NSU professor and higher ed colleague publish handbook

(Tahlequah, Oklahoma) - Northeastern State University Associate Professor and Department Chair of Psychology and Counseling Dr. Kurt Choate, along with his co-editor Dr. Alfred Carlozzi from Oklahoma State University, have published an edited book titled, "Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons: A Handbook for Service Providers, Educators, and Families."

This book offers mental health professionals and other caregivers information and best practices for working with transgender and gender diverse persons and their families. In each chapter, experts from a variety of fields provide an accessible introduction to medical, legal, educational and spiritual care for transgender and gender diverse adults and youth within a range of context, including communities and schools in urban and non-urban areas.

Choate was inspired to put this book together by his work at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in Tulsa where he volunteers his therapeutic services with transgender and gender diverse individuals, both youth and adults.

Carlozzi and I presented on this topic two years ago at the American Psychological Association conference and we were approached after our presentation by Routledge, our publisher, Choate said.

Together, they decided to take the opportunity to put together an edited book with source information from a variety of experts from across the nation.

We tried to cover a variety of perspectives that people may have questions about, Choate said. Because this is a topic that people hear about it all the time, but they are afraid to ask questions or may not even know what questions to ask.

Choate believes that education is the key.

All the books that were already available were written strictly for mental health professionals. This book can be read easily by anyone, including parents, teachers and professionals.

Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons: A Handbook for Service Providers, Educators, and Families is published internationally is available to borrow through the NSU Libraries or purchase through Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, Amazon, Google and other media.