Queer and Trans Affirming Therapy

I am a queer person, and I’ve worked with LGBTQIA+ clients for my entire career. I understand that sometimes it’s important to work with a counsellor who has lived experience of being in queer community and navigating straight culture.

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 asexuality, demisexuality, and consensual kink as all a part of the spectrum of healthy human experiences of sexual and romantic life. I understand that these identities and communities are a part of who people are, not symptoms or problems. 

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, and non-partnered co-parenting relationships. I’m happy to learn about your chosen family and support your relationships. 

I’m also 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. 

And finally, I am aware of the microaggressions, stress and trauma that LGBTQIA+ people sometimes face. Many of my clients have experienced familial, religious and social invalidation and rejection. I know that LGBTQIA+ people can also face unwelcoming public spaces and additional job and relationship stress. Constantly navigating cishet environments can be exhausting.

Therapy with me is a space where you can relax, take a breath, and be yourself.