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Transformed: Parenting Your Gender Non-Conforming Child with Pride
In Transformed, Parenting Your Non-Conforming Child with Pride, Wendy Jones uses personal stories and clinical data to show you how to support your gender-diverse children, while taking care of yourself along the way.
“With love, compassion, support, and encouragement Wendy Jones candidly shares her experience as a mom of transgender youth. As an LCSW who counsels LGBTQ families, she offers a unique perspective that provides expertise and wisdom experienced by few. Additionally, Wendy weaves in first-person stories from other families which ultimately provides a pathway in a relatable and sensitive manner.”
-Jeanette Jennings, mother of Jazz Jennings and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate and spokesperson
As a gender therapist and mom to a transgender child, Wendy felt there was a strong need in the world to support parents of trans kids. She knew that her own journey was challenging at first, and finding support wasn't always an easy thing. As she's been working with transgender people and their parents over the past five years, she's come to find that the parents are oftentimes scared and feel alone in the process of accepting their child's gender identity.
“With love, compassion, support, and encouragement Wendy Jones candidly shares her experience as a mom of transgender youth. As an LCSW who counsels LGBTQ families, she offers a unique perspective that provides expertise and wisdom experienced by few. Additionally, Wendy weaves in first-person stories from other families which ultimately provides a pathway in a relatable and sensitive manner.”
-Jeanette Jennings, mother of Jazz Jennings and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate and spokesperson
As a gender therapist and mom to a transgender child, Wendy felt there was a strong need in the world to support parents of trans kids. She knew that her own journey was challenging at first, and finding support wasn't always an easy thing. As she's been working with transgender people and their parents over the past five years, she's come to find that the parents are oftentimes scared and feel alone in the process of accepting their child's gender identity.
152 pages, Paperback
Published March 17, 2022
7 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Jones
1 book1 followerHi, I'm Wendy Jones.
I'm a therapist and first-time author in Simi Valley, CA. My book is titled "Transformed: Parenting Your Gender Non-Conforming Child with Pride".
I am also a Wife, Mom, and LGBTQIA+ Advocate and Ally.
I work with individuals who experience depression, anxiety, addiction, relationship and family of origin issues. I specialize in working with teens and adults that are in the LGBTQIA+ community, with a focus on transgender people and their journey.
I'm a therapist and first-time author in Simi Valley, CA. My book is titled "Transformed: Parenting Your Gender Non-Conforming Child with Pride".
I am also a Wife, Mom, and LGBTQIA+ Advocate and Ally.
I work with individuals who experience depression, anxiety, addiction, relationship and family of origin issues. I specialize in working with teens and adults that are in the LGBTQIA+ community, with a focus on transgender people and their journey.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 19, 2022
In this book, the author helps parents, with great respect, honesty and common sense, through her own experience, to understand and guide their children, so that they can identify with and learn to live with all the facets that they integrate them.
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En este libro, la autora ayuda a los padres de familia, con gran respeto, honestidad y sentido común, a través de su propia experiencia, a comprender y a guiar a sus hijos, para que puedan identificarse y aprender a vivir con todas las facetas que los integran.
_________
En este libro, la autora ayuda a los padres de familia, con gran respeto, honestidad y sentido común, a través de su propia experiencia, a comprender y a guiar a sus hijos, para que puedan identificarse y aprender a vivir con todas las facetas que los integran.
March 27, 2022
Many thanks to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Transformed is a book written by a certified therapist and a mother of a transgender child. While being a quick and easy read, it provides an in-depth guide to the journey of a parent meeting for the first time with their child’s new identity.
In times, when the world around us is constantly changing and shifting, the need for acceptance and understanding of different people’s needs is overwhelming. Transgender people have been a part of all human societies throughout all times as the author points out. Still, it’s a fact that in 2022 humanity has no more understanding of the LGBTQ+ community than it had 2 centuries ago. Gender non-conformity is still a widely unaccepted and taboo topic to this day. This leads to the overwhelming need for more books like Transformed and information, in general.
A big plus for this book is the fact that it draws from personal experience and every piece of advice is tried and tested and confirmed before being given. The author has not only the professional qualification to give advice on the topic. She has personally walked the path of a parent of a gender non-conforming child. She has a deep understanding of the situations such a parent meets in their everyday life and with all the people around them. Topics like school bullying and how to face and support a child through that difficult phase of their life have been explored compassionately and competently enough. The most important message the book passes on is that when a child is experiencing this important journey, the parent is walking right beside them and needs as much support and understanding as their child. The author continually stresses the need for self-care and self-acceptance throughout the book. After all, you can't be anyone’s pillar if you are on the verge of disintegrating yourself. Wendy Jones does not shy away from the difficult topic of the negative feelings a parent may go through during that time of transformation. She does not negate the feelings of anger and embarrassment. What she does is to accept those feelings as a part of the transformation, live through them and learn from them. And that’s the advice she gives to her readers - let the feelings come, feel them and educate yourself so you can come out the other end a better and stronger person. For the sake of your child and your own too.
The most impressive part of the book is that it teaches every parent out there - not just the ones of transgender children - to accept their child as a blanc page and let them shape their own personality. It’s a common mistake for a parent to push their own hopes and ambitions on their child, especially the ones the parent was unable to achieve on their own. This blinds us (because, as a parent, i have been guilty of that mistake too) to the understanding that our children are their own people with their own hopes and ambitions and our mission is to help them achieve what they desire and not vice versa. That is applicable to every child.
. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Transformed is a book written by a certified therapist and a mother of a transgender child. While being a quick and easy read, it provides an in-depth guide to the journey of a parent meeting for the first time with their child’s new identity.
In times, when the world around us is constantly changing and shifting, the need for acceptance and understanding of different people’s needs is overwhelming. Transgender people have been a part of all human societies throughout all times as the author points out. Still, it’s a fact that in 2022 humanity has no more understanding of the LGBTQ+ community than it had 2 centuries ago. Gender non-conformity is still a widely unaccepted and taboo topic to this day. This leads to the overwhelming need for more books like Transformed and information, in general.
A big plus for this book is the fact that it draws from personal experience and every piece of advice is tried and tested and confirmed before being given. The author has not only the professional qualification to give advice on the topic. She has personally walked the path of a parent of a gender non-conforming child. She has a deep understanding of the situations such a parent meets in their everyday life and with all the people around them. Topics like school bullying and how to face and support a child through that difficult phase of their life have been explored compassionately and competently enough. The most important message the book passes on is that when a child is experiencing this important journey, the parent is walking right beside them and needs as much support and understanding as their child. The author continually stresses the need for self-care and self-acceptance throughout the book. After all, you can't be anyone’s pillar if you are on the verge of disintegrating yourself. Wendy Jones does not shy away from the difficult topic of the negative feelings a parent may go through during that time of transformation. She does not negate the feelings of anger and embarrassment. What she does is to accept those feelings as a part of the transformation, live through them and learn from them. And that’s the advice she gives to her readers - let the feelings come, feel them and educate yourself so you can come out the other end a better and stronger person. For the sake of your child and your own too.
The most impressive part of the book is that it teaches every parent out there - not just the ones of transgender children - to accept their child as a blanc page and let them shape their own personality. It’s a common mistake for a parent to push their own hopes and ambitions on their child, especially the ones the parent was unable to achieve on their own. This blinds us (because, as a parent, i have been guilty of that mistake too) to the understanding that our children are their own people with their own hopes and ambitions and our mission is to help them achieve what they desire and not vice versa. That is applicable to every child.
. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 22, 2022
Transformed: Parenting Your Gender Non-Conforming Child with Pride
If you are a parent or caregiver of a Transgender child or Transgender kid then reading this book is a must. Wendy Jones really gives insight that is not just a bunch of tips that are useful for dealing with people in general, but actual real life ups and downs and how to show your support while you are still dealing with what may in your reality, feeling like you are losing out on the child you thought you had. This was a great book that has done the best job I have seen yet of really making me feel like it is ok to feel and support at the same time.
If you are a parent or caregiver of a Transgender child or Transgender kid then reading this book is a must. Wendy Jones really gives insight that is not just a bunch of tips that are useful for dealing with people in general, but actual real life ups and downs and how to show your support while you are still dealing with what may in your reality, feeling like you are losing out on the child you thought you had. This was a great book that has done the best job I have seen yet of really making me feel like it is ok to feel and support at the same time.
March 22, 2022
I really liked the author's ability to provide information in both an educational, as well as personal, manner. By walking in the shoes of the parent herself, she is able to provide guidance on how to openly communicate, support and understand your transgender child. While her background as a gender therapist allows her to provide the knowledge and clinical experience to guide you through specific interactions or conversations that may be tough to have. There are quotes, poems, and resources throughout and you can tell it was written from a place of love and to genuinely help those who may be looking for answers.
April 4, 2022
The author did an amazing job transferring the feelings and emotions onto this book.
A great book for those going through this journey themselves or for those who know someone that is.
.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A great book for those going through this journey themselves or for those who know someone that is.
.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 29, 2022
Great book! I enjoyed how it takes you through the experience of real live situations of a mom
dealing with her child discovering who they are. Not only as the inside person but also as a
therapist who seems families with the same questions as her. I recommend this book to
families and friends going through this but also people that would like to know how they can
support the LGBTQIA+ community.
#transformedwendyjones
#wendyjonesauthor
#transallywendyjones.
dealing with her child discovering who they are. Not only as the inside person but also as a
therapist who seems families with the same questions as her. I recommend this book to
families and friends going through this but also people that would like to know how they can
support the LGBTQIA+ community.
#transformedwendyjones
#wendyjonesauthor
#transallywendyjones.
October 2, 2022
I was expecting this to be a more general book about understanding and advocating for all gender non-conforming kids in your life, but it was focused almost exclusively on transgender kids. With that said, there is a ton of encouragement for adults included, so it’s helpful as a general resource.
September 18, 2024
What a breath of fresh air
As the mom of a gender expansive child it was so nice to read all the first hand accounts and experiences. So happy to have stumbled upon this wonderful book!
As the mom of a gender expansive child it was so nice to read all the first hand accounts and experiences. So happy to have stumbled upon this wonderful book!
December 31, 2025
An Essential Compass for Parents Navigating the Journey to Authenticity
As an author who writes stories about identity and resilience (The Ellie Series), and as a transgender woman who advocates for youth, I am constantly asked by parents: "Where do I start?" Wendy Jones’s Transformed is now at the top of my recommendation list.
What makes Transformed unique is the powerful duality Jones brings to the table: she is both a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a mother walking this path alongside her son. This isn't just a clinical handbook, nor is it solely a memoir; it is a bridge between the two. Jones creates a "no-judgment zone" for parents, tackling the heavy emotional lifting required to support a gender non-conforming child with grace and grit.
Jones tackles the hard stuff head-on. I was particularly moved by her chapter on the "Stages of Grief". It is a bold and necessary move to acknowledge that parents often grieve the expectations and labels they had for their child—like the "pink things" or the vision of a daughter—even while celebrating the child right in front of them. By validating these feelings rather than shaming them, she clears the path for true acceptance.
For anyone who has felt the sting of rejection from friends or family, Jones offers a brilliant metaphor: the "Filter." She describes the transition process as a giant sifter at the beach; the pure sand (supportive people) makes it through, while the debris (judgment and toxicity) stays behind, ready to be dumped. As an advocate, I tell families that their child’s safety is paramount, and Jones backs this up with the sobering but empowering statistic that family support buffers transgender children from mental health struggles.
Transformed is an invitation to, as Jones puts it, "step off my safe little island" and embrace the unknown. Whether you are a parent just seeing the first signs, or an ally looking to deepen your understanding, this book is a beacon of hope. It reminds us that while the world may be binary, our love for our children should be anything but.
Highly recommended for: Parents, educators, and anyone committed to building a more inclusive world.
Grace Ann Hansen Author, Public Speaker, & Advocate
As an author who writes stories about identity and resilience (The Ellie Series), and as a transgender woman who advocates for youth, I am constantly asked by parents: "Where do I start?" Wendy Jones’s Transformed is now at the top of my recommendation list.
What makes Transformed unique is the powerful duality Jones brings to the table: she is both a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a mother walking this path alongside her son. This isn't just a clinical handbook, nor is it solely a memoir; it is a bridge between the two. Jones creates a "no-judgment zone" for parents, tackling the heavy emotional lifting required to support a gender non-conforming child with grace and grit.
Jones tackles the hard stuff head-on. I was particularly moved by her chapter on the "Stages of Grief". It is a bold and necessary move to acknowledge that parents often grieve the expectations and labels they had for their child—like the "pink things" or the vision of a daughter—even while celebrating the child right in front of them. By validating these feelings rather than shaming them, she clears the path for true acceptance.
For anyone who has felt the sting of rejection from friends or family, Jones offers a brilliant metaphor: the "Filter." She describes the transition process as a giant sifter at the beach; the pure sand (supportive people) makes it through, while the debris (judgment and toxicity) stays behind, ready to be dumped. As an advocate, I tell families that their child’s safety is paramount, and Jones backs this up with the sobering but empowering statistic that family support buffers transgender children from mental health struggles.
Transformed is an invitation to, as Jones puts it, "step off my safe little island" and embrace the unknown. Whether you are a parent just seeing the first signs, or an ally looking to deepen your understanding, this book is a beacon of hope. It reminds us that while the world may be binary, our love for our children should be anything but.
Highly recommended for: Parents, educators, and anyone committed to building a more inclusive world.
Grace Ann Hansen Author, Public Speaker, & Advocate
April 3, 2022
This book is absolutely perfect for any parent or guardian trying to learn more about trans lives. Even for those who lack an understanding of what trans minds go through, and are wanting to know more even about basic LGBTQ terms and meanings. I was truly not expecting the book to be so insightful. As a transmasculine non-binary individual, this book would be a perfect place to start so you can help your child or someone else's feel secure and supported!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 8, 2023
The bottom line is communication between child and parent, it works both ways. There are terms and definitions as well as suggestions to make further research. The book says the reason it's difficult for parents to wrap their heads around is the change in their child's gender after years of attaching gender norms to the child (birth name and expectations, for example). The book also provides a list of ways to support their transition and connect more as a family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 19, 2022
Amazing. I wanted to know more since I have a friend who transitioned. This book helped me understand a lot of what people had and have to go through on a daily basis. I shared it with my friend and he agrees, this book is an amazing resource for anyone transitioning and for family members and friends. Highly recommend
March 29, 2022
Wendy Jones writes in a way that gave this Momma all the feels. It's real and raw and informative, while still being a love letter to other mothers who are learning how to navigate this new facet of their life that's been presented to them through their gender non-conforming child(ren).
I found myself laughing and crying and feeling like I was having a conversation with a girlfriend while reading "Transformed".
Having not experienced what Wendy Jones has been through, but wanting to raise children who are loving and welcoming to people of all genders, this book is a great resource for mothers in the middle of this journey, as well as mothers who want to be an ally to those moms and their child.
I recommended this book to dozens of women the other day and it will be forever a recommendation for parents and family members of transgender children. And adults.
I found myself laughing and crying and feeling like I was having a conversation with a girlfriend while reading "Transformed".
Having not experienced what Wendy Jones has been through, but wanting to raise children who are loving and welcoming to people of all genders, this book is a great resource for mothers in the middle of this journey, as well as mothers who want to be an ally to those moms and their child.
I recommended this book to dozens of women the other day and it will be forever a recommendation for parents and family members of transgender children. And adults.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews