Being a Queer person in the world can feel isolating…
Living as a Queer, or LGBTQ+, person in this world brings unique struggles, perspectives, and gifts that are often overlooked in therapy spaces, work spaces, and family or friend groups. You may be used to feeling invisible or needing to translate who you are to those around you. Or, you are constantly caught between the conflicting choice to be true to yourself and risk losing those most important to you…or staying quiet and keeping these important people or groups in your life. You may feel emotionally drained, burned out, or simply too tired to keep doing this.
Do you feel alone and like you don’t fully belong anywhere?
Is it hard to share your true thoughts and feelings (or know what they are)?
Did (or do) you have a difficult coming out process or are considering coming out?
Do you long for more connection, either in relationships or spiritually?
Have you been looking for a therapist who understands LGBTQ+ concerns?
Are you tired of second guessing yourself & want to feel more confident?
You aren’t alone…
Many of the clients we work with don’t feel like they belong or struggle to feel connected. They often feel lonely, anxious, depressed, may have experienced religious trauma or relational trauma, and try to solve their problems alone. They often feel they are too sensitive or anxious and strive to overcome their feelings. There are also many negative stories or ideas about being Queer, that all LGBTQ+ clients are impacted by. These negative societal stereotypes or views can make Queer folk feel less important, unsafe, on edge, feel even more alone, or like they need to look or behave a certain way. They long to break free, be more of themselves, feel accepted, and find refuge from the onslaught of critical thoughts…or overthinking to figure themselves out.
It can even be scary, or stressful, to reach out to a therapist because it is hard to know who is going to be accepting or affirming. The fear of being who you really are or sharing your truth is a common fear for many LGBTQ+ folks, and it makes sense. The good news is…we understand the fears and feelings that Queer folks face and know how to support you in navigating difficult choices, relationships, authentic truths, learning how to love yourself, and how to harness the true gifts of being you.
It is possible to be true to yourself & have vibrant affirming relationships as an LGBTQ+ person…
Our team of licensed LGBTQ+ therapists are dedicated to helping you feel affirmed, celebrated, and inspired in your life. In addition to completing Master’s level education in counseling, we have specialized training in a variety of modalities, including: Somatic Therapy, Art Therapy, CBT, DBT, EMDR, and Mindfulness. Because of this, we can specialize therapy to the specific needs that you have, vs trying to put you into another box. We know what it is to be queer, questioning, LGBTQ+, unlabeled…scared…excited…longing for more out of life.
We can support you in finding the right path forward for you….one that can help you feel more connected, a greater sense of belonging, aligned to your truth, and one with more self-compassion and ease. We use these creative therapeutic approaches to help process blocks, recover from trauma impacts, build confidence, identify your feelings, know your deeper truths, trust yourself more, learn how to use your voice or communicate when needed (or when to choose not to), and have a life you feel you can thrive in. We also support you in navigating discrimination, difficult relationships, and hard realities in life. We never tell you what is right for you, but we do know how to help you find the answers you need to move forward. Our methods are designed to help you connect to yourself on multiple levels (mental, physical, spiritual or relational) so that you feel more integrated and confident in yourself.
More specifically we know how to support you in finding the most aligned path forward…
Through learning how to tune into your body, we support you in learning how to listen to yourself so that you can find the right path forward in relationships and life. This can help you feel a greater sense of connection to yourself, a sense of belonging in your life/relationships, and confidence in your decisions. LGBTQ+ affirming Somatic (body) based processing can also be helpful to learn how to access calm/confidence, heal trauma triggers, and distinguish your “yes” and “no”’s.
We can use art based processes when you feel stuck in your head, overwhelmed by an emotion, or generally confused. We can also use it to help vision where you would like to be or what you would like to feel. There is no need to have any art experience! We use art materials to help express the complexity of a feeling, explore different materials for expression, and learn what the image is telling you or wanting. This process can help you feel more in control of uncomfortable feelings, understand yourself more, and problem solve in a safe way.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT) and/or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can be used to help you understand how the beliefs that you may have inherited or picked up through life that impact your values, feelings, or how you live/see yourself. We can spend time unpacking what is important to you, what isn’t in alignment with who you really are at the core, and what beliefs are helpful…paying special attention to internalized negative beliefs about yourself that you absorbed from homophobic families, workplaces, religions, or friends. There are often many self-critical, negative, or hopeless thoughts or feelings that make sense for Queer folks to have absorbed. We help you untangle these to then have choice in which ones best serve you now, or process any that keep you stuck.
You might be a little anxious or have questions…
How is therapy different from what I’ve already read about or tried?
Self-help and educating yourself can be incredibly useful for many people, but it has a limit. Sometimes, reading too much and making yourself a “project” can even get in the way. Having a therapeutic relationship is unique because we can tailor sessions to meet your needs vs you needing to weed through pages and pages of information. The relational component is also helpful in mirroring strengths or edges you might not have been aware of otherwise. Experiential sessions can also help you apply/practice the learning vs just read about it.
I’m afraid of sharing too much of my truth, or don’t know what that even is. What if I don’t want to lose people in my life?
It makes sense to feel confused about what your truth is, afraid to share your feelings, or afraid of what might happen if you do. Many of our clients have similar fears. We never push you to do or say anything that you (or your body) aren’t ready to do. We work with you and your nervous system to support you in identifying your truth(s), acknowledge the unique life circumstances you are in, and find a “felt sense” of the best way to move forward for you. Sometimes this means big changes (if those feel right), but most of the time changes are subtle…feel natural…and support a more vibrant life over time. This is more sustainable and realistic for most people.
I feel anxious about reaching out and I’m not sure what the process looks like?
Unknowns are scary and it is brave to reach out! And, we work to ease those fears and keep you informed each step of the way. Generally, the first step is a 20 min consultation call or zoom meeting to meet and answer/ask questions. Then, we send you an intake form ahead of time so that you can review. You don’t even have to share everything at first if you aren’t comfortable (we can take it slow/at your pace)!. The first session tends to be mostly getting to know you and making a plan for future sessions together. Everything is collaborative and we meet you at the pace that feels right. Most people feel more comfortable, even excited, after they complete the consultation call.
We have been there and been with others navigating how to feel more freedom, trust, connection, belonging, and have vibrant lives…
We have worked with hundreds of Queer, or questioning, clients as they navigate life, learn more about themselves, heal from trauma or attachment wounds, find their authentic voice, build healthy relationships, and build meaningful lives that they can thrive in. We have, and continue to engage in, education around themes that impact LGBTQ+ clients, modalities to support Queer folk, and lived experiences navigating the world as part of the LGBTQ+ community. We have heard from clients that they felt relief and safety when working with us, allowing them to address the themes or feelings that are most important to them. They often tell us how surprised they are to feel as deeply impacted by therapy as they have been, noting how it has helped them feel happier in their own skin, more confident, and more connected to themselves or others.