therapy as unique as U are

Queer-Affirming Therapy

My approach to therapy embraces your unique perspective, identity, and culture as the basis for our work together. I am aware that hetero-normative standards do not apply to many people. People with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and other sexual and gender identities often live, and experience the world, very differently from straight, cisgender people. I always aim to recognize and understand your unique experience and how it informs and can assist the work we do together.

A safe space. Being a minority and not fitting the mold of mainstream cultural expectations can be fraught with challenges. People in the 2SLGBTQI+ community still face prejudice, discrimination, rejection, and denial of basic rights. Mental-health care itself has a long history of pathologizing and stigmatizing people in our community. Too many queer people struggle with mental-health conditions in silence and face worse outcomes as a result. For this reason, I strive to create a safe space for my clients.

Get support. Queer-affirming therapy is especially valuable for those of you who face the double stigma of being a member of a minority community and living with a mental-health condition. Queer-affirming therapy offers a unique setting to confront these challenges. I provide safe and non-judgmental support in managing key areas of your life, including relationships with family members and partners, and career. For some clients, the work we do together is life-saving.

Beginning Therapy

How to begin. Whether you are considering therapy for the first time or are a returning client, choosing the right therapist is key. But how do you begin?

Take a chance. Choosing a therapist is similar to deciding to go on a first date. You might feel anxious, hopeful, or ambivalent, but you are also ready to make necessary changes in your life. You don’t know the therapist, how she will respond to you, whether she will “get” you, or be able to help you. Although meeting a new therapist may feel like a chance encounter, it opens great potential for positive change and growth.

Be honest. Hundreds of research studies demonstrate that the quality and strength of the collaborative relationship between client and therapist is the most important factor in predicting positive therapy outcomes. In other words, if you can openly talk about the reasons that bring you to therapy, and feel safe, listened to, and understood, you and I are off to a promising start. But even if you don’t feel that I am a good “match,” you should not hesitate to be honest and let me know. With your feedback, I can help you identify the qualities you are looking for in a therapist and provide you with referrals to other therapists who might be a better fit in terms of style and specialization.

Your unique therapy. I take the time to explore with you how therapy can fit into your life and work best for you. I use my extensive experience and training to help you recognize, verbalize, and address underlying factors that manifest as the symptoms, unwanted patterns of behavior, and obstacles to living life more fully. In short, you are in the driver’s seat of your therapy, while I help you navigate the road to greater awareness, growth, and change.