The parents of a 16-year-old adolescent girl come to the PMHNP requesting treatment for her "so-called gender issues." The mother cries while the father says, "She says she has wanted to be a boy ever since she was 4 years old. This is all just nonsense. It's a phase, and the sooner she gets over it, the better." The daughter acknowledges to "feeling like a boy" since the age of 4, and she currently binds her breasts. She also wants to be called by a male name. Her father wants to send her to conversion therapy offered by their church. The mother wants to know the PMHNP's opinion. Which of the following is the most appropriate response?

Choice A reason: Highlighting risk of suicide in a confrontational or accusatory manner may increase parental defensiveness and does not provide a constructive framework for supporting the child. Choice B reason: Conversion therapy has been widely discredited as harmful and ineffective. Educating parents on this evidence-based information protects the child’s mental health and is a professional, nonjudgmental way to guide care. Choice C reason: This statement fails to provide guidance or protection for the child and may inadvertently support harmful practices. Choice D reason: While emphasizing child well-being is important, this confrontational phrasing may alienate parents and reduce their receptivity to professional advice.