For many trans people, the secret ingredient to our lasting happiness, wellness, and self-love is community. We need one another. Seeing trans faces, connecting with one another, and talking about trans-specific issues can be a source of profound joy and transformation. From the complexities of coming out, to coping with relationship changes while transitioning, many of us find it helpful to talk through our challenges and our triumphs with people who get it. Support groups are a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow community members and gain support for wherever you’re at on your journey.
Your Plume membership gives you access to a six-week series of support groups. Each of your group’s six, once-a-week sessions will be guided by a Plume-trained facilitator who is trans or nonbinary. The groups are intimate and create a safe, cozy space where you can work through some of your big questions. Each group will include people who have experiences in common with you, such as also taking estrogen or testosterone, being Black and trans/nonbinary, and more to come.
Community is the secret ingredient
Our facilitators agree that sharing connections with other trans people creates powerful change in our individual lives. During each series, your group will discuss a range of topics to give you a deeper understanding of yourself, your journey, and who you want to be. The support group series is a great opportunity to build lasting relationships with fellow group members.
One of our facilitators, Mads Fleming (they/them), said they were excited to lead a support group series because it’s a way to “share and provide a safe, creative, supportive space for everyone and to celebrate trans and/or nonbinary joy.”
Mads said, “Personally, when I’m in a community with other trans people, I have this sense of relief. I can take a deep breath and know that other trans people see me, hear me, support and validate me. I don’t feel like I have to explain myself.”
The sense of immediate connection, understanding, and community is so nurturing for many of us. Instead of feeling stressed about fitting in or feeling understood, support groups help you relax and be yourself as you get into the issues that matter most to you.
Here are some of the topics that your group might explore over the six-week series:
- Finding the courage to express your gender identity
- The complexities of coming out
- Handling relationship change while transitioning
- Healthy ways to love yourself through your changes
- Changes to expect from gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT)
- Defining your own gender transition
Get the support you need to take care of yourself
Your group might also talk about coping, to help you feel prepared to handle challenges. Resilience is one of the most profound tools you can develop. It will help you ride the waves of life, handle rejection and uncertainty, and find the courage to assert yourself. Support groups are a place to share challenging experiences, as well as the tools that helped you break down the barriers that you faced.
Our facilitators bring their own lived experience to support groups and can be resources for you on your journey. Some coping strategies they recommend are asking for help, brainstorming activities for a temporary distraction (depending on your emotional and physical availability), reading, listening to a podcast, and, journaling. Some facilitators love dancing and moving their bodies in a way that feels good. Their coping toolbox includes listening to music, drawing. and movement when going through a hard time. Above all, taking time for self-care is a priority. One of our facilitators, Mallery Robinson (she/her), said, “I like to take time for myself to process my emotions and recenter myself during times of challenges.”
With the support of these guides and a caring community, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You can join a group that will help you as you figure out your next steps. When we connect with one another, we all grow. Witnessing someone else’s journey can open us up to possibilities for our own path. Plume support groups connect you with people who understand what you’ve been through—and where you want to go.
Learn more about support groups by visiting this page.
