Support for Professionals Working with Parental Gender Disappointment
Specialist training, supervision, formulation support and reflective practice to deepen understanding and support compassionate clinical practice
Recognising, Understanding and Responding to Parental Distress in Relation to Baby's Sex
Supporting compassionate understanding and confident practice in health and mental health settings
Parental preference for baby’s sex and related distress can be a difficult area for parents and parents-to-be to talk about openly and may remain hidden behind feelings of guilt, shame or fear of judgement. Combined with, for some professionals, a lack of awareness or confidence in how to support these experiences, this can mean that distress related to baby’s sex can become missed, minimised or misunderstood and therefore remain unsupported.
Professionals working across a range of health and mental health settings may encounter parents and parents-to-be experiencing a preference for baby’s sex as well as psychological and emotional distress relating to not having, or having, a baby of a particular sex. For some, this may contribute to wider difficulties with mental health and wellbeing, particularly during the perinatal period. Developing a deeper understanding can help professionals recognise when these experiences may be present, create opportunities for supportive conversations and feel more confident in responding with curiosity, compassion and sensitivity.
I offer specialist training, supervision, formulation support and reflective practice opportunities, designed to support understanding and confidence when working with this sensitive and often complex area.
You can read more about a helpful way we can think about what we mean by the term parental gender disappointment, here.
Specialist Parental Gender Disappointment Services
The services below may be relevant to psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, midwives, health visitors, nurses, family support practitioners, GPs, sonographers and other health and mental health professionals supporting parents and parents-to-be within the NHS, social care, private practice and third-sector organisations.
Training for Health and Mental Health Teams and Services
Tailored training designed to deepen understanding, enhance confidence, and support compassionate responses and shared language within teams or services.
Training is developed and delivered in collaboration with Dr Nina Francis (academic researcher, certified coach and specialist in parental gender disappointment), and can be adapted to the needs of your team, service or organisation. We primarily deliver training online with in-person delivery considered depending on the needs and location of your service.
Together, Dr Nina and I have developed and delivered training for the UK’s specialist NHS Perinatal Mental Health Midwives as well as multiple Perinatal Mental Health teams within a large NHS Trust. Bringing together research, clinical insight and practical application, training may range from Introductory Awareness sessions, to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and workshop sessions focused on specific topics, through to half or full day in-depth training.
Training can be tailored to the needs, interests and existing knowledge of your team. Areas of focus may include parental preference for baby’s sex, associated emotional and psychological distress, impact on mental health and wellbeing in the perinatal period, common themes and patterns, and considerations for support.
Training aims to support professionals in recognising when these experiences may be present, responding with greater confidence and sensitivity, and developing a shared understanding and language within teams and services.
Fees vary depending on the type of support required. Please get in touch to discuss your needs and request further information.
Specialist Supervision for Mental Health Professionals
A specialist supervision space for psychologists, therapists and other mental health practitioners seeking ongoing support in their work with parents and parents-to-be experiencing distress in relation to their baby's sex.
Together, we can explore themes, patterns and areas of complexity within your work, develop psychological formulations, consider approaches to support, and reflect on the impact of this work on both the practitioner and the parents they support. Supervision aims to support understanding, confidence and compassionate practice, whilst creating opportunities to think more deeply about this sensitive and often complex area.
Sessions can be arranged on a regular ongoing basis and tailored to your professional role, experience and supervision needs.
Professionals are responsible for ensuring that any discussion of their work is undertaken in accordance with the ethical, professional and organisational requirements of their role, including obtaining any necessary permissions or consent. Please get in touch to discuss your needs and request further information.
Focused Formulation Support for Mental Health Professionals
A single, focused professional support option for exploring complexity, developing formulation and considering approaches to support when working with parental distress in relation to baby's sex.
These sessions provide a dedicated opportunity to think through a particular presentation or area of uncertainty in greater depth. Together, we can explore themes, patterns and possible contributing factors, develop psychological understanding and consider how parental preference for baby’s sex and related distress may be influencing emotional wellbeing, relationships and wider mental health difficulties.
Focused Formulation Support is designed for professionals who would benefit from specialist input in relation to a specific piece of work or professional dilemma. Whether you are seeking a clearer understanding of what may be happening, support in developing a formulation, or space to think through possible approaches to support, sessions can be tailored to your professional role and needs.
Sessions are offered on a one-off or short-term basis and can be arranged according to the level of support required.
Professionals are responsible for ensuring that any discussion of their work is undertaken in accordance with the ethical, professional and organisational requirements of their role, including obtaining any necessary permissions or consent. Please get in touch to discuss your needs and request further information.
Reflective Practice Sessions for Health and Mental Health Professionals
Small group sessions to provide a facilitated opportunity for professionals to reflect, share experiences and learn alongside others working with parental distress in relation to baby's sex.
Reflective Practice Sessions provide a supportive professional environment in which to explore the complexities, challenges and emotional impact of this work. Through discussion, reflection and shared learning, participants can deepen their understanding of parental gender disappointment, consider different perspectives and develop greater confidence in responding to these experiences.
These reflective practice sessions are designed to complement, rather than replace, professional supervision and to support individual practitioners or teams who encounter parental distress related to baby’s sex within their role and would value opportunities to think alongside others working in this area.
Reflective Practice may be offered for teams and services, or as a facilitated online multidisciplinary group bringing together professionals from different settings who share an interest in this area. If you would be interested in joining an online Reflective Practice Group, please get in touch to register your interest.
Professionals are responsible for ensuring that any discussion of their work is undertaken in accordance with the ethical, professional and organisational requirements of their role, including obtaining any necessary permissions or consent. Please get in touch to discuss your needs and request further information.
How it works
01
Get in touch
Complete my contact form and share a little about your role, service, team or area of interest, as well as the type of professional support you are looking for.
02
Book a Complimentary 15-Minute Introduction Call
I will invite you to a complimentary 15-minute Introduction Call, to take place online over Zoom. This gives us an opportunity to discuss your needs, answer any questions you may have and consider which form of support may be the best fit.
03
Arrange your Professional Support
If you decide you would like to proceed, we will agree the most appropriate form of support and arrange suitable dates and times. This may include training, supervision, formulation support or reflective practice sessions, depending on your needs, role or service requirements.
I would highly recommend a consultation with Lindsay. She is a fountain of knowledge on a subject that is scarcely discussed, not just amongst those who experience it, but also amongst professionals. Her passion for opening up conversation about this area is clear to see. My conversation with Lindsay enabled me to explore the complexity that surrounds gender disappointment and how multi-storied it is. She has helped me become more aware of the potential impact gender disappointment can have upon people and the importance of giving space to share experiences to reduce feelings of guilt and shame.
Clinical Psychologist, NHS Perinatal Mental Health Service
