Laura Kuper, Ph.D.

Psychiatry

Biography

In addition to providing clinical care, Dr. Kuper directs a research program oriented around transgender and gender diverse health and development. Dr. Kuper strives to adopt an affirming, intersectional perspective that seeks to facilitate systemic change in the social and structural systems that the impact health and well-being of transgender and gender diverse youth and their families.

Dr. Kuper recently served as a co-author on the Nonbinary Chapter of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care Version 8 and is currently serving on the Task Force to update the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Diverse People.

Education & Training

Fellowship - Children's Medical Center Dallas (2015-2016), Clinical Child Psychology
Graduate School - University of Illinois at Chicago (2009-2015), Clinical Psychology

Professional Associations & Affiliations

World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) (2016), Co-author of the Nonbinary Chapter of the WPATH Standards of Care Version 8
American Psychological Association (2019), Serving on the Task Force to revise Practice Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Diverse People

Books & Publications

Books
- Transgender Mental Health in Oxford Handbook of Sexual and Gender Minority Health
  Kuper, L. E., Bismar, D., Ryan, W. (2020), Oxford University Press
Publications
- Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care for Transgender Youth: A Qualitative Study of Patient, Parent, and Provider Perspectives.
  Pham T, García A, Tsai M, Lau M, Kuper LE, LGBT health 2021 May-Jun 8 4 281-289
- Recognizing the Importance of Chest Surgery for Transmasculine Youth.
  Kuper LE, Rider GN, St Amand CM, Pediatrics 2021 03 147 3
- Body Dissatisfaction and Mental Health Outcomes of Youth on Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.
  Kuper LE, Stewart S, Preston S, Lau M, Lopez X, Pediatrics 2020 04 145 4
- Baseline Mental Health and Psychosocial Functioning of Transgender Adolescents Seeking Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.
  Kuper LE, Mathews S, Lau M, Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP 2019 Oct/Nov 40 8 589-596
- Exploring the gender development histories of children and adolescents presenting for gender affirming medical care
  Kuper, L. E., Lindley, L., & Lopez, L. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology 2019 3 7 217-228
- Exploring Cross-Sectional Predictors of Suicide Ideation, Attempt, and Risk in a Large Online Sample of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth and Young Adults.
  Kuper LE, Adams N, Mustanski BS LGBT health 2018 Oct 5 7 391-400
- Gender identity development among transgender and gender nonconforming emerging adults: An intersectional approach
  Kuper, L. E., Wright, L, & Mustanski, B. 2018 4 19 436-455
- "Is this normal? Is this not normal? There's no set example": Sexual Health Intervention Preferences of LGBT Youth in Romantic Relationships.
  Greene GJ, Fisher KA, Kuper L, Andrews R, Mustanski B, Sexuality research & social policy : journal of NSRC : SR & SP 2015 Mar 12 1 1-14
- Intimacy, monogamy, and condom problems drive unprotected sex among young men in serious relationships with other men: a mixed methods dyadic study.
  Greene GJ, Andrews R, Kuper L, Mustanski B, Archives of sexual behavior 2014 Jan 43 1 73-87
- Stud identity among female-born youth of color: joint conceptualizations of gender variance and same-sex sexuality.
  Kuper LE, Wright L, Mustanski B Journal of homosexuality 2014 61 5 714-31
- A qualitative analysis of women's experiences in single-gender versus mixed-gender substance abuse group therapy.
  Greenfield SF, Cummings AM, Kuper LE, Wigderson SB, Koro-Ljungberg M Substance use & misuse 2013 Jun 48 9 750-60
- Group Process in the single-gender Women's Recovery Group compared with mixed-gender Group Drug Counseling.
  Greenfield SF, Kuper LE, Cummings AM, Robbins MS, Gallop RJ Journal of groups in addiction & recovery 2013 8 4
- The interplay between online and offline explorations of identity, relationships, and sex: a mixed-methods study with LGBT youth.
  DeHaan S, Kuper LE, Magee JC, Bigelow L, Mustanski BS Journal of sex research 2013 50 5 421-34
- Exploring the diversity of gender and sexual orientation identities in an online sample of transgender individuals.
  Kuper LE, Nussbaum R, Mustanski B Journal of sex research 2012 49 2-3 244-54
- Self-reported personality variability across the social network is associated with interpersonal dysfunction.
  Clifton A, Kuper LE Journal of personality 2011 Apr 79 2 359-90
- Changes in coping moderate substance abuse outcomes differentially across behavioral treatment modality.
  Kuper LE, Gallop R, Greenfield SF The American journal on addictions 2010 Nov-Dec 19 6 543-9
- High psychiatric symptom severity is a moderator of substance abuse treatment outcomes among women in single vs. mixed gender group treatment.
  Greenfield SF, Potter JS, Lincoln MF, Popuch RE, Kuper L, Gallop RJ, The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse 2008 34 5 594-602

Research

Gender identity development
Transition of gender affirming care from pediatric to adult settings
Supporting parents of gender diverse youth
Multidisciplinary approaches to the provision of gender affirming care