Therapist Rachael Koeson joins Annie Friday once again to talk about ways we can support our youth, expecially those who identify as LGBTQ+. Rachael supports families as they navigate the specific challenges that come up in this realm. One pitfall parents and caregivers can stumble into is limiting how children show up in the world. Sometimes parents think by tamping down aspects of their child's identity or personality, they are protecting them from the outside world. Instead, when we try to turn down the volume on young people's identity, they can end up feeling like there's something wrong with them. It can reduce confidence and resiliency in young people to feel like they have to edit who they are to fit the comfort of those around them. The very existence of queer young people can be dependent on finding supportive adults to see them as who they are as they grow and develop. Support for youth and families can come from many different places including The Trevor Project, ACLU, GLSEN, Stand with Trans, the Family Acceptance Project, and the Integrative Empowerment Group. If you'd like to brush up on your vocabulary, find a glossary of terms at the PFLAG LGBTQ+ Glossary. Using books and literature to wade into these topics can be helpful too. Find a list of book recommendations here. Setting aside adult comfort for youth safety is an extremely important aspect of these conversations. Rachael and Annie cover much of these topics in this episode. 

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