Expert Insight on Families and their Trans Children

Monday, June 5, 2017, By Ellen Mbuqe

Assistant Professor of Family and Marriage Therapy Deborah Coolhart is available to discuss issues of families with transgender children.

“Even when parents want to support their transgender child, they often struggle to because they are dealing with their own emotional process. It is common for parents to experience fear and loss in their adjustment to their child’s gender identity,” said Dr. Coolhart. “These emotions make sense because trans people do face increased risk for discrimination and suicidality.  Parental support has been shown to be an important protective factor in mental health outcomes for trans people, so it is important that parents work through these emotions and learn how to support their child.”

For more information or to talk to Dr. Coolhart, please contact Ellen James Mbuqe, director of news and public relations for Syracuse University, at ejmbuqe@syr.edu or 315-443-1897, or Michele Barrett, director of communications for Falk College at mibarret@syr.edu or 315-443-6172.