Queer and Trans Affirming Therapy in Vancouver

I am a queer person, and I’ve worked in LGBTQIA+ communities for my entire career as a therapist. I understand that sometimes it’s important to work with a counsellor who has lived experience of being in queer communities and navigating straight cultures. I welcome your full self into the therapy room, and I’m also happy to support you in the process of figuring out what feels right for you with regards to identity, sexuality, embodiment, and relationships. 

For me, offering LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy means a number of things.

First, I support gender self determination across the life span for everyone, including trans and nonbinary people. In our work together, I am happy to support exploration related to gender identity, and coming out processes, including the exploration (or celebration) of shifts in gender and sexual identity throughout people’s lives. I can also share resources about accessing gender-affirming care (such as TransCareBC or TSC), or strategize around obstacles to accessing care.

Second, I affirm the asexuality spectrum as a part of the variety of healthy human experiences of sexual and romantic life. I understand that Ace/Aro identities and communities are a part of who people are, not problems to be fixed. 

Third, I recognize that biological sex is not a binary, even though intersex people (who are 1.7% of the population) are often ignored, isolated and misunderstood.

Fourth, I welcome clients who are involved in a variety of family and partnership constellations, including ethical non-monogamy (ENM), queerplatonic relationships, friendships, and non-partnered co-parenting relationships. I’m happy to learn about your chosen family and support your relationships. 

Fifth, I’m happy to support family members and partners bearing witness to shifts in their loved ones’ identity, and trying to understand how these changes impact their own experiences of identity, connection, and belonging. 

Sixth, I am happy to work with clients who are involved in or exploring consensual kink practices and/or who are a part of kink communities. I welcome clients to discuss their involvement and interest in BDSM and other kink practices. This might include processing relational dynamics, navigating vulnerability and attachment in a kink context, and exploring what kink means in your life.

Seventh, I am aware of the microaggressions, stress and trauma that LGBTQIA+ people sometimes face. My clients have often experienced familial, religious and social rejection. We are often in environments that invalidate our existence. LGBTQIA+ people face unwelcoming public spaces and additional job and relationship stress. I know that constantly navigating cishet environments can be exhausting.

And finally, I know that queer and trans communities have a long, important history of creativity and celebration. I welcome queer joy into our work together. I look forward to learning more about what feels enlivening and exciting in your life, and finding ways to build and maintain spaces of connection and pleasure.