LGBTQ+ Therapy

Do you feel disconnected from other people when you need it the most? Are the people on whom you’re supposed to rely pushing you away because of your gender identity or sexual preference? Is making you feel isolated, depressed, anxious, or generally stressed and uneasy?

We all face difficult things in life, like losing someone we love or having a difficult transition in our lives that challenges our adjustment. Many of us also had less than wonderful childhoods, with family members who were absent or who mistreated us. This fills our stress buckets prematurely and makes it harder to deal with challenges that come up in the present, like work or school problems.

All this can be hard enough when we have family and friends to support these hard times. However, if people in our families, schools, workplaces or communities reject us or allow bad things to happen to us because we are different from them, it makes it even more challenging. The differences add to the stress we already feel, and can come in the form of:

Rejection (of you and/or your romantic partner)
bullying
discrimination
harassment
microaggressions (like dead-naming and misgendering)
having to hide in the closet
macro-level oppression (anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and structural discrimination) … and so much more.

When you face additional life stress due to stigma or discrimination, this is referred to as minority stress. This can increase your risk of developing mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, suicidality, and even physical problems.

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Young person, close up, with rainbow colored paint on eyelids, forehead, and nose

I see the stress and the joys you face as part of the LGBTQ+ community

If you are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color), navigating racism and colorism can add to the minority stress you already deal with being in the LGBTQ+ community, making it even more difficult. There can even be classism, racism, and other forms of discrimination within the LGBTQ+ community. You might also face additional barriers such as poverty, limited access to quality healthcare, and social exclusion. Racial trauma can further affect your mental health, making it harder to feel hopeful about personal growth or overcoming structural oppression. I am here as an ally to support you through these challenges.

The physical and psychological dangers you face are real, and feeling stressed is a natural and even necessary response for survival. However, knowing you're not entirely alone can provide some relief from the constant stress. I want to provide you the space to heal.

You may develop conditions like PTSD, depression, anxiety, or prolonged grief, and it’s essential to find support that helps you regain your sense of well-being. You need a therapist with experience, empathy, and training in helping you navigate these life challenges.

I began my therapy practice in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I worked with many people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning. I’ve also worked with individuals in non-traditional relationships, including those in the kink, BDSM, and polyamorous communities.

Through exposure, compassion, and experience, I became an LGBT+ friendly therapist. While there was less discrimination in the Bay Area, I know it still exists everywhere. It’s heartbreaking to see the impact of discrimination on LGBTQ+ adolescents and adults. I've worked with this community for years, and it’s an honor to serve them.

Now, living in the Antelope Valley, I see many young people struggling for acceptance from their families, friends, and communities. Rejection often leads to grief over lost relationships, and many feel alienated from loved ones. Bullying, microaggressions, and harassment can also contribute to traumatic stress.

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I recognize that there is trauma in losing people close to you because of homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of bigotry. Despite my not being LGBTQ+ identified, LGBTQ+ clients have told me that they appreciate how open and frank they can be with me about personal aspects of their lives. I am open to feedback and work with social justice in mind.

When you feel free to express yourself, you can heal faster. You are not so invested in having to hide or defend yourself from stigma. Each one of us deserves the right to love ourselves unconditionally and enjoy life. I look forward to helping you to achieve that.

Your being LGBTQ+ isn't unhealthy.

Our societal response to it is unhealthy. This negative response is based on fear and ignorance, which breeds hatred and oppression. In the past five years there was an unbelievable surge in anti-LGBTQ legislation. Coping with that level of institutionalized discrimination has its own level of stress. It’s hard, when there’s that much hatred and fear circulating in our society, to feel safe and comfortable with who we are. We’re social beings and we base our self-concept on what others think of us, as well as what we know about ourselves.

Nonetheless, your being LGBTQ+ identified isn’t bad, wrong, or aberrant. What's wrong is being treated poorly because of your sexual orientation or gender identity. This can create isolation and withdrawal from others, which can negatively impact your mental and physical wellness.

Despite this struggle, I know that you can emerge from it being healthy, strong, and resilient. I want to help you define your own identity and claim the strengths that have always been there.

Let no one diminish you; you are loveable just as you are!

If you need a therapist who is LGBTQ-affirming, compassionate and experienced, please click on the box below.

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