Raising Girls
In our last post, we discussed the differences that male identified children have as compared to female identified children. We reviewed some of the structural brain changes, as well as some of the societal and cultural norms and expectations that male children cope with, and the need for emotional support and understanding for male children. […]
Raising Boys
On the surface, raising a child with an identified gender of male should be much the same as raising a female identified child We are thankfully moving past strict gender guidelines, and no longer are toys considered “boy toys” or “girl toys” (for the most part). However, there are societal differences and expectations that do […]
How To React When Someone Comes Out
Coming out – the process of revealing your sexual or gender identity to others around you – can be terrifying. Yet in an effort to live authentically, congruently, and freely, it is necessary to divulge certain very personal pieces of information with loved ones. We unfortunately live in a “heteronormative” society, which means that others […]
Talking To Teenagers
Parents often feel that they’ve entered a new planet, or at least a foreign country, when their sweet innocent children become teenagers. Adolescence is a developmental period where identity, responsibility, maturity, and hormones can bring about changes, heightened emotions, and a whole new set of tools for parents to master. Teenagers get a bad reputation, […]
Welcome Jessy Coleman, LPC-Intern!
It is with great pleasure that Upside Therapy and Evaluation Center welcomes our new therapist, Jessica “Jessy” Coleman, LPC-Intern. Jessy is supervised by Nichole Lecznar, MS, LPC-S. Jessy received her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Oklahoma State University, and she is currently in the process of obtaining her second Master’s degree in Applied […]
Treatment Guidelines for Transgender Individuals
Historically, the mental health and medical communities have not always had the best understanding of transgender and gender diverse health care and mental health needs – nor the best intentions in caring for those who are not cis-gender. Thankfully, research, understanding, and humanity have evolved into a growing de-stigmatization of gender diversity. Internationally, movement is […]
Teaching Consent to Children
As it often occurs, national events and headlines make their way to your living rooms and kitchen tables, and into our therapy offices, as well. Lately, questions about consent, boundaries, and healthy sexual expression have been occurring, as well as a question of “When should these topics be taught?” Theoretically, it should be easy. A […]
Support for Gender Non-Conforming, Trans, and Non-Binary Individuals
Few topics generate such passion, and it can be hard to speak about the experience of gender non-conforming individuals without generating strong opinions from all sides of the political and moral spectrum. Yet despite all of the strong emotions, for the person who is experiencing gender dysphoria or confusion about their gender, they just want […]
The Birds, The Bees, and The “Mom Please!”: How To Talk To Your Kids About Sex and Relationships
As adults, we are often told to avoid the topics of religion and politics at dinner parties. But, when it comes to talking to our kids, most of us avoid much more than that. According to a new poll, only 74% of parents have taught their kids about how to say “no” to sex, and […]