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Diane Ehrensaft

PhD

Psychologist
Mental Health Director, Child and Adolescent Gender Center
Gender specialist and kiln glass artist

Diane Ehrensaft is a developmental and clinical psychologist who cares for children, adolescents, young adults and families. She specializes in gender-affirmative care for transgender and gender-expansive patients; assessment and psychotherapy for children; and support for parents and children in families created through assisted reproductive technology.

Ehrensaft earned a doctorate in psychology from the University of Michigan.

Ehrensaft's research focuses on the development and psychological experiences of transgender, gender-nonbinary, gender-expansive or gender-exploring children and adolescents. She is involved in studies of the developmental pathways of gender-expansive children before they reach puberty and mental health outcomes for youths who choose puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones as part of their pediatric gender care.

Ehrensaft is the author of two books, The Gender Creative Child: Pathways for Nurturing and Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxes and Gender Born, Gender Made: Raising Healthy Gender-Nonconforming Children.

  • Education

    University of Michigan, PhD, Psychology, 1974

  • Academic Title

    Associate Professor

Launching the UCSF Child and Adolescent Gender Center and learning from the children and families we work with have been the highlights of my career.

Selected research

Saving future lives

500+ UCSF investigators are researching cures for hundreds of childhood and adult diseases.

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