Gender Program at Connecticut Children’s Connecticut Children’s Gender Program, led by pediatric endocrinologist Priya Phulwani, MD, provides compassionate care to children and adolescents who express a strong desire to be a gender other than that assigned at birth. Statement of Support for Connecticut Children’s Gender Program At Connecticut Children’s, we are proud to offer high quality gender-affirming and developmentally appropriate healthcare to our transgender and gender diverse patients and their families through Connecticut Children’s Gender Program. Our program provides a safe and supportive environment for our patients to thrive and feel comfortable being their authentic selves in a way that strengthens their physical, mental and emotional health. We are also proud to stand with our colleagues at children’s hospitals and health systems across the country, as they remain committed to providing gender-affirming care to their patients and families. Together, we will continue to advocate for transgender and gender diverse youth and their families. At Connecticut Children’s, we strive to make our organization as welcoming and inclusive as possible for our team members, our patients and their families, and our community partners. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is detailed in our organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Declaration, which is available on our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion web page. Additional information: Children’s Hospital Association: Statement of Support for the Health and Well-being of Transgender Youth How to Contact the Gender Program Before Puberty If you are a parent of a prepubertal gender diverse child, we encourage continuing to support your child’s gender expression and ensure a safe environment for it. A therapist can often provide additional support and guidance. There is no role for medication or hormones at this stage. After Puberty Begins Please have your child’s referring provider (this can be a primary care or mental health provider) send us a referral that documents the name and pronouns used (if different from the insurance card). Additionally, if applicable, please document the adolescent’s custody arrangement, including DCF involvement (if any) and whether the adolescent’s legal guardian(s) support medical transition options. The first true sign of puberty is breast buds or testicular growth. Please also obtain an evaluation letter from a mental health provider that includes the following information: The adolescent meets the diagnostic criteria of gender incongruence. The experience of gender diversity/incongruence is marked and sustained over time. The adolescent demonstrates the emotional and cognitive maturity required to provide informed consent/assent for the treatment. The adolescent’s mental health concerns (if any) that may interfere with diagnostic clarity, capacity to consent, and gender-affirming medical treatments have been addressed The provider writing the evaluation letter for gender diverse adolescents should meet the following criteria: Be licensed by their statutory body and hold a postgraduate degree or its equivalent in a clinical field relevant to this role granted by a nationally accredited statutory institution. Receive theoretical and evidenced-based training and develop expertise in general child, adolescent, and family mental health across the developmental spectrum. Receive training and have expertise in gender identity development, gender diversity in children and adolescents, have the ability to assess capacity to assent/consent, and possess general knowledge of gender diversity across the life span. Receive training and develop expertise in autism spectrum disorders and other neurodevelopmental presentations or collaborate with a developmental disability expert when working with autistic/neurodivergent gender diverse adolescents. Continue engaging in professional development in all areas relevant to gender diverse children, adolescents, and families. Facilitate the exploration and expression of gender openly and respectfully so that no one particular identity is favored. Undertake a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment of adolescents who present with gender identity-related concerns and seek medical/surgical transition-related care, and that this be accomplished in a collaborative and supportive manner. Will the Gender Program schedule an appointment if we do not have an evaluation letter from a mental health professional? If you have the pediatrician referral but not the evaluation letter as of yet, we will still be happy to see you in clinic, but please note it will be an informational visit only. We do think it is important for adolescents to have behavioral health support during their gender journey and ask for the evaluation letter in keeping with the current World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) latest standards of care (SOC 8) guidelines before writing prescriptions. The prescriptions may include reversible medical interventions that pause current puberty (also called “puberty blockers”) or those that initiate the desired pubertal changes (such as estrogen or testosterone). Why does the Gender Program require an evaluation letter from a mental health professional? Mental health professionals can help those considering hormone therapy to be both psychologically prepared (for example, making a fully informed decision with clear and realistic expectations, with inclusion of family and community as appropriate) and practically prepared (for example, has considered the psychosocial implications). In addition, there should be some discussion that estrogen and testosterone may affect reproductive options. Resources Information on Gender Diversity/Incongruence Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8 Endocrine Treatment of Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline Find a Trusted Primary Care and Mental Health Provider The following primary care and mental health providers have committed to providing compassionate care for children and adolescents with gender dysphoria. Primary Care ProvidersBloomfield Children’s Medical Group Dr. Felicia Wilion Lester Schwartz, MD Cheshire Pediatric Associates of Cheshire Danbury Center for Pediatric Medicine, PC Pediatric Associates of Western CT Enfield, CT & Longmeadow, MA Pioneer Valley Pediatrics Farmington Farmington Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine Guilford Guilford Family Practice/ProHealth Manchester ProHealth Physicians of Manchester Marlborough Marlborough Pediatrics/ProHealth Newington Starling Physicians Ob/Gyn Kristina Hennessey Hill Prospect Pond Place Pediatrics Southington Sari Friedman Mental Health ProvidersBranford Jordan-Buell Hunt, LCSW Yale New Haven Hospital, Saint Raphael Campus Branford Adolescent Psychiatric Ambulatory Services 21 Business Park Dr. Branford, CT 06405 PHONE: (203) 488-0471 FAX: (203) 488-6479 Brookfield Tammi Chelednik, LPC The Child and Family Institute of Fairfield County 33 Junction Rd Brookfield, CT 06804 PHONE: (203) 740-7296 FAX: (203) 740-7696 Cheshire Debra Horvath, LCSW 345 Highland Ave. Suite 102 Cheshire, CT 06410 PHONE: (203) 272-3055 FAX: (203) 272-3303 Jennifer Murray, Psy.D. 144 Elm St. Cheshire, CT 06410 PHONE: (203) 410-6636 Danbury Julie Gombieski, APRN Family & Children’s AID 80 West St. Danbury, CT 06810 PHONE: (203) 748-5689 FAX: (203) 790-8183 Selena Sawtelle, LCSW Family & Children’s AID 80 West St. Danbury, CT 06810 PHONE: (203) 748-5689 FAX: (203) 205-2757 Derby Dayne Bachmann, LCSW Twin Peaks Counseling 111 New Haven Ave. #2, Derby, CT 06418 PHONE: (475) 439-9639 FAX: (203) 672-1819 Miranda (Mandy) McGuire, Ph.D., LCSW Parent Child Resource Center 30 Elizabeth St. Derby, CT 06418 PHONE: (203) 954-0543 FAX: (203) 954-0544 Enfield Helena Gagnon, LPC Community Health Resources 153 Hazard Ave 1st Floor Enfield, CT 06082 PHONE: (860) 253-5020 FAX: (860) 272-3576 Karen Myers, LCSW 5 North Main St. Enfield, CT 06082 PHONE: (860) 272-3510 FAX: (860) 253-5555 **FOR ENFIELD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY** Essex Jacquelynn Russo-Boudinot, LMFT, CFTP, NCC Middlesex Wellness & Mediation, LLC 80 Plains Rd. Essex, CT 06426 PHONE: (860) 510-6130 Farmington Michelle Dicorpo, LMFT Family Resource & Development Center, LLC 270 Farmington Ave. Suite 347, Farmington, CT 06032 PHONE: (860) 838-4735 FAX: (860) 507-7480 Jennifer Laptew, LPC, LMHC Counseling by Jennifer Laptew, LCSW, LLC 304 Main St., Farmington, CT 06032 PHONE: (860) 538-1930 Glastonbury Claudia M. Carbonari, M.D. Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry 39 Hampshire Drive Glastonbury, CT 06033 PHONE: (860) 633-9522 FAX: (860) 657-3667 Crystal Morlock, LPC Pursuing Metamorphosis, LLC 122 Naubuc Ave, Suite 104; Glastonbury, CT 06033 PHONE: (860) 375-5850 Sheryll Waring, LPC, LADC Hopewell Health Solutions 33 Pratt St., Glastonbury, CT 06073 PHONE: (860) 946-0447 Groton Jean Allbee-Roberson, LMFT Alliance Counseling 333 Long Hill Rd #2, Groton, CT 06340 PHONE: (860) 861-1453 FAX: (860) 446-6918 Guilford Ashlie Befus, LMFT, M.ED Pathways to the Heart LLC 35 Boston St. Guilford, CT 06437 PHONE: (203) 941-1739 Hamden Jennifer Johnston, MA, LPC 375 Mather St. Suite 2, Hamden, CT 06514 PHONE: (203) 745-0733 FAX: (203) 464-3290 Kelly Stutzman, LPC K-Assist Home Program 196 Magee Drive Hamden, CT 06514 PHONE: (203) 464-2054 FAX: (203) 891-7629 Hartford Marcia E. Brubeck, JD, MSW, LCSW Marcia E. Brubeck, LLC Psychotherapy & Advocacy 674 Prospect Ave. Suite 203, Hartford, CT 06105 PHONE: (860) 231-1997 FAX: (860) 231-1960 Carol MacKenzie, LCSW 674 Prospect Ave. Hartford, CT 06105 PHONE: (860) 231-7373 Adriana McCormick, Psy.D CHC at Connecticut Children’s 76 New Britain Ave. Hartford, CT 06106 PHONE: (860) 547-0970 FAX: (860) 547-0980 April McLean, PsyD, LADC Mclean Wellness Group, LLC 4 Park Terrace, Hartford, 06106 112 Spencer St., Manchester, 06040 PHONE: (860) 578-4808 FAX: (866) 355-1052 Yvonne Miceli, LMFT Pathways EAP 674 Prospect Ave. Hartford, CT 06105 PHONE: (860) 233-6220 FAX: (860) 233-2371 Jayann Pinto-Samuda, LMSW Hartford Behavioral Health 1 Main St. Hartford, CT 06106 PHONE: (860) 548-0101 FAX: (860) 548-2045 Laura Saunders, Psy.D, ABPP The Institute of Living 200 Retreat Ave. Hartford, CT 06106 PHONE: (860) 545-7009 Richard Stillson, Ph.D. Hartford Psychological Services 210 Wethersfield Ave Hartford, CT 06114 PHONE: (860) 296-0094 Nicole Wilson, LCSW The Institute of Living, Child & Adolescent Day Program 200 Retreat Ave. Hartford, CT 06106 PHONE: (860) 696-0028 FAX: (860) 696-0030 Litchfield Eileen Manela, LCSW 134 East Chestnut Hill Road Litchfield, CT 06759 PHONE: (860) 782-9919 Manchester Sarah Gilbert, LCSW Transitions Therapy, LLC 642 Hilliard St. Suite 1212 Manchester, CT 06042 PHONE: (860) 884-8372 FAX: (860) 900-0032 Sandra Owens, LMFT Community Health Resources 444 Center St. Manchester, CT 06040 PHONE: (860) 730-8696 FAX: (860) 645-4132 Mansfield Michelle Allison, LMFT 638 Browns Rd, Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 PHONE: (860) 933-5072 Linsey McKiernan, LCSW 354 Warrenville Rd. Mansfield, CT 06250 PHONE: (860) 896-5082 Shenandoah Pettit, LCSW 189 Storrs RD, Mansfield Center, CT 06250 PHONE: (860) 423-1016 FAX: (860) 423-1109 Hillary Stern, LCSW Hillary Stern Therapy 134-A Conantcille Rd. Mansfield, CT 06250 PHONE: (860) 208-8519 FAX: (860) 429-2227 Middlebury Kris Robles, LCSW TIDES OF MIND COUNSELING 590 Middlebury Rd Suite B Middlebury, CT 06762 PHONE: (203) 819-0789 FAX: (203) 756-2521 Middletown Liz Shulman, LMFT Spring Street Psychiatric Group 7 Spring St. P.O BOX 1018 Middletown, CT 06457 PHONE: (860) 344-9558 FAX: (860) 347-6265 Candice Weigle-Spier, PsyD. 770 Saybrook Rd. Bldg B, Middletown, CT 06457 PHONE: (860) 349-0385 FAX: (860) 343-5391 Mystic Crystal Morlock, LPC Mystic Therapy LLC 41 Williams Ave, 2nd Floor; Mystic, CT 06355 PHONE: (774) 312-1629 Susanne Taylor, LMFT 12 Roosevelt Ave Mystic, CT 06355 PHONE: (860) 709-9913 Naugatuck Victoria Scully-Oakes, LPC Above and Beyond 305 Church St. Unit #5, Naugatuck, CT 06770 PHONE: (203) 723-7777 Michael Stokes, LPC Stokes Counseling Services 16 Hillside Ave, Naugatuck, CT 06770 PHONE: (203) 729-0341 FAX: (203) 723-0702 New Fairfield Helene R. Karlin, Ph.D. 88 State Rt.37 New Fairfield, CT 06812 PHONE: (203) 746-2436 FAX: (203) 746-3205 New Haven Nancy Meyer-Lustman, Ph.D. 303 Whitney Ave. New Haven, CT 06511 PHONE: (203) 212-9369 Chrystal Shoup D’Aquila, LPC Foundations Counseling, LLC 59 Elm St. Suite 500, New Haven, CT 06510 PHONE: (860) 987-7408 FAX: (203) 680-3851 New London Megan Cameron, LMFT UCFS Healthcare Behavioral Health Services 351 North Frontage Rd Suite 24 New London, CT 06320 PHONE: (860) 442-4319 FAX: (860) 437-2334 New Milford Bethany Keck, LCSW 46 Danbury Rd. Unit#6, New Milford, CT 06776 PHONE: (860) 354-5116 Newington Adrienne Benjamin, LCSW 1268 Main St. Suite 101 Newington, CT 06111 PHONE: (860) 748-1301 FAX: (860) 667-2408 Pam Williams, LCSW Family & Community Ties Clinician Residences Inc. 50 Rockwell Rd Newington, CT 06111 PHONE: (860) 621-7600 FAX: (860) 621-5117 Norwich Linda W. Stephens, MSW, LCSW New Beginnings Behavioral Health 238 West Town St. Norwich, CT 06360 PHONE: (860) 383-2507 FAX: (860) 383-2512 Ashley Webb, LCSW Keep an Open Mind, LLC 12 Cass St. Suite 202 Norwich, CT 06360 PHONE: (860) 387-4712 Plainville Stephanie Gingell Wheeler Clinic 91 Northwest Dr., Plainville, CT 06062 PHONE: (888) 793-3500 FAX: (860)793-3520 Alisa Palmer-Winston, MA, LPC Mental Health Counseling & Consultation, LLC 49 Broad St. Suite 2, Plainville, CT 06062 PHONE: (860) 986-6049 Prospect Traci Hodes, Ph.D. Kindhearted Awareness 44 Waterbury Rd Suite 2C Prospect, CT 06712 PHONE: (203) 936-6593 Rockville Diana Rosen, MFT 26 Union St Rockville, CT 06066 PHONE: (860) 313-1119 FAX: (860) 313-1449 Rocky Hill Joan Day, LMFT 21 New Britain Ave. Suite 215, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 PHONE: (860) 529-8977 FAX: (860) 788-3616 Simsbury Jennifer Paul, Ph.D. St. Francis Behavioral Health Group 30 Dorset Crossing, Suite 400 Simsbury, CT 06070 PHONE: (860) 714-9030 FAX: (860) 651-9707 Southbury Kristen Kivela, LMSW Spectrum Behavioral PC 1287 Strongtown Rd. Southbury, CT 06488 PHONE: (203) 819-7580 FAX: (203) 819-7581 Storrs Tamara Vertefeuille, LCSW 1066 Storrs Rd. Suite E, Storrs, CT 06268 PHONE: (860) 429-2928 ext.7 FAX: (860) 429-2949 Torrington Victoria Palagy, LMFT Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Center for Youth and Families 50 Litchfield St. Torrington, CT 06790 PHONE: (860) 489-3145 FAX: (860) 489-3391 Kris Robles, LCSW Tides of Mind Counseling 990 Migeon Ave Torrington, CT 06790 PHONE: (203) 819-0789 FAX: (203) 756-2521 Waterbury Kris Robles, LCSW Tides of Mind Counseling 230 Frost Rd. 1st Fl. Waterbury, CT 06705 PHONE: (203) 819-0789 FAX: (203) 756-2521 Watertown Emily Ann Reim Ifrach, ATR-BC, LPC, NCC Lotus Counseling of Connecticut 76 Waterbury Park Rd Suite 209E Watertown, CT 06795 PHONE: (203) 707-8962 FAX: (203) 889-5381 Wauregan Olivia Locker, MD Wellness Locker, LLC 19 S. Walnut St, Suite D, Wauregan, CT 06387 PHONE: (860) 412-9138 West Cornwall Mary Gates, LCSW, MDIV 61 Surdan Mountain Rd. West Cornwall, CT 06796 PHONE: (860) 672-6773 West Hartford Stephanie Carter, LCSW Family Resource and Development Center, LLC 41 North Main St 3rd Floor West Hartford, CT 06107 PHONE: (860) 838-4735 FAX: (860) 461-1514 Elizabeth Cestero, LCSW 2475 Albany Ave. Suite 203B, West Hartford, CT 06117 PHONE: (860) 740-2622 Joshua Cohen, LMFT The Center for Solutions LLC 1007 Farmington Ave. Suite 5, West Hartford, CT 06107 PHONE: (860) 709-9942 Geoff Genser, MSW, LCSW 270 Farmington Ave. Suite 347 West Hartford, CT 06032 PHONE: (860) 570-0877 FAX: (888) 778-1340 Kate Keefe, LCSW The Bridge Family Center Youth & Family Services Department 1038 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, CT 06107 PHONE: (860) 521-8035 FAX: (860) 521-8036 Elaine Knowlden, LCSW 920 Farmington Ave. Ste 202, West Hartford, CT 06107 PHONE: (860) 570-4800 FAX: (860) 570-0120 Carol Lamson, LCSW Empower Behavioral Health 309 North Main Street West Hartford, CT 06117 PHONE: (860) 978-4727 FAX: (860) 233-3344 Jennifer Laptew, LPC, LMHC Counseling by Jennifer Laptew, LCSW, LLC 45 South Main St. Suite 107, West Hartford, CT 06107 PHONE: (860) 538-1930 West Haven Talitha Tramuta, LMFT Branford Psychotherapy and Counseling, LLC 568 Washington Ave, West Haven, CT 06516 PHONE: (203) 800-1135 FAX: (203) 931-9923 Westport Amanda Harmon, LCSW Changing Tides Psychotherapy & Counseling LLC 8 Myrtle Ave Westport, CT 06880 PHONE: (203) 583-1257 E.Carine Lauterbach, LCSW EC Therapy 4 Whitney St. Ext. Westport, CT 06880 PHONE: (203) 904-2163 Wethersfield Ozlem Camli, Ph.D. 80 Garden St. Wethersfield, CT 06109 PHONE: (860) 529-5229 FAX: (860) 529-7820 Sharon Cutts, ACSW/LCSW 121 Main St./80 Garden S., Wethersfield, CT 06109 PHONE: (860) 539-4434 May Fianna, LMFT (Previously Tuscano) Fianna Family Therapy 61 Arrow Rd, Suite 201, Wethersfield, CT 06109 PHONE: (860) 856-9773 FAX: (860) 909-0327 Willimantic Susan Barone, LCSW Your Story Counseling & EFT Practice 322 Main St Bldg#2 Suite 1-U Wlllimantic, CT 06226 PHONE: (860) 208-3813 FAX: (860) 942-8800 Windsor Sean Cronin, LCSW, MS, MPH Spectrum Psychotherapy Centers, LLC 41 Mechanic St, Windsor, CT 06095 PHONE: (860) 246-7999 Winsted Nicole Mulhall, LCSW Measurable Progress Therapy, LLC 100 Whiting Street, Studio 409 Winsted, CT 06098 PHONE: (203) 598-4707 FAX: 1 (888) 453-0519 Wolcott Laurin Franco, MS, LPC 1495 Wolcott Rd. Wolcott, CT 06716 PHONE: (203) 879-4424 / (860) 471-0877 Other resources outside of CT Abigail Reifsnyder, LICSW SIRACUSA ASSOCIATES 681 Simonds Rd Williamstown, MA 01267 PHONE: (413) 458-9600 FAX: (413) 458-4028 For Medical Professionals Would you like to be listed on our website as a trusted provider for gender diverse patients? Please complete our Provider Form. To refer a patient to the Gender Program, please submit a specialty referral. Gender Dysphoria Support Groups Multiple Locations – PFLAG Hartford – Institute of Living New Haven – Support groups led by Tony Ferraiolo Norwalk – Triangle Community Center Gender Dysphoria Resources Resources, support groups and therapists in Connecticut: HelpingYourTransgenderTeen.com Help with school transition/safety: GLSEN.org Legal assistance: GLAD.org Nationwide source of information and inspiration: Human Rights Campaign. Supporting LGBTQIA Patient and Families: Connecticut Children’s
