LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy in Washington State

Look for a therapist who explicitly describes their practice as LGBTQ+ affirming or queer affirming rather than simply assuming that all therapists will have the same experience or approach.

You may want to look at whether the therapist discusses working with LGBTQ+ clients, how they approach gender and sexuality, the populations they serve, and whether their overall therapeutic style feels like a good match for you.

I provide LGBTQ+ affirming virtual therapy for clients throughout Washington State. A consultation gives us a chance to talk about what brings you to therapy and for you to get a sense of whether my approach feels right for you.

What is the difference between LGBTQ-friendly and LGBTQ+ affirming therapy?

An LGBTQ-friendly therapist may be welcoming and accepting of LGBTQ+ clients. LGBTQ+ affirming therapy goes further by intentionally recognizing sexual and gender diversity as normal parts of human experience and making room for the ways identity, relationships, community, family, culture, and social experiences may affect your life.

Being affirming also means not assuming that being LGBTQ+ is the problem.

Sometimes you may want to talk specifically about sexuality or gender. Other times, you may want help with anxiety, relationships, burnout, self-esteem, work, or something completely unrelated to your identity.

Either way, you should be able to bring your whole self into therapy.

No. You do not have to be out to your family, friends, coworkers, or anyone else in order to begin therapy. You also don't have to know whether you ever want to come out.

Therapy can be a private space to explore what feels right for you, including questions about identity, disclosure, relationships, boundaries, safety, and authenticity.

There is no expectation that you move faster than you are ready to.

Yes. Gender-affirming therapy can provide a supportive space to explore your relationship with gender, identity, expression, relationships, and how you want to move through the world.

The therapist's role is not to tell you what your gender identity is or what choices you should make.

Instead, therapy can help you notice your experiences more clearly, explore what feels meaningful or affirming to you, work through fears or outside expectations, and make decisions that are consistent with your own values.

It can be difficult to try therapy again after feeling misunderstood, judged, dismissed, or simply disconnected from a previous therapist.

You are welcome to talk with me about what did and didn't work for you before. Understanding those experiences can help us think about what you need from therapy now.

You also don't have to commit to working together simply because you schedule a consultation. The consultation is an opportunity for you to ask questions, learn about my approach, and decide whether you feel comfortable moving forward.

A consultation is a brief opportunity for us to talk about what is bringing you to therapy, what you are hoping will change, and what you're looking for in a therapist.

I'll also explain how I approach therapy and answer questions you have about working together.

Most importantly, the consultation gives you an opportunity to get a feel for me. You are not only being evaluated as a potential client, you are also deciding whether I seem like someone you would feel comfortable talking with.

If it feels like a good fit, we can discuss next steps.