Professional Education Systems. - LGBTQ+ youth: a guided workbook to support sexual orientation and gender identity

Praise for LQBTQ+ Youth

Dr. Lee-Anne Gray has created a precious resource for LGBTQ+ youth; their caregivers, and the people who love them. Written with equal measures scientific rigor and overarching human compassion, this book will inspire hope, raise spirits, and save lives. An essential tool for helping LGBTQ+ youth to flourish, thrive, and triumph.

-Jennifer Finney Boylan, Author of
Shes Not There: A Life in Two Genders and Long Black Veil

Lee-Anne Grays new book, LGBTQ+ Youth, is an indispensable guide for assisting our young patients in coming-to-terms with their sexuality, their gender, or both. Seen through an ecological systems perspective, it provides opportunities for adolescents to more fully understand themselves, and promotes ways that we, as clinicians, can facilitate their growth as well as our own. Underneath the practicality of Dr. Grays approach clearly lies a deep humanity that shines through on every page, exuding not only an appreciation for difference, but a full embrace of it.

-Andrew R. Gottlieb, PhD,
Author of Out of the Twilight: Fathers of Gay Men Speak andSons
Talk About Their Gay Fathers: Life Curves

This book is a wonderful resource for youth who are exploring diverse sexual and gender identities. The normalizing and validating language communicates that who you are is ok! It is also very comprehensive, discussing a lot of complex ideas and terms in language that is accessible and relatable. For this reason, this book may also be very helpful for parents and clinicians who are working to support LGBT+ youth. The hands-on exercises are designed to help youth foster positive feelings about who they are and to help them to make decisions that are most congruent for them in their journey. LGBT+ youth often feel isolated and utilizing this book lets them know that they are not alone!

-Deb Coolhart, PhD, LMFT,
Co-author of The Gender Quest Workbook

Get a copy for your pediatrician, therapist, GSA, & school counselor today! As a queer-identified transman, parent, and career educator, I recommend Dr. Grays workbook to every professional who works with LGBTQ+ youth. Parents and caregivers can also learn much about the needs and challenges of their LGBTQ+ children, especially as they navigate extended family, schools, therapists, and medical practitioners. We must educate ourselves and those in charge of our youth when we are not around if we are to change the self-harm, addiction, and school-to-pipeline statistics that plague our LGBTQ+ youth.

-Christian James Zsilavetz, MEd.,
Co-founder Pride School Atlanta (Openly affirming school for youth of all ages!)

LGBTQ+ Youth 2018 by Lee-Anne Gray

Published by
PESI Publishing & Media
PESI, Inc
3839 White Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54703

Editing: Michelle Nelson
Layout: Bookmasters & Amy Rubenzer
Cover: Amy Rubenzer

ISBN: 9781683731382

All rights reserved.

Proudly printed in the United States

About the Author

Lee-Anne Gray, PsyD , is a psychologist, educator, and author. She is certified in EMDR, a trauma treatment, as well as a national speaker in self-compassion, mindful awareness, LGBTQ+ youth, gender, sexuality, assessment, special education, and gifted individuals. She is the president and CEO of The Connect Group, offering innovative professional development seminars in empathy, compassion cultivation, Design Thinking, and self-compassion. Dr. Gray is formerly an instructor of Psychology of Gender in the Departments of Psychology/Womens Studies at UCLA, and has served the LGBTQ+ community as an ally and through her private practice. She was a forensic expert for the Public Defender of Orange County when LGBTQ+ psychological evaluations were needed. Prior to this, Dr. Gray was the supervising psychologist at the largest special education nonprofit organization in the nation.

In 2012, she curated and organized TEDxStudioCityED with the theme of Blending Self-Regulation, Technology, and Education. She is also a contributing author to Pedagogies of Kindness and Respect: On the Lives and Education of Children (Peter Lang, 2015) in which she discusses Educational Trauma and Empathic Education for a Compassionate Nation (EECN.) Along with young people as equal participants, Dr. Gray co-designed EECN to promote co-learning and mitigate Educational Trauma. She is the author of Self-Compassion for Teens: 129 Activities & Practices and Self-Compassion and Mindfulness for Teens Card Deck.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to
LGBTQ+ youth everywhere,
with love and appreciation for your authenticity.

Table Of Contents

Chapter

Chapter

Acknowledgments

First, Id like to acknowledge the many people whove come before me and whose work Ive relied upon to learn and grow as a person, psychologist, educator, and author. They are too numerous to mention though everyone is remembered in this moment. There are many LGBTQ+ people who have been my teachers, and I am grateful to you all! To Jazz Jennings, Jaden Smith, EJ Johnson, Ruby Rose, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Ellen DeGeneres, Laverne Cox, Hari Nef, Manny Guttierrez, Michael Sam, Janet Mock, Glennon Doyle Melton, Feminista Jones, Jennifer Finney Boylan, Judith Butler, Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, Susan Faludi, and Howard Liebmanyoure all very important teachers to me, and your influence can be found in every aspect of this book.

My work with PESI and PESI Publishing & Media continues to be a journey of joy and delight. I am extremely grateful to many people at PESI and PESI Publishing & Media for the opportunities extended my way. Thank you to Meg Mickelson Graf for being my first business manager and for connecting me with Emily Krumenauer to serve PESIs LGBTQ Kids and Teens Seminars. Many thank yous to Emily for co-creating the LGBTQ Seminar with me, upon which this book is based.

In creating books and products for PESI Publishing & Media, I derive great joy and personal enrichment collaborating with Karsyn Morse. She is really like my first true love of editors, and continues to hold a special place in my heart. Karsyn, thank you for your guidance, and for the beautiful way you turn ideas into valuable products! And thank you to Linda Jackson for your role in publishing my products, especially this book. Special thanks to Amy Rubenzer for creating a delightful cover and layout to this book. And to Michelle Nelson for catching my typos!

A special and heartfelt thank you is offered to Honor Chervin. Your love and brilliance have inspired me and every aspect of this book, in more ways than you can ever know. Thank you to Jennifer Fraser, PhD, another very brilliant woman who has lovingly contributed to this book and to my personal and professional development: Jen, youre one of the wisest and smartest women I know and I cherish you so! Thank you!

My gratitude for my family and friends is also underscored here. I could not deliver books, products, retreats, programming, seminars, and more without the love, support, and generosity of a few very special people. These people include my special women friends: Wendy Taira and Dena Lazar. Thank you both for doing life with me; its definitely a better trip with you along!