Looking for a Therapist Who Gets It?

I have devoted much of my career to working with the LGBTQ+ community in many different settings. As a queer person myself, I am committed to helping clients of all genders, sexual identities, and expressions feel not only safe but truly respected.

Unique Aspects of LGBTQ+ Mental Health

LGBTQ+ mental health is a critical area of concern, as individuals within the LGBTQ+ community often face unique challenges that can significantly impact their well-being. The stigma, discrimination, and marginalization experienced by many LGBTQ+ individuals can lead to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Many also face rejection from family or communities, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation and low self-esteem. Research shows that LGBTQ+ individuals are at a higher risk for mental health problems, including substance abuse, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, largely due to these societal pressures. Addressing these mental health needs requires not only therapeutic support but also a focus on reducing societal discrimination and promoting acceptance and inclusivity.

LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy, an approach that validates and supports the LGBTQ+ experience, plays a key role in promoting mental health within the community. This form of therapy creates a safe space where individuals can explore issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and the psychological toll of societal pressures without fear of judgment. It acknowledges the systemic challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and emphasizes resilience-building and self-acceptance. By providing empathetic and culturally competent care, mental health professionals can help LGBTQ+ clients navigate issues of identity, relationships, and trauma, fostering a sense of empowerment and emotional well-being in the face of adversity.

My Work with Queer-Identified Folx

I work with LGBTQ+ clients on a wide range of issues, including those that have nothing to do with their sexual or gender identities. Some clients just want to talk to someone who is also a member of their community – who knows, without having to talk about, what it means to be harmed by the explicit and implicit experiences of homophobia, transphobia, heternormativity, and cis-normativity.

I am particularly interested in supporting POC members of the LGBTQ+ community – folx who are sometimes in the position of having to contend with homophobia in their racial/ethnic communities and racism in the LGBTQ+ community.

Somatic Therapies for LGBTQ+ Folx

Somatic therapies provide LGBTQ+ clients with a powerful means of healing from the stress, trauma, and societal pressures that often accompany their lived experiences. Many LGBTQ+ individuals carry tension, hypervigilance, or dissociation in their bodies due to discrimination, rejection, or identity suppression. Somatic approaches, such as Transforming Touch® and craniosacral, help clients reconnect with their bodies in a safe and affirming way. By gently working through stored trauma and nervous system dysregulation, these therapies support emotional resilience, self-acceptance, and the ability to feel more at home in one’s body.

Beyond trauma healing, somatic therapies also foster a deeper sense of authenticity and empowerment for LGBTQ+ clients. The body plays a crucial role in self-expression, whether through posture, movement, or voice, and somatic work helps individuals reclaim these aspects of their identity with confidence. Practices like guided touch and expressive movement can aid in processing gender dysphoria, navigating social anxiety, or cultivating self-compassion. By emphasizing safety, embodiment, and nervous system regulation, somatic therapies help LGBTQ+ individuals move through life with greater ease, self-trust, and a stronger connection to their true selves.

Work with Someone Who Understands You...

If you or someone you know is seeking help from an LGBTQ+ therapist, contact me today. I would be happy to speak with you about how I can help. I provide LGBTQ+ affirmative neurofeedback, biofeedback, somatic therapies, psychotherapy in Petaluma, serving Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, Novato, San Rafael, Marin, West County, and surrounding areas.