Navigating the Gender Journey

An 8-Week Interactive Parent Coaching Program
for Caregivers of Gender Diverse Youth

Starting September 25, 2025

Feeling alone on the journey of supporting your gender-diverse child?

We can help!

Join Navigating the Gender Journey—
Where understanding meets action in moving you from confusion & fear to clarity & confidence

Who Is This For:

  • Parents and caregivers of gender-diverse or transgender offspring of any age
  • Families seeking guidance on navigating gender diversity and transitions
  • Those looking to improve communication and understanding within their family
  • Caregivers in need of emotional and practical support while advocating for their child’s well-being

A Transformative Experience

Welcome to Navigating the Gender Journey, an 8-week interactive program designed for parents and caregivers of gender-diverse youth. This program offers an educational experience that addresses the unique challenges of gender diversity, equipping you with tools to better understand your child, improve communication, and make informed decisions about their care.

We recognize that every family’s journey is unique, and this program provides a safe, respectful, and confidential space for participants to freely express their thoughts, concerns, and questions without judgment. It offers a place to learn from experts and peers, share experiences, and receive both emotional and practical support.

By the end of this program, you will have gained essential knowledge, skills, and a supportive network of families that extends beyond the sessions. Navigating the Gender Journey offers a transformative experience, providing expert guidance, empathy, and a deeper sense of community, ensuring you’re well-equipped to support your child with clarity, confidence, and love.

Navigating the Gender Journey is not a therapy program. Instead, it is an educational and support-focused experience designed to provide parents and caregivers with the tools, knowledge, and resources to better understand and support their gender-diverse child. While the program offers opportunities to connect with experts and peers, it does not involve clinical therapy or individualized mental health treatment. Its purpose is to create a safe, informative space where families can learn and share, but it is not a substitute for professional therapeutic services.

By participating in this program, you will:

  • Learn to navigate the complexities of gender diversity with confidence.
  • Acquire practical skills for effective advocacy, communication, and support for your child that is tailored to the needs of your family.
  • Understand what the science says about social and medical options for gender-diverse youth from experts in the field.
  • Learn in a safe, non-judgmental group of other parents and caregivers where empathy abounds, reducing feelings of isolation.

Who are the coaches?

Shawn V Giammattei, PhD

Shawn V. Giammattei, PhD is a clinical psychologist & WPATH certified member/mentor, specializing in couple & family therapy with a particular focus on trans youth and their families. He is the founder & CEO of the Gender Health Training Institute & TransFamily Alliance, a research consultant, international speaker, community educator, and professor teaching graduate and post-graduate courses in LGBTQ psychology, family systems, and gender affirming care, as well as the author of several articles and book chapters on gender, sexuality, and family work.

Petra Janopaul, AMFT & APCC

Petra (she/her) is a narratively-based psychotherapist who helps clients uncover the stories that shape them and supports clients as they author new paths toward meaning, connection, and wellbeing. With warmth, curiosity, and over 30 years of mindfulness practice, Petra supports individuals, couples, and families in navigating challenges around gender identity, trauma, grief, eating concerns, depression, anxiety, neurodivergence, and relationship issues. With specialized training in gender-affirming care and narrative therapy, Petra works synergistically using an integrative approach including DBT, ACT, CBT, IFS, and psychodynamic therapy within a caring, attachment based frame, collaboratively engaging with clients to build on their strengths while cultivating new skills for healing and growth.

A former filmmaker/producer and graduate of Swarthmore (B.A., Pennsylvania), York University (M.F.A., Canada), and the Wright Institute (M.A., Berkeley), Petra is a Registered Associate MFT and PCC, supervised by Dr. Shawn V. Giammattei, PhD, and nearing completion of her licensure hours.

Program Overview

Each weekly session will last approximately two hours, featuring a blend of educational content, group discussions, and practical exercises.

Each session provides understanding, support, and practical guidance to help you make informed decisions for your child’s well-being. You’ll engage with experts with over 40 years of combined experience in gender diversity and family dynamics, blending academic research with real-life experience of gender-expansive individuals and families.

The program includes educational presentations, interactive group discussions, and opportunities to reflect on your experiences while connecting with other parents and caregivers. It equips you with a deep understanding of gender identity, social and medical aspects of gender transition, the latest gender research, and strategies for communication and advocacy. Each session builds on the last, fostering a supportive community and addressing the complexities of gender.

Week 1: Foundations of Gender
  • Establishing a Supportive Environment
    • Common struggles
  • Introduction to Gender Affirmative Models
    • Overview of different models of gender affirmation
    • How these models guide treatment and support
  • Basic Terminology and Understanding
    • Gender 101: Key terms and concepts explained
    • Parent glossary: Common terms and their meanings
Week 2: Deepening Your Understanding of the Gender Journey
  • Experiences of Gender Expansive and Trans-Identified Youth
    • Exploration of experiences of gender diverse youth 
    • Understanding gender dysphoria/incongruence and gender noise
  • Communicating Effectively with Your Child at any age
    • Techniques for active listening and validation
    • Exercises on talking with your child about gender
Week 3: Navigating Authentic Gender Embodiment: Social and Legal Transitions
  • Social Transition
    • Understanding the social embodiment process: names, pronouns, and social interactions.
    • Supportive social embodiment options and interventions.
    • Navigating extended family and friends.
  • Legal Transition
    • Legal considerations: changing names and gender markers on official documents. 
    • Knowing your rights.
    • Navigating School settings.
Week 4: Medical Transition for Authentic Embodiment Explained
  • Overview of Medical Options
    • Detailed discussion on blockers, hormone treatments, and surgeries.
    • Considerations around fertility and long-term health.
  • Decision-Making Support
    • How to make informed medical decisions.
    • Knowing what options are available and when is the best time to access them
Week 5: The Impact of Minority Stress & Making Sense of Conflicting Information
  • Understanding Minority Stress and Co-Occurring Mental Health Struggles
    • The impact of minority stress on mental and physical health
    • Common intersections of other mental health concerns.
    • Coping for parents and youth
  • Navigating Media and Research
    • How to critically evaluate media messages and research studies
    • Tools for finding reliable and up-to-date information
Week 6: The Gender Journey for Parents 
  • Navigating Big Feelings
    • Understanding the gender journey for parents & caregivers
    • Recognizing and addressing struggle points on the journey
  • Coping with Loss and Change
    • Recognizing and addressing tangible and ambiguous losses
    • Understanding developmental differences on the journey
Week 7: Coping with Grief and Finding Resilience
  • The Many Faces of Grief
    • Understanding the grief process in the context of gender transition
    • Parenting and navigating your child’s journey while managing big feelings
  • Supporting Each Other and Building Resilience
    • Sharing personal experiences of grief and strategies for coping
    • Developing a support network within the group
    • Resilience building strategies
Week 8: Effective Advocacy and Resource Gathering
  • Advocacy Techniques
    • How to advocate for your child in educational, medical, and social settings
    • Practical tips for engaging with institutions and others.
  • Consolidating Resources and Support
    • Resources for finding competent and supportive healthcare providers
    • Resource sharing: Compiling a list of helpful contacts, organizations, and materials
    • Planning for ongoing support beyond the program

Do I need this program?

In today’s complex societal climate, parents of gender-diverse youth often face challenges without adequate support. The fast pace of social change and polarized discourse can leave parents feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and uncertain in supporting their child. Even well-meaning family members may offer misguided advice or lack understanding. This program provides an essential anchor in these turbulent times.

You’ll receive up-to-date, science-based information that cuts through the confusion. Curated by experts with decades of experience, the content is practical and rooted in the latest research. It equips you with the knowledge to make informed decisions confidently.

Beyond understanding the science, the program helps parents empathize with and understand their child’s unique gender experience. You’ll gain clarity on your child’s journey while processing your own experience of having a transgender, non-binary, or gender-expansive child. We will support you every step of the way.

Throughout the program, you will also have access to a network of other parents and caregivers who are on similar journeys and be a part of an environment where you can share experiences, strategies, and successes. It is a space for you to learn not only from experts but also from the lived experiences of other families.

Follow-Up & Gatherings During and After the Program

All participants in this program will have access to the premium features of the TransFamily Alliance Network throughout the program.

At the completion of the program, you will have the opportunity to join the TransFamily Alliance as a premium member, allowing you to maintain community connections and have continued access to our extensive video library, workshops, and monthly meetings.  You’ll be able to easily update other participants on new developments, meet many other families on the journey, and access a forum for ongoing support. The monthly live meetings feature guest speakers, question-and-answer sessions on critical topics, and open forums for addressing emerging issues.  You can also join us for our movie nights and other events throughout the year.

If you join the TransFamily Alliance as an annual member or commit to join monthly for the year, you can receive a coupon for 67% off the price of this program.

We have Plans for everyone!  Check the FAQ for more details.

Click the button below, apply for the program, speak with one of our coaches,  and join us!

Starting at (per session)

$85 for one Caregiver / $110 for two Caregivers

or save $80 and pay in full

$600 (one Caregiver) / $800 (two Caregivers)

FAQ

The program will meet weekly for 8 weeks starting September 25 2025. Dates will be announced.

We will meet Thursdays from 5:00 – 7:00 pm PT (8:00 pm-10:00 pm ET).

We will be meeting in a HIPAA-compliant Zoom room.

We will be offering this program at different times/days throughout the year, so if this time doesn’t work, apply and join our waitlist for upcoming groups.

Cost & Payment Plans

The cost of this program for 1 Caregiver is $85 per session

There are 3 payment options
1) pay $600 in full and save $80
or 2) pay 3 payments of $215 and save $35
or 3) pay 8 weekly payments of $85

The cost of the program  for 2 Caregivers is $110 per couple

There are 3 payment options
1) pay $800 in full and save $80
or 2) pay 3 payments of $280 and save $40
or 3) pay 8 weekly payments of $110

With an Annual TransFamily Alliance membership

The program cost for TransFamily Alliance Members is $30 per session

2 Caregivers – ($350 for annual membership)
Plus payment plan for the program
1) $400 if paid in full and save $80
or 2) 3 payments of $150 and save $30
or 3) 8 payments of $60

1 Caregiver – ($250 for annual membership)
Plus payment plan for the program
1) $200 if paid in full and save $40
or 2) 3 payments of $75 and save $15
or 3) 8 payments of $30

 

** Note: Prices reflect U.S. residents. Rates for international residents may differ. Please contact us for more information.

You will have access to the group of parents in our virtual community throughout the program. We will make the educational portion of each session available to all participants within a few days of the session, but the interactive sessions with participants will not be available.

Because of the nature of this program and the limited number of spots available, once you have committed to the group and paid to reserve your spot, your payment for the program will only be reimbursed when there are clearly unavoidable extenuating circumstances and attendance in another group on other dates is not an option.

After the program has started, reimbursement is not available.

In order to secure your place in this coaching program, we have a thorough onboarding process in place to ensure a safe space of committed parents who need this program the most and are dedicated to completing the whole program alongside the other parents in the group.

After you send us an application, you will have an interview with one or both coaches in which you can ask all the questions you need about the program. You will be fully informed of what participation will require from you. We want to make sure this is the right program for you and it is the right time.

* For participants of the Parent Coaching Program, the TransFamily Alliance (TFA) cancellation policies apply after 1 year from the start date in TFA.

Navigating the Gender Journey is not a therapy program. Instead, it is an educational and support-focused experience designed to provide parents and caregivers with the tools, knowledge, and resources to better understand and support their gender-diverse child (of any age). While the program offers opportunities to connect with experts and peers, it does not involve clinical therapy or individualized mental health treatment. It aims to create a safe, informative space where families can learn and share, but it is not a substitute for professional therapeutic services.

YES! All participants will get 2 free months of the TransFamily Alliance as a bonus for joining the program.