Envision the emotional journey of parents, resolute in their unwavering dedication to embrace and affirm their child’s sexual orientation or gender identity, while simultaneously grappling with the burden of their child’s battle against addiction.

This multi-layered heartache casts a shadow of pain and complexity, making it an excruciating ordeal endured by far too many parents in the LGBTQ+ community.

In this episode, Tim Volk speaks with author Wesley Davidson about her book When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need to Know. Wesley shares the story of her son, Graham, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, his battle with addiction, and its influence on her decision to write a book to help other parents. Wesley’s story is a testament to the strength and resilience of parents who strive to embrace and understand their children’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Wesley discusses: 

• Her journey to becoming an author and the evolution of her relationship with her children
  
• The lessons she learned from sending her son to rehab and her advice to other parents
  
• Why she wrote When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need to Know and what she learned in the process
  
• Her message to other parents of children in the LGBTQ+ community
  
• A sneak peek of the new project she’s working on to help parents who are looking to intervene with their child’s substance abuse
  
• And more
  

Resources:

• When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need to Know
  
• Tackling Addiction And Helping Those In Crisis With Arden O’Connor (Ep. 3)
  
• Ambiguous Loss, Pauline Boss, Ph.D.
  
• SMART Recovery
  
• Bring Change To Mind
  

Connect with Tim Volk: 

• T. Volk & Company
  
• LinkedIn: T. Volk & Company
  
• LinkedIn: Tim Volk
  
• tim.volk@tvolkco.com
  
• Phone: 312-636-5855
  

Connect with Wesley Davidson: 

• Wesley Davidson
  
• LinkedIn: Wesley Davidson
  
• Twitter: @WesleyCDavidson
  
• YouTube: Wesley Davidson
  
• Facebook: When Your Child is LBGT+
  

About our Guest: 

Wesley Davidson is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and The Authors Guild. During the last few years, Wesley has concentrated her writing on the LGBTQ community. Wesley co-authored When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need To Know with psychiatrist Jonathan L. Tobkes, M.D. Wesley’s popular blog Straight Parent, LGBT+ Kid gives tips for straight parents of LGBTQ children on how to deal with issues raising nonbinary children. Her book, When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need To Know was awarded the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for best parenting book in 2017 by the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs. For parents of children with substance abuse disorders, Wesley also writes a monthly column for Psychology Today.com with addiction specialist Joseph Shrand, M.D. Wesley has contributed to websites such as gaynewspulse.com and gaynewsagenda.com as well as parenting magazines such as Adoptive Families, Family Fun, and American Baby, to name a few publications.