This therapist once struggled to accept her trans son. Now she helps trans kids embrace who they are - LGBTQ Nation

"Hawaiian native Haylin Dennison felt quite progressive and open-minded when her son Mat came out as gay/bisexual in fifth grade. Dennison had grown up in an ultra-conservative Christian home but regularly attended Pride events. As a therapist, she knew the importance of supporting her child. But in the following years, Mat saw the limitations of her acceptance and understanding. She once refused to let him wear an LGBTQ+-themed shirt to church."

"As a therapist, Dennison had been professionally trained to view her clients' LGBTQ+ identities objectively, but this was her own child. At the time, Dennison equated her child's trans identity with mental health issues. When Mat later asked to receive gender-affirming care, Dennison firmly opposed it. As her son began withdrawing into a dark depression, Dennison wondered where she had gone wrong as a parent and whether she could somehow "fix" him."

"She worried Mat would suffer more in life as a trans boy than as a gay or bi girl. She worried for her and her son's safety, and wondered how they'd navigate unaccepting reactions from relatives, friends, and other community members. Most of all, she worried that Mat's poor mental health would harm his chances for a successful life. She felt it was her duty to help him thrive no matter what."

A mother with an ultra-conservative upbringing who attended Pride events initially identified as supportive when her child came out as gay/bisexual. Over time, specific behaviors and a social transition exposed limits to that support, including restrictions on clothing and opposition to gender-affirming care. Professional training in therapy did not prevent personal fears and conflation of a trans identity with mental health issues. The child's withdrawal and depression intensified the mother's worries about safety, social reactions, and long-term prospects. The mother pursued medical consultations and education while grappling with guilt and the desire to protect and help her child.

Read at LGBTQ Nation