The popular shorthand is "being born in the wrong body," although that formulation probably does more harm than good.
It's not the same as being born with ambivalent genitalia, or being gay. Gender dysphoria (formerly known as gender identity disorder) means being at odds with your biological sex. "When we ask, 'When did you first learn about this label of gender dysphoria', they'll say, 'Me and Mom watched Oprah,' " adds Dr. "If you're struggling to find out where you fit, the Internet is filled with things about gender dysphoria." As head of the Gender Identity Service at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, he has worked with hundreds of kids like Olie. Ken Zucker, one of the world's foremost authorities on gender identity issues in children and adolescents. What's going on? To find out, I sat down with Dr. Learn more about our children’s gender health services. From there, we’ll connect your child to a nearby medical provider specializing in adult gender healthcare. We provide gender-affirming care until age 25. Once we understand your child’s overall health needs, we’ll guide them to an age-appropriate treatment plan that you all feel comfortable with. This time will be used to talk about your child’s medical history, perform a physical exam and discuss the journey and next steps in gender-affirming care. When you’re ready, we’ll schedule your child’s first medical appointment. If your child doesn’t already have a therapist, we’ll connect your whole family to emotional support before treatment even begins. First, we’ll schedule a brief phone call with our clinical care coordinator to discuss your child’s gender health and hopes for treatment. Start with a 30-minute intake phone call.Once you or your child’s doctor has referred them to our clinic, we’ll begin addressing their gender healthcare needs. What to expect at Levine Children's Center for Gender Health By educating families, communities and schools, we advocate to make sure your child gets the same level of respect and acceptance everywhere, as they do here. We know your child’s gender experience doesn’t stop when they leave our office.
#Transgender children everywhere professional#
Everything we do is consistent with guidelines set by national and international professional societies, including World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and Endocrine Society. We’re here to equip you with the resources you need to feel confident about your child’s treatment. Gender-affirming care can affect the whole family. Support for parents/guardians and siblings.We offer support for patients as they get older, connecting them to local groups and helping them navigate issues related to siblings, friends and school. Mental health specialists teach your child healthy ways to cope with the changes they’ll face to their body and in their life.
When who you are isn’t reflected on the outside, the challenges can be as emotional as they are physical. From pediatric gynecology to endocrinology, your child’s gender health care team is connected to all 30+ subspecialties Atrium Health Levine Children’s has to offer. Social support services include helping your child navigate the legal parts of their care, like changing their name or gender marker on identification. We determine your child’s treatment based on their age, gender identification and stage of puberty, as well as their personal and family needs. Why choose Levine Children's Center for Gender Health Our care supports every aspect of your child’s gender identity – in a setting that helps them feel welcomed and accepted for who they are. Levine Children’s Center for Gender Health is the first gender health clinic of its kind in Charlotte and one of only a handful in the region. For children and adolescents who don’t identify with their sex assigned at birth – such as transgender and nonbinary youth – gender-affirmative care can help enhance their overall health and feelings of self-worth. Everyone deserves to be their best, most authentic self.