Today I’m delighted to be bringing to the show a conversation about supporting LGBTQIA+ kids, and I have the perfect guest to explore this topic with, John Sovec, a therapist, author, and nationally recognized expert on creating affirmative support for LGBTQIA+ teens and their families during the coming out process. I wanted to talk with John because these conversations are becoming increasingly prevalent within our neurodivergent communities. 

During our conversation, John explained what “coming out” means and why it’s such a significant and ongoing event for any LGBTQIA+ person. He also shared his thoughts on the high correlation between neurodivergence and gender nonconformity, how parents can best respond when their child comes out to them, why affirmation is more important than acceptance, and why it’s so important that parents honor their own process as they navigate understanding their child’s identity. 

About John Sovec

John Sovec, MA, LMFT is a nationally recognized expert on creating affirmative support for LGBTQIA+ teens and their families during the coming out process. He is the author of Out: A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Your LGBTQIA+ Kid Through Coming Out and Beyond (JKP, 2023). John is a frequent contributor to numerous publications on providing LGBTQIA+ support, speaks at conferences nationally, and provides training and professional consultation on LGBTQIA+ competencies for community agencies, schools, and nonprofits. In addition, he consults and trains on the corporate level regarding diversity, equity, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

In December 2019, he was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. John is the host of OutTalk, a monthly web series for OutCare Health.

Things you'll learn from this episode

• Why it’s important that LGBTQIA+ kids have access to therapists and mental health support that is affirming and informed in the community’s specific challenges
• What LGBTQIA+ plus stands for
• What “coming out” means in our contemporary society
• John’s guidance for how parents can respond to their child’s coming out in a way that feels supportive and loving
• How parents can show up for their LGBTQIA+ kids in an affirming way
• What parents with LGBTQIA+ kids are most concerned about and how they can navigate their own emotional process

Resources mentioned for

• John Sovec’s website
• A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Your Lgbtqia+ Kid Through Coming Out and Beyond  by John Sovec
• John Sovec’s Gay Teen Therapy website
• John Sovec on Instagram
• How to Support Transgender and Nonbinary Neurodivergent Children, with Dr. Laura Anderson (Tilt Parenting Podcast)
• Dr. Laura Anderson on Gender Nonconformity and Differently Wired Kids (Tilt Parenting Podcast)
• The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health

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