HELPING YOUR TRANSGENDER TEEN
A Guide for Parents
by Irwin Krieger

If you are the parent of a transgender teen, this book will help you understand what your child is feeling and experiencing. I am a clinical social worker with many years of experience helping transgender teens. This book brings you the insights gained from my work with these teenagers and their families.

Today’s teens have access to a wealth of information on the internet. Teenagers who are wondering about gender identity soon find out what it means to be transgender or transsexual. Parents, on the other hand, know little about this topic. When a teenager declares he or she is transgender, parents fear that their child is confused and is choosing a life fraught with danger. I wrote this book to help parents gain an understanding of this complex subject.

Helping Your Transgender Teen begins with the basic information you and your family need. The central chapters of the book address the fears and concerns most parents of transgender teens share. The final chapters guide you through the steps you can take to discover what is best for your child. Although written for parents, this book is also useful for pediatricians, therapists, educators and others who work with teenagers and young adults. Helping Your Transgender Teen provides answers to many of your questions about adolescent gender identity.

Selected for the American Library Association's 2012 Over the Rainbow list of "books that exhibit commendable literary quality and significant authentic lgbt content and are recommended for adults over age 18."

Click here for reviews of Helping Your Transgender Teen
Click here for advice for Transgender Teens
Click here for questions to ask teens to understand more about their gender identity

Additional Resources for Parents of Transgender Teens

Resources in Connecticut and New England:

Translations and TransPACT: Support groups for transgender youth and their parents. Contact Tony Ferraiolo: 203-376-8089 or snart_art@yahoo.com

The Connecticut chapter of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network ( GLSEN CT ) is working to ensure safe schools for all students.

Located in Portland, Maine, Trans Youth Equality Foundation provides education, advocacy and support for transgender and gender non-conforming children and youth and their families throughout New England.

Camp Aranu'tiq is a weeklong, overnight summer camp for transgender and gender-variant youth ages 8 through 15.

With offices in West Haven, CT and New York City, Dr. Ilja Hulinsky is a highly experienced endocrinologist offering exceptional transgender health care.

Counseling in CT: Call me at 203-776-1966 or email me at irwin.krieger@sbcglobal.net for psychotherapy, gender identity evaluation or family counseling in New Haven. For other locations in CT, view the Resource Guide at the True Colors website (above) and look for therapists listed with transgender expertise.

National and online resources:

Accepting Dad is a blog of one parent's journey to acceptance of transgender with listings of resources and support groups for parents as well as books for gender-nonconforming (or gender-variant, or transgender) children.

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: Since 2002, PFLAG has a Transgender Network focused specifically on promoting the health and well-being of transgender persons, their families and friends. If there is a local PFLAG chapter in your area, you are welcome to attend as the parent of a transgender teen.

Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network ( GLSEN ) is the largest national education organization working to ensure safe schools for all students. Ready, Set, Respect! GLSEN's Elementary School Toolkit is part professional development and part curricular resource with lesson plans for addressing bullying and bias-based remarks, gender and inclusion of LGBT people in family diversity.

The Trevor Project (888-4-U-TREVOR) is confidential 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBT youth.
Trevor Space is a free, monitored social and peer networking site for LGBT youth ages 13-24.

Listservs (email-based groups for sharing support and information):
***Washington DC Children's National Medical Center, contact pgroup@cnmc.org.
*** TransFamily in Cleveland hosts listservs and also provides information and support.

Legal Advocacy:
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund
Transgender Law Center
Transgender Law and Policy Institute

Conferences

International Resources