Are you a queer or trans person struggling with mental health concerns?
Are you exploring your gender or sexuality for the first time?
Are you struggling to stay afloat in our current political climate of rampant transphobia and discrimination?
Have you faced familial or social rejection, conflict, or strain?
Do you just want a therapist who will “get it” Without a 101 lesson?
Unique needs of a unique community
The diverse and expansive collage that is the LGBTQIA community requires an informed and person-centered approach to mental health care. The queer community faces unique mental health needs due to the ongoing impact of societal stigma, discrimination, and marginalization. Many individuals experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, and suicidal ideation compared to the general population, often stemming from rejection by family, peers, or religious and cultural institutions. The stress of navigating identity in environments that may not be supportive—such as schools, workplaces, or healthcare systems—can further compound mental health challenges. With the right support, community, and self-compassion, joy, liberation, and authenticity are the counterweights to societal stigma.
We all have unpacking to do.
No matter how affirming and accepting you and your surrounding community may be, society’s toxic messaging seems to have a way of finding its way into the nooks and crannies of our minds. You may feel clear on who you are, and yet may still have a tiny voice inside telling you you are an imposter, not queer enough, that it’s just a phase, or that you are wrong or even sinful. We have all been steeped in a culture that is inherently misogynistic, homophobic, and trans phobic, and we all have a journey of clearing out those cobwebs and undoing the internalized messages that hold you back. Therapy can be a space for you to say the unsay-able and be witnessed in a nonjudgmental and supportive relationship to unpack and rewrite some of those internal messages.
Navigating the mental health world as a queer person can feel impossible. We are here to make it easier.
It is all too common that LGBTQIA folks have to give a 101 lesson to even the most well-intentioned therapist. Queer folks shouldn’t have to educate their therapists about the basics of queer life, queer familiy building, queer sexuality, or have to justify their attractions or lives.
At Prism you can expect your therapist to have done their own unpacking, spent time evaluating the ways in which the mental health world has failed LGBTQIA folks in the past, and invested in creating a space that is empowering, affirming, and informed. Even if you are seeking therapy for an entirely unrelated issue, like job stress or relationship concerns, you can trust that we provide an affirming space for you to explore and heal.
What to expect in session
Our approach to therapy is based primarily in Relational Feminist theories and practice which means that rather than structured, skills based strategies, your sessions with your therapist will feel like a genuine conversation with an attuned, real, person. We focus on your unique worries, struggles, and hopes, and help guide a conversation that gets to the roots of your struggle and makes lasting, deep shifts in how you relate to yourself, and the people in your life. We will laugh with you, be with you in your despair, confusion or fear, and provide a genuine relationship within which you can heal. We may explore your family of origin, traumatic experiences, or current struggles like dating, parenting, friendships, and identity exploration.
Still have questions?
What if therapy is too expensive?
Therapy is an investment in yourself and your future. At Prism we do what we can to make therapy accessible by accepting select insurance plans, provided limited sliding scale spots, and having a training program of advanced doctoral students who can accept lower sliding scales. If finances are the primary barrier for you, please reach out to us and we will do everything we can to make it doable or refer you to other more accessible options.
What if this just opens up old stuff and makes things worse?
Feminist therapy sees client and therapist as a collaborative team. We see clients as experts in their own lived experiences and needs, and therapist as a trained guide to help facilitate the clients healing. Therapy should not make things worse. You, the client, get to communicate the pace that feels best for you and trust that your therapist will also be tuned into whether the work is too intense or undoing, and shift accordingly. If you feel that the therapy is unpleasantly triggering you, we hope you will feel comfortable enough to let us know!
If you are a queer person looking for an affirming therapy space, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We are happy to answer any questions and hope to be able to support you in your journey.