About the Parent Support Program
What is the purpose of the program?
The Parent Support Program is an online, self-paced, evidence-based, interactive program aimed at increasing parental support among parents and caregivers of transgender and nonbinary youth.
The program consists of three modules:
Module 1: What am I feeling?
Understand and process the emotions and feelings that arise after learning about your child’s gender.
Module 2: What do I need to know?
Learn key terms and concepts related to trans or nonbinary individuals through educational videos.
Module 3: What do I need to do?
Practice skills and strategies that support your trans or nonbinary child.
How was the program created?
The program is based on research about what parenting behaviors support the health and well-being of trans and nonbinary youth. The program has incorporated feedback from hundreds of parents/caregivers as well as expert psychologists. To learn more about the development of the program, please feel free to read this publication.
Who developed the program and why?
Dr. Em Matsuno initially created the Parent Support Program for their dissertation research project in 2019. Dr. Matsuno completed their Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Matsuno is currently an assistant professor of Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University. Their research focuses on supporting the mental health and well-being of trans and nonbinary (TNB) populations. To learn more about their research visit their lab website: https://empowermentlab.wordpress.com/
“My inspiration for this program stems from my personal relationships with parents of trans and nonbinary youth, which I made primarily through my work with an organization called the Santa Barbara Transgender Advocacy Network (SBTAN). I gained an understanding of the unique challenges that families face and the lack of resources this community has. I also facilitated a support group for trans and nonbinary youth and saw firsthand the impact of parental support (or lack thereof). My hope is to use my skills as a researcher and educator to help create an evidence-based resource for parents and caregivers of trans and nonbinary youth.”