What role do our physical bodies play in our understanding of being? How does our embodied experience relate to the search for growth and meaning in life? Is there a true distinction between mind and body? These questions don’t have simple answers for any of us. For teens who are experiencing an incongruity between the physical body and their perception of self, the answers to these questions are even more obscure. It seems obvious in these cases that we, as therapists, helpers, and adults, ...read more

This post was written by D. Houston (a pen name). She is the parent of a brilliant and creative client in my private practice and D describes herself this way: Mom to two kids, one on the spectrum. I’ve been home with them since they’ve been born. Homeschool teacher for 5 years. Butcher, baker, some time candlestick maker. World traveler. Truth seeker. “Mom, I think I am trans…” There are a lot of scenarios parents consider and mull over, but I suspect almost no one preps for this one.   ...read more

This piece was originally posted here, on The Jung Soul, the blog of Lisa Marchiano, LCSW. Lisa is a clinical social worker and Jungian analyst in private practice. She offers consultations to families of trans identified teens and young people looking to support their child without immediately rushing to permanent medical intervention.   Parents whose teens or tweens suddenly come to identify as transgender “out of the blue” without a significant history of gender dysphoria or even ...read more

I have always rejected the idea that the body or physical appearance can ever be the cause of someone’s emotional problems. I scoff at diet commercials promising some miraculous transformation: from miserable to elated because the waist is a few inches smaller. Or hair transplants that will change a man from frumpy and lonely to connected and content just because he has more hair on his head. While those are extreme examples, we hear this idea all the time: He’s angry because he’s disabled. She ...read more

When your daughter enters her teen years, it can cause a lot of anxiety for parents. You know she will need to grow up eventually, but you worry that she is making risky choices. She may be hanging out with peers that you find unsavory or starting to talk, dress, and act differently. You might have caught her in a lie, uncovered a shameful secret, or discovered that she's been experimenting with drugs and alcohol. You worry about her grades, her safety, and her future. But when you are ...read more

You want to know more about your teen daughter's life so you can keep her accountable and keep her out of trouble. There are times when you need to step in, be the adult and set firm rules and boundaries. But sometimes, even when your daughter brings up a minor conflict or everyday situation, you might be responding in a way that erodes trust. Be sure you aren't making one of these common mistakes that often keep parents from building trust with their daughter. Instead, here are 4 ways you can ...read more

I was busy working on a behavior plan for a very fidgety 6th grade boy when I heard an assertive knock on my office door. This was the third time this week Sally had left class without permission to come talk to me. “Ms Ayad, how can I transfer schools? I really don’t think I can get a proper education here and none of the teachers know what they’re doing”, so began our 45 minute conversation. She often got fixated on one or two teachers, who despite their best efforts, could not find a good ...read more

It seems these days, that whenever we hear about LGBT issues, we are hearing more and more about transgender kids and gender identity. I know many parents are confused by this concept and what it might mean for their teen. If your child has been questioning their gender, or told you they believe they are trans, you’ve probably been reading about gender therapy. Most gender therapists will tell you that sometimes a child’s “gender identity” doesn’t match their biological sex. Gender identity, in ...read more