Transgender Voice Therapy specialists affirm that there are almost 700,000 Americans who identify as transgender. Sadly, transgender individuals who are bullied, discriminated against, and isolated are more likely to attempt suicide than those with a support network.
Here are some tips to help your transgender child or teenager:
Love your child and be honest
Your child should know that you will always love them, even though there might be times where you don’t see eye to eye. Raising a child is difficult regardless of lifestyle and being a parent doesn’t necessarily mean having to lie to them about your feelings. Having a child change their name, appearance, and mannerisms is something to adjust to but don’t be afraid to share how you feel with them. Our transgender voice therapy experts believe that the way to build trust is to be honest with your child without criticizing or attacking them.
Be open about how difficult their change is for you while letting them know that you will support them no matter what.
Trust your child
Some studies have concluded that gender identity begins to develop during the first year of life and is established by age four. If your child tells you that they do not identify with their biological gender, consider trusting them. They know themselves better than you may think, even at an early age. As they mature and begin to understand their world, they 
will need to be able to explore their own identity.
Expect Resistance
Family and community members may not accept your child and the negative reactions your child might receive will be hard on them. Remember to have an ongoing conversation about tolerance with them. Inform them about other people who feel discriminated against because of their differences, like those who live with a physical or mental handicap. Take the focus off of your child’s struggle and help normalize the changes they are going through.
