LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy

I am very proud to be an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist and welcome all the unique and beautiful ways you are and want to be in the world. Whether you are coming to address LGBTQIA+ specific issues or not, I will always hold in mind your unique experience as someone who has had to and will continue to have to navigate being a queer person in a hetero- and cisnormative society, and possibly – even closer to home – a hetero- and/or cisnormative family. Growing up in this culture, you may have been made to feel ashamed and othered. I promise you will not feel othered or shamed in our therapeutic relationship.

 

While queer people seek out therapy for a range of mental health issues similar to the hetero and cisgender population such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, relationship issues, some potential unique challenges may include identity transitions, internalized homophobia or transphobia, internalized negative messages about gender expression, tense or estranged family dynamics, discrimination and rejection, work discrimination, LGBTQIA-specific trauma, conflict with religion/faith, etc.

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Working with an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist is more than just working with someone who is accepting and supportive of your identity. It is getting care from someone who is competent and well-versed with the community, continuously considering your specific needs and experience as a queer person without needing to educate or remind me. Having a therapist who is attuned to the emotional and mental health needs of the queer community can provide for a more validating and successful therapy experience.

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My Training

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I purposely chose to train at queer community mental health clinics during graduate school in the Bay Area because being a queer affirming therapist was always important to me. At these sites, I worked with a range of issues and populations, including HIV+ patients and patients who were at different stages in their gender-affirming transitions. I also enjoy working with gender expansive youth and their families as they navigate this journey.