Families in Transition: Supporting Families of Transgender Youth

Abstract

This chapter explored four theme constructing meaning, support, flexibility and stability, and sensitive communication—related to the family adjustment process following a youth's disclosure of transgender identity. The authors have found these themes to be helpful guides in clinical work with families of transgender youth after initial disclosure and throughout family therapy. Clinical implications pertaining to each theme were also provided. Parents have conveyed that the process of adjustment is indeed a process that takes time. Consistent with stage models, acceptance of the transgender identity does not mean that there are no remaining areas of difficulty, rather that there has been movement away from isolation and shame toward integration of the adolescent's identity into the family and broader family community. Families are able to move to a place of acceptance and even become activists for change in their community. This is captured by Brill and Pepper in the following statement: "There is a natural overflow into your daily life when you realize that there is nothing wrong with your child. If the problem lies with the system, then you work to change the system that discriminates against your child". Many families, some of whom even doubted their ability to ever accept their children's transgender identities, are now combating discrimination and fighting for the rights of their youth and all transgender individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved). (chapter)