Affirming Care for the LGBTQIA+ Community: My Commitment as a Therapist

As a queer and bisexual therapist, I believe therapy should be a space where every part of who you are is welcomed, respected, and affirmed. My commitment to providing affirming care for the LGBTQIA+ community is both personal and professional—rooted in lived experience and clinical practice supporting individuals and couples across the spectrum of gender, sexuality, and identity.

What Affirming Care Means

Affirming therapy goes beyond acceptance—it is an intentional, active commitment to helping clients embrace their full identities while recognizing the impact of oppression, discrimination, and systemic inequities. For LGBTQIA+ clients, this may include exploring identity, navigating coming-out processes, coping with minority stress, or cultivating fulfilling relationships grounded in authenticity.

In my practice, affirming care means creating a therapeutic relationship that centers safety, respect, and empowerment. It also means using evidence-based treatment models that meet the specific needs of queer and trans individuals and couples.

Effective Treatment Models for LGBTQIA+ Clients

Narrative Therapy:
Narrative Therapy empowers clients to separate themselves from the problems they face and re-author their own stories. This approach is particularly powerful for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples who have absorbed negative cultural narratives about identity or relationships. By exploring and rewriting these narratives, clients reclaim agency, affirm their identities, and build stories of pride and strength.

The Gottman Method for Couples:
The Gottman Method offers research-based tools to improve communication, manage conflict, and strengthen connection. For queer couples, it provides a framework that honors relationship diversity and helps partners build trust and emotional intimacy. Whether addressing the impact of minority stress, differences in identity exploration, or external pressures, Gottman interventions help couples maintain closeness and resilience.

Internal Family Systems (IFS):
IFS helps clients understand the many “parts” of themselves—including those shaped by trauma, internalized stigma, or societal pressure. For LGBTQIA+ individuals, IFS can be transformative in healing shame and fostering self-acceptance. It allows clients to approach identity conflicts with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT):
CBT and ACT help clients identify unhelpful thought patterns, manage anxiety or depression, and cultivate self-compassion. ACT’s focus on living in alignment with personal values is especially meaningful for LGBTQIA+ clients seeking to live authentically in the face of stigma or societal pressure.

Gender-Affirming and Trauma-Informed Care:
Transgender and gender-expansive clients benefit from therapeutic approaches that affirm identity, support transition-related decisions, and address trauma stemming from discrimination or rejection. Trauma-informed care ensures every session is grounded in safety, empowerment, and respect for lived experience.

An Affirming Space for Growth and Healing

My goal as a therapist is to create a space where LGBTQIA+ clients can experience belonging, resilience, and joy. Whether you’re exploring your gender, navigating relationship challenges, or healing from past harm, affirming therapy offers the opportunity to reconnect with your authentic self.

If you’re seeking LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, queer counseling, or trans-affirming mental health support, know that you are welcome here—exactly as you are. If you are looking for a therapist that will welcome you and/or your relationship, reach out today to schedule a free consultation.

Quick Take
As a queer and bisexual therapist, I’m committed to providing LGBTQIA+ affirming care that celebrates identity and fosters authenticity. I help individuals and couples in the queer and trans community heal from stigma, strengthen relationships, and live with greater self-acceptance and pride.