LGBTQ Issues

I am LGBTQIA+ affirming, and attend regular continuing education trainings, and have a caseload that is majority LGBTQIA+. I see adolescents and adults who are trans as well, accompanying them on the path to gender affirming medical care. I support family members as well.

I work closely with our LGBTQ+ community to better understand and provide supportive services customized to our unique needs. One of the theoretical orientations I use in therapy is the Relational Cultural Theory, which proposes we heal in relationships with others. Our community can be a source of support, safety, and affirmation. Standing together, we can find strength and purpose.

As a member of the LGBTQ community myself, I not only feel a professional but also a personal responsibility to support this often under-served community, to provide a space of safety and security to explore issues connected to sexual identity, and of course issues NOT related to sexual identity that can be made that much more challenging for people who are in sexual minority communities. Providing an empowered space for clients to explore content is a cornerstone in my work.

I have worked for many years with the LGBTQ+ community, helping people with coming out, family issues, relationship issues, HIV/AIDS, aging, self-esteem, sexual issues, sexual compulsivity and addiction. I am sex positive and BDSM/kink friendly.

Having worked in a LGBTQ community mental health clinic in one of the most populated LGBTQ-friendly towns in America, I have gained the knowledge and experience how being a part of the community affects every facet of someone's life.

I am a queer and trans therapist who has extensive experience with LGBTQIA+-affirming practices and providing trainings to other people on LGBTQIA+ issues. I'm excited to support you wherever you are in your journey! I don't think you need to feel pressure to find one identity, or know exactly who you are, or come out to anyone else... it's all up to you. Let's find what makes you feel at home in your body and what helps you enjoy this life!

I am queer, and have supported people in the LGBTQ community in formal and informal settings over the last 15 years.

I work with many different types of LGBTQ related issues. I will make sure you feel safe, supported and without judgment.

I have worked with adolescents and adults in the LGBTQ community for over a decade. I particularly enjoy working with LGBTQ individuals breaking free from religious and other oppressive frameworks that have prevented them from living authentically. I have facilitated groups for transgender adults, lesbians coming out later in life, and gender-expansive youth. I have conducted evaluations and provided letters of support for HRT and gender affirmation surgeries.

I'm an ally and member of the LGBTQ+ community and strive to listen carefully to my client(s) as we explore the language that suits their experience.

I have worked with diverse identities and backgrounds in the LGBTQ community. Many of my clients work on identity exploration and the complexity of expressing one's true self. Some issues that stand out in particular are dating in the LGBTQ community, dealing with conflicting family values and expectations, the intersection of LGBTQ identities and mental health, and the stigma and nuance of polyamory. I work frequently with trans clients processing transition as well as the HRT process.

I've dedicated most of my career to supporting the LGBTQ community. I have experience in supporting clients in the 'coming-out' process at all stages of life as well as assisting clients who've experienced trauma, abuse, and alienation from others in relation to their identity, including from within the LGBTQ community itself. I understand that not LGBTQ clients experience 'issues' in this area and may simply be seeking a therapist who 'gets it' a bit more than someone outside the community.

Sometimes, our desires and our preferences don’t always correspond with our self-image and the image that our friends and family have of us. Other times, we may feel misunderstood or shamed by those who mean the most to us. Sexuality is a very broad topic that requires gentle exploration and a curious, non-judgmental approach. The goal is be congruent with our sexual identity and to accept who we are as healthy, sexual beings.

As a gay man, I have faced many struggles related to being a sexual minority, even today as we have more rights and access than when I was coming out. Understanding yourself and your sexuality can be difficult if you're doing it alone or without support. The life issues related to being LGBTQIA+ are easily overlooked by some who do not share these identities. I certainly don't know your lived experience, but I might have had similar experiences to work from.

Through out my career, I have worked with members across the spectrum of the LGBTQ community. I currently work for Fenway Health, a leader in LGBTQ healthcare where I regularly write letters for gender affirmation surgeries for my trans* identified clients. I also have worked extensively with LGBTQ identified clients in helping them over come gender and sexuality related issues, such as gender dysporia and depression/anxiety from societal views of the community.

Working with LGBTQ clients is extremely important to me personally and professionally. I live in a state with a harmful political climate against LGBTQ people, and I spend many hours with my clients processing the resulting trauma. I remind my clients that they are worthy of safety and love regardless of what anyone else has said. My ultimate hope with LGBTQ clients is that they can believe in their worth too, and be able to celebrate themselves in a world that wants to eradicate them.

I have taken several trainings on working with members of the LGBTQIA+ community and it is an area of focus that I am passionate about.