How to Support Your LGBTQIA+ Child: A Parent's Guide to Understanding and Acceptance
As a parent, your love and support are the most powerful tools you have in nurturing your LGBTQIA+ child. By fostering open communication, staying involved in their life, and offering unconditional love, you create a safe space where they can truly flourish.
Listen Openly
It's so curial to maintain open and judgement free communication with your child. Encouraging them to share their thoughts and feelings can create the validation they need.
Stay Involved
Staying involved in your child's life is so important. You can maintain constant communication with teachers and friends parents. Don't be afraid to speak up at school and push for policy change.
Love, Love, Love
Both you and your child are learning how to navigate through this journey and there is no one way to react to learning that your child or a loved one is LGBTQ. Remember to be gentle with your child as well as yourself. You don’t need to be an expert in all things LGBTQ to let them know you care.
Do Ask for Help
Providing support can and will be challenging at times. Remember that you are also on a learning journey and you will make mistakes. That's ok! There are several organizations that you can reach out to for support.
If you’re looking for more ways to support your LGBTQIA+ child, or if you need a compassionate ear, please reach out to us. We’re here to walk this journey with you!
Meet Some of Our Pediatric Psychotherapists
Betina Myers
Specialties
Parenting Challenges, Grief/Loss, Early Childhood, Emotional Self regulation, Complex/Developmental Trauma, Racial trauma, Developmental delays, Family changes, Infant mental health, Family of origin work, Attachment
Victoria Wingate-Rivera
Specialties
Trauma/Complex Trauma, PTSD, Grief and Loss, Anxiety, Depression,
EMDR, TF-CBT
Yancy Padilla
Specialties
PCIT, Self-Harm, TF-CBT, Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention, Parenting Work, S.P.A.C.E. (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) Model, Trauma-Specific and Early Childhood Interventions, ACT
