Support On Your Journey
My specialty and passion is working with transgender and gender nonbinary individuals, with particular expertise working with children.
In working with my clients, I seek to provide them with a space of emotional safety and care. Aware that we each have our unique journeys, I believe that an accepting and empathetic ear can help in some of the tougher stretches. Whether you are in a place in your journey where extra support and guidance is needed, personally in the process of identity exploration and/or transition, or a parent desiring a safe and supportive space for your child or yourself, I believe I can be of service.
Areas of Specialty
I specialize in working with transgender and gender nonbinary children ages 2+, as well as transgender, gender nonbinary, and gender questioning adolescents and adults. Additional areas of focus in my practice include sexual identity, anxiety, depression, life transitions, pain management, religion, and spirituality.
CLICK HERE to learn more about my work with transgender children.
Check out Gender Camps for info on day camp programs for TGNB kids in the Los Angeles area.
Trainings
I offer a number of informative clinical and educational trainings for individual practices, groups, organizations, and schools on gender diversity, as well as additional topics. Each of my trainings are thoughtfully developed and grounded in current clinical and scientific research, as well as my clinical experience.
Social Feed
The finalists were recently released for the 2023 Lambda Literary Awards, the annual awards which celebrate LGBTQ+ literature. Learn a little more about these children’s books that made the list, and be sure to check them out if you haven’t already! You can also see the finalists in all 25 categories at: https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/current-finalists/
Learn more about school advocacy resources for TGNB students! These organizations and helpful links are a good place to start to learn about the work being done in schools and policies being implemented to help LGBTQ+ students, as well as to understand ways to help advocate for LGBTQ+ youth at school. All organizations and resources are also linked in my bio.
It might feel overwhelming, and even hopeless, at times to hear about all the proposed anti-LGBTQ bills, and especially to know how much of this legislation is targeting TGNB youth. That is why it is vital to be aware of actions you can take in order to help defeat these bills and how to support TGNB youth who may be overwhelmed by this information, as well.
It’s always a good day to show TGNB youth love and support!
These are just a few of the ways in which you can show the TGNB youth in your life that you love and support them, in a meaningful and affirming manner. Supporting the TGNB youth in your life isn’t a one stop shop, all kids are different and may need different types of support, that’s why it’s crucial to listen to what their individual experiences and needs are.
In recognition of Black History Month, here are a few books that celebrate Black transgender youth!
These are not only enjoyable reads, but help to facilitate discussions and provide useful language for kids around gender identity, expression, and what it means to live our truth, whatever that may look like for us. Unfortunately, there are not too many books out there that represent Black transgender youth, but these kids books are a pretty good place to start, utilizing different experiences and points of view to demonstrate how crucial acceptance and support are for trans youth to thrive. It is vital for youth to be able to see themselves represented in this way.
In today`s world, legal advocacy for transgender and gender nonbinary youth is critical.
Check out these resources to learn more about the work being done, and know these organizations are there to help anyone who has or works with trans kids!
@nclrights (https://www.nclrights.org/our-work/youth/transgender-youth/)
@translawcenter (https://transgenderlawcenter.org/)
@aclu_nationwide (https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/transgender-rights)
@lambdalegal (https://www.lambdalegal.org/)
Maybe you`re thinking, "I want to learn more about supporting transgender and gender nonbinary youth! Where should I start?"
Check out these national organizations and the great resources they provide!
@gender_spectrum (https://genderspectrum.org/)
@humanrightscampaign (http://humanrightscampaign.org/)
@transfamilies (https://transfamilies.org/)
California offers trans kids shelter from the political storm. 🏳️⚧️
The bill, SB 107, has three main components:
1) It prohibits the enforcement of a law of another state that authorizes a state agency to remove a child from their parent or guardian based on the parent or guardian allowing their child to receive gender-affirming health care.
2) It bars compliance in California with any out-of-state subpoena seeking health or other related information about people who come to California to receive gender-affirming care, if the subpoena relates to efforts to criminalize individuals or remove children from their homes for having received gender-affirming care.
3) It prohibits law enforcement participation in the arrest or extradition of an individual that criminalizes allowing a person to receive or provide gender-affirming health care where that conduct is lawful in California and to the fullest extent permitted by federal law. (information obtained from the website of CA senator @scott_wiener )
You can read more about this essential decision and its impact in the article from @mercnews (link in my bio)!
Also, I want to give a shout out and thank you to @transfamilysos for co-sponsoring this powerful bill!!
All children have the capacity to know how they feel about their gender. Gender is a feeling that most of us who are cisgender don’t pause to recognize we are experiencing or know. Possibly, many kids of trans experience seem to know their gender even more clearly than cisgender kids because what they feel internally does not initially align with what is being mirrored back to them externally within their lives or a cultural context of cisnormativity.
When working with families I encourage them to not simply focus on the gender of their TGNB child but to cultivate introspection and curiosity around all family member’s internal experiences of their gender and how they express their gender(s) in the world. This can help to inhibit binary bias and reduces the chance of othering their TGNB child within the family system. This also helps each child (TGNB and cis) to foster within them a fuller sense of selfhood, self-understanding, and personal agency… something we are not doing enough for all children in our culture around gender!
**This family practice also helps expand the gender schemas of each member by creating new neural wiring around the amazing nuances and unique ways gender is experienced and expressed in all people!
I want to wish everyone a very happy Pride!🌈🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️❤️In the spirit of Pride, I thought I would share a couple snippets of my own queer journey.
I came out 15 years ago, in 2007 after taking a queer theory class in grad school. I finally found the language to match my what I felt and started to meet other “out” LGBTQIA individuals.
Metropolitan Community Church, initially in London and then LA, was also a part of my coming out journey. I found rich community full of laughter and love within these spaces. I also met my partner at MCCLA in 2009!....we were later married there in 2014!
Not sure if most know this, but Rev. Troy Perry, the founder of MCC was one of the original organizers of the LA Pride parade. LA Pride was planned concurrently with NYC’s Gay Liberation March, a commemorative march scheduled one year after Stonewall.💪🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈❤️
MCCLA was and continues to be a safe space for many who hold LGBQ identities and for those of trans experience. For some, it provided the sole space where they could be their true selves when they may not have been out within their families or other facets of their interpersonal lives.
MCC provided this space for Christine Daniels. Christine transitioned publicly while working as a well-known LA Times sportswriter. She was dearly loved by her church family. This made her tragic loss that much more painful.
Christine is one of the reasons I learned about the LA Gender Center and eventually began working with TGNB folx there. This paved the way for the work I do today.
MCCLA continues to offer a scholarship for TGNB students in memory of Christine. Maybe you know someone who will benefit: https://tinyurl.com/ChristineDanielsMCC
🌈Pride pics and “prideful moments”🌈
LA Pride 2015 – With LA Gender Center and the Transparent (Amazon Show) float.
June 26, 2013, Gay marriage was re-legalized in CA. Celebrating in WeHo. Thank you, Reuters😅
June 26, 2015 Celebrating the US Supreme Court ruling in WeHo🎇
2017 LA Resist March\pride.Fan of sun protection 🌞🌈
#lapride #pridemonth #queerpride #queertherapist #transpride #transkidsmatter
Thank you @lgbtqkidlit for the really amazing and lovely endorsement of my book “Every Body is a Rainbow.” So grateful for your belief in it’s value and for your help letting others know about it🙏❤️… and thank you to Beatrix for her help with reviewing as well!🌈❤️ Repost: @lgbtqkidlit Every Body is a Rainbow
A Kid’s Guide to Bodies Across the Gender Spectrum
By Caroline Carter, PsyD
@drcarolinecarter
Illustrated by Mathias Ball
@sulkypup
“I LOVED this book”
Beatrix age 4
Today is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
Dr. Carter works with transgender and gender non binary youth in her therapy practice and saw a need for a picture book depicting the diversity of bodies and gender with imagery and text that mirrored their private parts with their gender identity and/or expression and ALL the gender identities associated with the many combinations of private parts. She created this book along with Mathias Ball a trans identified illustrator.
I strongly feel that this book will save lives and recommend it to anyone looking for a book to discuss the diversity of bodies, gender identities, and gender expressions.
The press release reads
“For kids and families of all genders, abilities, and expressions who want to understand themselves and learn more about the amazing bodies across the gender spectrum. From non-binary, to intersex, to gender identity and expression, this book shows young readers that all bodies are beautiful and of value. For young readers age 4-8”.
You can purchase this book through Amazon or through visiting @drcarolinecarter website linked in her profile
My 4 yr old was so receptive and engaged with this book and I’m grateful for the opportunity to open her eyes to the beauty of bodies and the gender spectrum.
This book was gifted from the author but all opinions are my own
#savetranskids #nonbinary #genderexpression #intersexpride #transgender #transpride #lgbtqkids #lgbtqkidsbooks #lgbtqpride
For those of us who are cisgender we do not have to think so much about the connection between “knowing who we are” and “being who we are” in the world. Transgender and gender non-binary kids (and their families) often to have to have courage to bridge this gap. So many do and the outcomes are often powerful. The esteem and self worth that comes from “being” who you are is priceless. Social transitions can be an early step for TGNB kids that provides this. #transkids #protecttransyouth #transkidsmatter #transpride #nonbinary #nonbinarykids 🌈🌈❤️❤️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️
Hi Everyone! I am SOOO excited to share about the release of my new children`s book "Every Body is a Rainbow: A Kid`s Guide to Bodies Across the Gender Spectrum!" It has been a 2 year labor of love and I am so excited for it to enter the world! Thank you @allibrydon for all your editing support and guiding me through the self publishing process. Thank you Mathias Ball @sulkypup for your AMAZING illustrative work (I was meant to partner with you in bringing EBAR to life!). Thank you Andrea Miller for your amazing design work! Thank you also to all those who helped me through consultations and draft reviews... I will name just a few here: Dr. Jo Olson-Kennedy @drjolson, Noelle Wittliff @themindfulpath, Tyler Daly, LMFT, Nomy Lamm @nomyteaches, and Hans Lindahl. I would be appreciative of you sharing about Every Body is a Rainbow with friends, family, clients, and colleagues! I would also be grateful for any willingness to write a review on Amazon! Please go to my website @drcarolinecarter to learn more about Every Body is a Rainbow!❤️🌈🌈
#transyouth #transkids #lgbtqkids #lgbtqkidsbooks #kidslit #transkidsmatter #transyouthmatter #transgender #transvisibility #diversekidslit
If you have been contemplating getting additional training on affirmative work with TGNB youth, Transyouth Care, with @ay__okay and @drjolson, provides some of the best clinical training out there! They are offering an online “Gender Google” for behavioral health professionals on May 2nd. Learn more at @theqcorner🌈🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️💖💖 #transyouth #transkidsmatter #transkids #protecttranskids #protecttransyouth
I had the idea for a summer day camp for young TGNB youth in 2019. I specifically wanted a fun space for my transfem clients, who were in the puberty range (10-12y), to meet others who were on a similar journey to them. With the collaboration of @institute4girls and @erockton epanouie was created! Two years later we added Unicorn Day Camp for TGNB kids ages 6-9. Last year we were also so graciously given the opportunity to host the camps @descansogardens ! So excited to have the camps there again this year! Learn more about this years camps @gendercamps … and gendercamps.com🏳️⚧️🦄🦄🌈🌈💛💚❤️ #transyouthmatter #lgbtqsummercamp
Praise For Dr. Caroline
Her presentation style is comfortable, clear, and lively. It was a pleasure for our members to learn from her…
She’s a trusted and supportive colleague as well as a skilled clinician who meets her clients with deep compassion and empathy.
My 7-year-old transgender son is now fully accepted for who he is and flourishing at a school whose students benefited from Dr. Carter’s trainings…
Dr. Carter provided both informative and engaging training on how to best support gender diverse students to our middle school faculty…
Caroline’s training was thorough, thoughtful, and her expertise deeply felt and appreciated…