EMBRACE • EDUCATE • EMPOWER • LOVE

RESOURCES

I have carefully curated a collection of the best resources available. This list is ever-evolving and growing as new research comes to light, new books are written, and websites are created and new information is available.

Click on each subject area to expand.

RESOURCES

Carefully curated, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Please feel free to share your favorite websites and books here!

Paid Research Study Opportunity!

  • Researchers at George Washington University are seeking parents with LGBTQ kids to participate in a paid research study.

  • Your participation will help create resources to support families like yours.

  • The resources they offer help parents be more supportive of their LGBTQ kids, including helping parents talk to kids about sex and HIV.

  • If you qualify, you'll get free access to the parent resources.

  • Parents earn $350 for participating, and youth earn $175.

  • To learn more and to see if you qualify, visit

    www.parentwithlove.org

BOOKS

RESOURCES

ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT

The Teenage Brain by Frances E. Jensen, MD

You and Your Adolescent by Laurence Steinberg

Age of Opportunity by Laurence Steinberg

Fire Child Water Child by Stephen Scott Cowan

The Curse of the Good Girl by Rachel Simmons

Enough As She Is by Rachel Simmons

Boys and Sex by Peggy Orenstein

Girls and Sex by Peggy Orenstein

Fourteen Talk by Age Fourteen by Michelle Icard

MENTAL HEALTH

Adolescent Depression by Francis Mark Mondimore and Patrick Kelly

Is Your Teen Stressed or Depressed? by Drs. Arch Hart and Catherine Hart Weber

Crazy Stressed by Michael J. Bradley

Outgrowing Addiction by Stanton Peele and Zach Rhoads

Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety by John Duffy

Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls by Lisa Damour

Life Without Ed by Jenny Schaefer

LGBTQ+

“Mom, I’m Gay” by Susan Cottrell (covers faith and spirituality too)

Is It a Choice? by Eric Marcus

This is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids by Dannielle Owens Reid & Kristin Russo

The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs PhD

God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines (covers faith and spirituality too)

Oddly Normal by John Schwartz

The ABC’s of LGBT+ by Ashley Mardell

UnClobber by Colby Martin (covers faith and spirituality too)

Soul Not Skin by Jen SluMac

How We Do Family by Trystan Reese

How to They/Them by Stuart Getty

Raising My Rainbow – Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son by Lori Duron

Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue   by Nicholas M. Teich

The Gender Creative Child: Pathways for Nurturing and Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxes  by Diane Ehrensaft, PhD

Straight Parents, Gay Children: Keeping Families Together by Robert Bernstein

Transgender Children and Youth: Cultivating Pride and Joy with Families in Transition by Elijah Neely

For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Not Enough by Keith Boykin

Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen by Allan Sadac

Transgender Teen by Stephanie Brill

Transgender Kids & Teens by Elijah C. Nealy

Parenting Your Transgender Teen by Andrew Maxwell Triska

Gender Identity Guide by Tavi Hawn

Embracing the Journey by Greg McDonald

A Queer and Pleasant Danger by Kate Bornstein

She's NOT There by Jennifer Boylan

Love Makes Room by Staci Frenes

The Savvy Ally by Jeannie Gainsberg

SELF CARE

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Mantras in Motion by Erin Stutland

The Clarity Cleanse by Habib Sadeghi

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck

SPIRITUALITY

Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstei

The Universe has your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein

Raising Hell by Julie Ferwerda

Don’t Just Sit There, Do Nothing: Healing, Chilling, and Living with the Tao Te Ching by Jessie asya Kanzer

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

 

PARENTING

Raising LGBTQ Allies by Chris Tompkins

Brave Parenting by Krissy Pozatek

The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman

The Parallel Process by Krissy Pozatek (treatment)

Not By Chance by Tim Thayne (post treatment success)

Differently Wired by Debbie Reber

Teenproofing: Fostering Responsible Decision Making in Your Teenager by John Rosemund

Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour

How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk by Adele Faber

NATIONAL HOTLINES

RESOURCES

THE TREVOR HELPLINE:

1-866-4UTREVOR/1-866-488-7386

VISIT THE TREVOR PROJECT WEBSITE

*Suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth

TRANS LIFELINE

US: (877) 565-8860

VISIT THE TRANS LIFELINE WEBSITE

* Suicide prevention helpline for trans youth, staffed by trans people.

NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD:

1-800-RUNAWAY/1-800-786-2929

VISIT THE NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWTICHBOARD WEBSITE

*Crisis intervention and referrals. National communication system for runaway and homeless youth.

RAINN – RAPE ABUSE & INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK:

1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

VISIT THE RAINN WEBSITE

* National sexual assault hotline

GLBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE:

1-800-246-7743

VISIT THE GLBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE WEBSITE

*Talk to peers directly

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE:

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

VISIT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE WEBSITE

NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE:

1-800-4-A-CHILD/1-800-422-4453)

VISIT THE NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE WEBSITE

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE & AIDS/HIV INFORMATION HOTLINE:

1-800-CDC-INFO/1-800-232-4636

NATIONAL YOUTH CRISIS HOTLINE:

1-800-442-HOPE (4673)

*Provides counseling and referrals to local drug treatment centers, shelters, and counseling services.

LOCAL RESOURCES

FANTASTIC RESOURCES IN CHICAGO’S NORTHERN SUBURBS

MEDITATIONS

Freedom From Fear

A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

AS SEEN IN

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT HEATHER...

Heather was a passionate and informed speaker on the topic of LGBTQ2S parenting. Heather shares her personal and professional experience through family storytelling and is able to connect to the audience in this candid way. Heather provided thoughtful and supportive feedback to parents’ questions and employees shared positive feedback after her informative session.

~Kallie Jackson, CN PRIDE ERG Co-Chair

Canadian National Railways

I am very happy to know that Heather is available to serve as a resource for parents of LGBTQ+ kids, and really to any parents at all. Everyone talks about being "inclusive", but Heather lives it. Heather is able to accept whatever comes her way and use the power of unconditional love and kindness to turn challenges into gifts. We can all learn a lot from Heather.

~Adam Simon, Executive Director

Odyssey Teen Camp

Heather was the calming voice in a world that was otherwise in upheaval. Heather was there to pick me up (although she didn't know it) and she was the best friend in my head helping me process and get through some difficult stuff. I loved that she gave ME permission to process and mourn my story now that it was being rewritten...Heather gave me the time I needed to get to the next step. Heather didn't judge me. I would download a podcast every morning and listen to ther during my walk. Her voice fixed it for me. Her voice soothed my heartache. Her voice helped me get to the next step of processing and her voice helped me move on. Heather helped me have difficult conversations that were based in kindness. She helped me to breathe. And I love her for that.

~Anonymous and thankful

I was searching for resources to be the best supportive mom I could be to my pre-teen (now teen) and found this amazing podcast! It was just what I needed! I knew I needed some guidance from a parent who had experience through a similar journey and Heather was there with perfect content and even talked with me personally through email. The community Heather has built through this podcast and Facebook page has given me the confidence to not be fearful through this journey but rather to embrace it and encourage my teen to be their authentic self!

~ Lauren Bo21

Heather is real, relatable, thoughtful, educated, and inclusive of every teen parent scenario in her talks. I love being able to hear first hand from someone who has gone through the “Valley of Darkness” and come out the other side a better person, informed, and able to help others right where they are.

~ MrsWeiselNMS

Your centered, calming voice and demeanor help me to feel more peaceful. I experience you as therapeutic & your journey gives me more hope that we can love [our son] well. Thank you for giving your life away to me through sharing your story and the guests you interview.

~ Anonymous

I love your raw, real vulnerability. I am brand new on this journey and stumbled accidentally across your podcast on a road trip. I listened for 8 hours of driving and didn’t want to get to my destination because I wanted more. Using your own journey to help and support other parents is so brave and I am grateful to you and your family. Connor is so fortunate to have you ❤️

~ Anonymous

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