privacy for parts of the exam and conversation. They also know your child may have questions they don’t want to ask in your presence, so it’s important that they can do that with the doctor.

It can be a lot of information, so you may want to take notes. And ask any questions you have—including which options the doctor has seen work most effectively, and which side effects they’ve seen most often, with other trans youth in their practice.

If one person has full legal custody, they will need to show court documentation of this if they want to be the sole signer.

We all prefer in-network providers financially, and TFSS can support you in trying to find one. But sometimes qualified doctors for trans youth are not in-network. TFSS can assist you in filing claims and appeals to get the highest possible coverage for the best-fit, qualified doctor for your child.

Still have questions?

We understand this is all new and can be overwhelming at times. Send us a message for additional questions.