Hello all! I am a super proud momma of a beautiful young daughter, 14 and I need your help and advice as she has just started to transition. We are planning a move to Orange County area and wondering if you have any advice as to where would be the most welcoming community, high school in the that area. In addition any other help and advice as we begin this journey would be appreciated. I am hoping to learn more and do everything I can to help. My daughter will begin her hormone blockers and then estrogen this year. We have been working with a facility here in the Chicago area but will need to find a new location for pediatric supported transitioning as well. Thanks for your help and advice!

Hi Jackiemom 

Welcome to Susan's    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

Thank you for taking an active role in your daughter's transition, I use to live in Orange County but that was years ago

Hopefully someone will be along with some answers for you soon

Here's a few quick links to help you along

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Hugs

V M

Welcome to Susan's Place. It nice to hear of a parent helping their child in this way. I have seen far to many stories where the child will need to move out on their own before they can receive treatment. There is a problem with the name Orange County and that is there are three of them in the United states. I spent a good deal of time in the one in California and I think the other two are in New York and Florida. Knowing which one would help others on  the site provide information.

V M was kind enough to point out that you had marked California. I am long past treatment but I did a little searching and came up with somethings to look at.

Community contact should you need it
http://www.lgbtcenteroc.org

Our Link area for California
https://www.susans.org/links/Healthcare/Therapists_&_Counselors/USA/California/

Therapist in the Orange County/LA areas from our links section. You will have to evaluate them as I have never been to any of them.

http://latherapynetwork.com

http://www.genderpath.com

http://www.drlanichin.com/

http://www.lagendercenter.com/

http://www.transgendercounseling.com/options-and-services/

I am in LA but i transitioned many many years ago so I wouldn't be good at providing you with current infos... I just wanna say that your daughter is lucky to have you and that there are many resources that are now available.... Most of us experienced rejections and most had to do it on our own and most resorted to self medication etc.... I think I am over with the heartaches of transition and is settled in my being female now and my family have accepted it too....my only regret is - I should have started with hormones and blockers earlier because d changes that testosterone can do are irreversible and are very expensive and hard to fix... Then change name and gender legally early on too so there will be less "male" footprints....I am only in my 30s... I started transitioning on my own in highschool but parents, family and catholic schools prevented me from transitioning.... When I started being  independent that's the only time I was able to truly become "me"... I was the type who knew it since I was 3/4 years old ... Never doubted it... Never got confused about it and never attempted to be a boy or date girls....goodluck and best wishes!

First, welcome to both of you.  There is a great amount of support and experience on Susan's, so you have found a good place to find support, here.  It is always a wonderful part of my support group when we hear of a parent supporting their child as you are!  You will find California a pretty easy place to work through transitioning.  Not a lot of red tape and people in most parts of Southern California are pretty accepting.  I am in San Diego, just to the south of OC.  You will likely have easy access to a local LGBT center and that would probably be close to tops on my 'recommended' short list of things to do when you are situated here.  You will find support and resources there, for both of you.

Thank you so much for your replies :-) I am so proud of my daughter and share all of that with you as well. Just the medical aspect alone...having to see a therapist (other then me, lol I am an LCPC) and to get a readiness letter in order to even begin this process...having to advocate for insurance (again, I am lucky I work in a hospital and I advocate all the time for my patients and their care so I knew how to do this) and little things like her first trip to Target and wanting to wander into the ladies side and pick out a few outfits and undergarments...she was so nervous, I can't imagine having to do all this alone and makes me so sad but also so incredibly amazed by your strength and courage. Life is a never ending journey of struggles and battles but it makes us into the strong and beautiful people we are today and just think of the amazing path you have forged for the little ones to follow like my little girl. Every moment, every tear, every struggle has created this wonderful path for people like my daughter and I thank you for that. We appreciate you