Your child’s process of developing their identity, including an understanding of their gender identity, is a journey that is unique to each individual. This is something we know well as pediatric and adolescent specialists. It’s why we offer care that’s tailored to each child and their family at Phoenix Children’s.

Your Child’s Gender Identity and Expression

Every child has a different way of expressing gender and some may express themselves in ways that are different from what we expect. Many gender expansive children are comfortable with the sex they were assigned at birth. However, there are times when a child may assert a gender identity that is different from, or not consistent with, the sex they were assigned at birth. They may also say they’re not comfortable with their physical sex characteristics. 

Every child has a different way of expressing gender and some may express themselves in ways that are different from what we expect:

  • Gender-expansive youth: Children and youth who express a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with their sex assigned at birth. 
  • Gender questioning youth: Children and youth who are exploring and discovering their gender identities (example: “I was assigned a girl at birth, but I wonder if I am something other than a girl?”).
  • Transgender youth: An umbrella term for children and youth whose gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth (example: “I was assigned a girl at birth, but I am a boy!”).

Excellence in Clinical Care

Navigating gender journeys can be a deeply personal experience for children, youth and their families. The team at the Gender Support Program knows how important it is to connect and engage with patients and their loved ones wherever they are on their journeys. Our care teams are here to support patients and loved ones every step of the way.

Our experts provide mental health therapy services for transgender and gender-expansive children and youth. We support the mental and social health of our patients and families as they progress through their gender identity development pathways.