Queer & Trans Affirming Therapy in Nashville, TN

LGBTQ affirming therapy is still therapy. What changes is the starting point: you can begin with some peace of mind that you're safe here and that your identity is respected, celebrated, and honored in this space. It means your identity is never the thing that needs fixing. Being queer or trans isn't treated as a symptom, a phase, or the cause of whatever brought you in. If it's part of what you want to work on, we work on it. If it isn't, we don't make it the story.

It also means cultural competence and humility. I bring my own understanding and experiences with LGBTQ culture, so you don't have to explain every detail. Humility, because I'm always learning; competence, because it's a base you can rely on in how you're met.

Most of my work has been with queer clients.

Yes, I work with and have experience working with both trans and nonbinary clients. You can be perceived however you prefer here. Your pronouns will be respected, there's no dress code, and how you express your relationship with gender is entirely up to you in this room.

Yes. You don't need a label, a timeline, or a conclusion to start. Some people come in questioning, some are bisexual, pansexual, asexual, or nonbinary and still working out what that means for them, and some have spent years not letting themselves ask. I won't steer you toward an answer. My job is to make it safe to explore, so you can notice what's true for you at your own pace.

If you grew up in a religious or restrictive environment, that exploration may be happening later than you expected. That's common, and it's not too late.

No. Many of the people I work with aren't out to anyone yet, and some come to therapy precisely because they have nowhere else to say it. You don't need a label, a coming-out plan, or a decision about who to tell. We go You don't need to be out. You don't need a label, a coming-out plan, or a decision about who to tell. We go at your pace, and what you share stays between us within the limits of confidentiality outlined and reviewed with you at intake. Your information, including consultation requests, is held in a HIPAA-compliant, confidential EHR. I understand the need for discretion, and we can review how I contact you and adapt it to suit your needs.

If you're still sorting out what's true for you, that's a fine place to start.

Of course, yes. Yes. I work with couples of all genders and orientations. I use Emotionally Focused Therapy to help partners understand the cycle they get caught in and find their way back to each other. Learn more about couples counseling.

If you've had a negative experience with a therapist around your identity, I'd love to help you process it. We can explore where things went wrong, identify what matters for our work together, and outline the values you want to see in the therapy room so you feel respected. Ultimately, when I mess up, I want to know, and I’ll meet you with repair.