LGBTQIA2S+

Person with green hair and tattoos smiling and holding up a shaka.

Safe, affirming therapy for the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

As a specially-trained therapist and queer human, I understand the unique experiences and needs of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. While Society has made progress, gender identity and sexuality are still widely misunderstood, leading many to live with stress, anxiety, trauma, oppression, and difficulty being their authentic selves.

Whether you want to explore your identity or work on other challenges, you deserve a space that fully accepts and affirms you. My goal is to empower you to understand, accept, and live as your whole, authentic self.

I provide support around:

Gender & sexual identity exploration

Managing stress, anxiety & work-life balance

Adjusting to life changes

Assertive communication & boundary-setting

Coping with discrimination, oppression & microaggressions

Partner, peer & relationship issues

Processing trauma

Letters for Gender-Affirming Treatment

Your Unique Story

Your story is unique based on your experiences and identities and your therapy should honor that. For LGBTQIA2S+ people, facing shame, isolation, violence, and unfair treatment can really impact mental health.

Together we will discover how the parts of your identity have been pushed down or put into boxes. We will bring them to the surface so you can become your whole, integrated, and authentic self. This means that in therapy, we can explore your evolving identity as it relates to roles, expression, and experience and honor your identity formation as it emerges in different ways.

In holding space for your story in a non-judgmental way, we have the opportunity to acknowledge the strong and challenging emotions that come up for you. We also have the opportunity to acknowledge your strength and resilience that you have created for yourself.

Affirmation and Empowerment

Maybe you’re comfortable in your intersecting identities and aren’t looking for a therapist to talk to about your gender identity or sexual orientation, but want to focus on something else.

However, you recognize that in order to be able to do that work, it’s important for you to know that your therapist “gets it”. This way, you don’t have to spend the time explaining what pronouns are or “how polyamory works” in order to to start tacking what is actually bringing you to therapy. This also means that even if your primary reason for seeking therapy isn’t related to sexuality or gender identity, it is important to also recognize that there might be underlying systems of oppression faced by the LGBTQIA2S+ community that could be making things tougher on you.

In our sessions, you can openly share your story without judgment or having to explain basic concepts. My specialized training allows us to focus on your specific needs and liberation.

My practice is anti-conversion and anti-reparative “therapy”.

You are not sick, ill, or broken because of who you are. Being a part of this community is not a disorder or mental health issue—it’s what has been done to queer people that is the problem. My practice firmly rejects conversion or reparative "therapies". These unethical practices are psychologically damaging and illegal in most states.

My practice is gender, orientation, relationship, and kink-affirming.

As we continue to explore expression as a collective society, we are beginning to understand the historical references to the vast spectrum of identities and relationships. It’s an exciting time to delve deeper and learn about fluidity, but this can also cause distress as you try to navigate your own personal identity. My practice honors your evolving identity from the first time we speak. Your name and pronouns are sacred and will be used with your guidance and direction.

One of my greatest joys in life to see someone as they discover who they authentically are and witness them step into their own power. I’m forever amazed at the tenacity and strength of the human spirit I see in the LGBTQIA2S+ community every day.  

If you're seeking an affirming, knowledgeable therapist who "gets it," I invite you to reach out and schedule a consultation. Together, we can navigate this work of embracing all you are.

Lana’s Experience

I have almost a decade of experience in working in a clinical setting with LGBTQIA2S+ folx. My work is inclusive, supportive, anti-oppressive, and empowering to our community.

I have worked with folx in both the community healthcare setting and in my private practice.

My work has been featured in places like Livestrong, ZocDoc, Care.com, Healthline, and Wondermind to name a few.

Training

I have received training in:

  • Ethics and best practices for creating a safe and affirming practice

  • Intersectionality & Equity

  • Intersectionality and Shared Decision-Making in LGBTQ Health

  • Advanced Clinical Practice with LGBTQIA+ Populations

  • Health Needs of LGBTQI Patients

  • Safe Space Training

  • Gender Diversity and Dysphoria

  • Behavioral Health Considerations with Patients who are HIV+

  • LGBTQ Clients: Clinical Issues and Treatment Strategies for Youth and Adults 

I take my profession very seriously. I continue to read research and other publications by LGBTQIA2S+ folx to deepen my understanding of others’ experiences and challenges.

I also participate in ongoing case consultation with other Queer-informed clinicians.

References

Human Rights Campaign (2018). Retrieved from: A Workplace Divided: Understanding the Climate for LGBTQ Workers Nationwide