Ep 082: Gender Confusion: A Primer for Parents

Gender identity is a topic today amongst youth. If you are a parent who has a child who is questioning their gender identity, you certainly have a lot of questions about how to best support them on their journey.

Cate “Cash” Ashby is a licensed psychotherapist in New Mexico and California and Florida. They hold a Master’s degree in counseling from the College of Santa Fe. Cash specializes in counseling individuals and families who want to focus on issues related to gender and sexuality. They work with: LGBTQ folks specifically focused on transgender and clients who desire to process their gender identity with a supportive therapist, supporting Queer folks in their journey to alignment within themselves and their surroundings, educating parents, family members and employers as to how to help create gender-affirming relationships and environments.

Cash utilizes the following approaches: Following the WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) standards of care for mental health for transgender and non-binary individuals; Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-a researched-based, a modified type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Its main goals are to teach people how to live in the moment, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others; The research and curriculum of Dr. Brené Brown, PhD-New York Times Bestselling Author and Social Work scholar.

Listen to this informative Parenting With Impact episode with Cash Ashby about how to begin the conversation and be supportive of your child if they are questioning or changing their gender identity.

“Parenting Gender and/or Queer Kids with Neurodiversity”

Raising complex kids with gender &/or sexuality identity differences can be isolating, frustrating and scary. Add a layer of neurodiversity and it can feel like we’re parenting in a whole new dimension. This FREE one-page resource guide provides parents of neurodiverse kids who identify as queer or questioning with links to established resources, organizations, influencers, and books (for kids and adults), and an invitation to join an online group: Gender &/or Queer Kids with Neurodiversity (Parent Group).

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

• Addressing a shift in your child’s gender identity with an open mind and respect
• Honoring both perspectives of parent and child based on lived experiences
• How to handle exploration of medical changes

Links Mentioned:

• What is DBT and How Does it Differ From Other Treatement?
• WPATH, The World Professional Association For Transgender Health
• The Transgender Training Institute
• ImpactParents Neuro-Queer Support Group

NEW: 4 Week Support Group for Parents!

Connect with Cash:

• Website 

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