My Day With The Socialists, Part 3: Psychotherapy and Support Groups for Trans 3-Year-Olds
Get a comprehensive list of trans and non-binary books targeted at elementary school children.
On April 15, 2023, I spent the day at the Collective Power conference at Hampshire College in Western Massachusetts, with 200ish of my closest comrades. In this limited series, I will document the experience.
There’s a lot to talk about. If you appreciate my work, please consider funding it by subscribing for $5/month or $50/year.
Allow me to introduce you to Translate Gender.
Translate Gender is a 501c3 non-profit in Northampton, Massachusetts that is "(re)writing access for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people in relationship, family, and community.”
Translate Gender was a sponsor of the Collective Power conference, where I was able to pick up a bunch of their materials.
And Translate Gender begins offering gender-affirming psychotherapy and support services for trans and non-binary children beginning at either 2 or 3 years old, depending on who you talk to.
Their Co-Director James Shultis told me they were working with a 2-year-old when I spoke to him/they at their table at the conference. But the flier I picked up at the table says they start at 3 years old.
It's all very confusing.
Sadly, you can’t join their virtual trans book club for trans and non-binary youth called “Affirmations” until you’re 8 years old.
It’s probably a function of the reading level required for the book.
However, I have really good news!
You only have to be 5 years old to join their PAL program for trans, non-binary, and gender expansive youth.
PAL stands for "Possibility Adult Leader.” Thy will be your very own trans or nonbinary mentor!
When you (as a trans/non-binary/gender expansive 5-year-old) connect with your Possibility Adult Leader, your PAL will “center your passion and joy in a confidential, easy-going setting that you co-create together.”
What could possibly go wrong?
Now, I know what you’re wondering: Does this amazing organization that starts working with children at 2 or 3 years old (depending on who you talk to) also work in K-12 schools?
Yes! Yes, they do!
Their Inclusion Initiative offers training and workshops for all sorts of groups, including K-12 schools:
Just recently, they teamed up with the Teen Librarian at Medfield Public Library to host an LGBTQ+ Youth Summer Series. It went so well, they expanded the program to multiple libraries and organizations across the state!
Since they seem to work with schools and libraries, you might be wondering if they have a comprehensive book list of trans and non-binary books for kids, perhaps even beginning in elementary school.
They do, indeed, have that list!
If you’re wondering what books to look for in libraries that teach kids about being trans and non-binary, this is a wonderful resource. Remember, I don’t condone book banning and think it’s a bad idea.
But if you’re looking for books, this list has elementary school books, middle school books, and young adult books. They even have a book list and curriculum resources for educators!
You can download the PDF of this amazing book list here, for reference:
Sometimes, your trans and non-binary children need some attention that is, shall we say, a bit more up close and personal.
Translate Gender also offers Gender Affirming Psychotherapy.
You and your kids can get therapy for “individual, couple, polyship or family therapy” that “utilizes a transfeminist therapeutic approach in working with LGBTQIA+ adolescents.”
And for the adults, their practice extends to polyamorous and BDSM relationships. How convenient!
Let’s meet some of the therapists you and your 2 or 3 year old kids (depending on who you ask) can work with:
We have Owen (he/him), who teaches workshops in gender and sexuality at the University of Massachusetts and is very interested in working with transgender children, adolescents, and their families.
We have Shai (they/he), who oversees Translate’s clinical services. They identify as “queer-fag trans-nonbinary” and previously founded a trans/gender-expansive/non-binary youth theater collective.
Shai also works with adults in areas of his “clinical focus” including kink, leather, BDSM and, of course, spirituality. Obviously, they advocate for an anti-capitalist form of care and community.
Then we have Eli (they/them). Eli is a women’s and gender studies major informed by queer theory and disability justice. Eli has “gravitated toward has feminist approach in therapy” and enjoys working with adolescents.
You also might be lucky enough to work with Shannon (she/her), the Co-Founder of Translate Gender. Shannon utilizes a “transfeminist therapeutic approach and has written a paper for the journal Women in Therapy called Gender Disorder as Gender Oppression: A Transfeminist Approach to Rethinking the Pathologization of Gender Non-Conformity.
And, finally, we have Davis (they/them). Davis is a psychotherapy provider who leads a support group for trans and gender non-conforming young people. They identify as queer and non-binary/trans.
I think that any trans/gender-expansive/non-binary child would be very lucky to work with any of these obviously well-adjusted people who have DONE THE WORK for years on their own baggage to ready themselves to care for the mental health of the most vulnerable among us.
Let me know what you think of Translate Gender and the great service they are providing.
Leave a comment and let me know what you think. And please share this material with your friends and family.
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THIS is conversion therapy!! I’m a licensed therapist who works primarily with trauma and I am utterly ashamed of my profession.
This movement creates division, scary and organized. I can't beleive how well accepted it is.
Thank you for sharing this information.