A good LGBTQ therapist knows that they have to keep learning about our ever-evolving community, committing to filling any gaps in knowledge to better serve clients. A great LGBTQ therapist understands that no matter how much they learn about diverse LGBTQ identities, they have to be curious about what that means specifically for you. I want to know about your unique experience, asking questions instead of making assumptions.

Working with a therapist outside of the LGBTQ community can vary greatly, from highly supportive to deeply harmful. Ideally, working with a therapist with a commitment to affirming your identity will reduce some of the stress of having that part of your life invalidated, shamed, or deemed an issue to be changed. Remember, it is the therapist’s job to earn your trust by demonstrating affirming behavior over time. I’m here to be non-defensively open to feedback if I miss the mark.

Absolutely! Therapy is designed to support your overall well-being, whether that means managing anxiety, developing communication skills, or learning how to set healthy boundaries. Your LGBTQ identity is honored, but sessions are guided by your specific goals and current challenges, regardless of the topic.

Absolutely. It’s not uncommon to feel hesitant if you’ve had unhelpful or invalidating experiences with therapy before, especially when the pain was centered around your identity. As someone who has been through that hurt, it is so important to me to help others have a corrective experience. That means learning from you about what feels safe/unsafe, asking for your feedback often, and honoring your pace.

That’s completely okay! Therapy can be a great space to explore questions around gender, sexuality, and identity at your own pace, without pressure or expectations. Together, we can process your thoughts and help you find what feels right for you.

As an LGBTQ-affirming therapist, I have experience helping clients process the emotional impacts of discrimination, internalized stigma, and other forms of minority stress. We’ll work together to build resilience, coping strategies, and self-compassion. I’m also a strong proponent of healing through connection to community; our work may highlight ways to feel seen amongst those who most understand your experience.

Curiosity, respect, and cultural humility are at the center of my approach to making space for your intersectional identities. I’m committed to the life-long process of decolonizing my therapy practice. In session, that may mean naming when racism or cultural bias of others adds to emotional stress, pushing back against White idealization of perfectionism and hyperindividualism, and checking in with clients about how a therapeutic suggestion may or may not fit with their cultural values. It is my job to adapt therapeutic tools to align with your cultural frame, not put you in a one-size-fits-all box of White, colonial, Eurocentric therapy.