LGBTQ+ Therapists in Vancouver, BC
See all counsellors in Vancouver
Victor Wakarchuk
Counsellor, RCC, MSW, RSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
As a fellow
gay
man, I know that there are unique challenges that can come with being a
gay
guy.
Are you a
gay
man who feels anxious, stressed and overwhelmed? Do you feel like life is passing you by while you silently suffer alone? Anxiety can feel so incredibly overwhelming. You may feel sick to your stomach or have trouble sleeping. You’re looking for relief to finally feel “you” again. The good news is that there are specific skills you can learn to not only manage the anxiety, but truly thrive. I know reaching out for support can be really difficult when you don’t know what to expect. I provide a warm, non-judgemental and shame-free counselling environment so that you feel safe and supported.
Sunward Journeys - August Wambold
Counsellor, MCP:AT, RCC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My
queer
identity has taught me that while some labels are given to us, others are discovered.
Diving under the surface is one of the bravest things you can do. Sometimes you sit down to deal with a problem and have no idea where to start. You might feel stuck, disconnected, or maybe you are simply seeking guidance while you wade through something difficult. That's where I come in. I strive to create an environment where you aren't mean to yourself. I want to inspire conversations that are grounded in self-acceptance so that you can gain awareness and develop new perspectives.
Jefferson Smith
Counsellor, MCP, RCC
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
If you are dealing with challenges related to identity, self-acceptance, depression, anxiety, substance use, grief, trauma, relationship communication, or
LGBTQ
+ topics we might be a good fit and I invite you to connect with me for a consultation.
Life is really hard and often painful. We all need support to find our way through this confusing and challenging existence. It truly helps to let our walls down and share what we are going through in safe, caring, and genuine relationships. This is what I am offering. From this place you can find footholds and sturdy ground inside of yourself that allow you to confidently move toward the future that you want. I want to help you learn how to care for yourself and get the most out of your life and relationships.
Tracy Whitmore
Registered Social Worker, RSW
Verified
Verified
I provide a safe, inclusive environment informed and influenced by a variety of therapeutic approaches and have 14+ years experience supporting
LGBTQ
+ folk and their families.
Are you tired of feeling stuck, stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed? Do you find yourself treating yourself in a way that you'd never treat anyone else? Do you find yourself reaching for unhelpful solutions, but don't know what else to do? Can you feel a dark cloud holding you back from what you know is meant to be for you? Are you struggling with the idea of 'who am I and what's my purpose?' Do you, or does your child identify as
LGBTQ
+? Do feelings of fear, shame, rejection, isolation, confusion, and/or overwhelm affect your life and relationships? The good news is, it doesn't have to be that way.
Jeff Walsh, The Village Therapy
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW, PhD(c)
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
As a therapist who is also
queer
, I offer a safe, non-judgemental and client-centered approach for many people.
I have more than a decade of experience as a therapist. I focus on supporting people facing a variety of concerns including substance use, anxiety, depression, emotional distress, adjustment, life transition, and
queer
identity. I am also passionate about working with people affected by the mental health and/or substance use of a friend of family member. I have availability in my Vancouver office and virtual practice and invite you to book a consult to discuss more.
Lorraine Grieves
Counsellor, MA, RCC
Verified
Verified
My practice has been influenced by narrative,
trans
feminist, social justice-focused and solution-oriented modalities.
I strongly believe that we all have the capacity to heal and to move towards our preferred future. We often can't do this alone. Collaborating with you and attuning my practice to ways that work best for you, I offer a safe space for reflection and insight building. I have worked with a broad range of people over the years and bring with me a commitment to anti-oppressive practice and attention to the contexts that contribute to suffering and to healing. We are living in a time of immense stress and increased isolation and this takes a toll. Reaching out for support is an important act of wellness and I welcome your enquiry.
Vancouver, BC V5L
& Online
Jordan Gruenhage
Counsellor, MA, CCC, RCC
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I believe
gay
men have inherent worth, and that we deserve fulfilling lives.
Are you a
gay
man who is overwhelmed by the intensity of your feelings? Do certain situations feel triggering or remind you of a past trauma? It can feel unbearable when you’re just trying to keep it together, and hoping nobody notices when you start breathing rapidly, sweating, or shaking. Even between intense moments, there can be a low-level anxiety that feels like it’s always lurking, ready to take over at any time. Not to mention the shame about not feeling in control of your responses. The good news is that there are specific skills that can be learned to listen to your emotions and think about your past in a whole new way.
Justine Little
Registered Social Worker, RSW, MSW
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Do you feel like you're stuck in old patterns? Are you always zoning out or in crisis mode? Do you struggle to connect with your body and aren't quite sure what it means to feel your feelings? Would you prefer to work with a
queer
therapist with experience supporting 2SLGBTQ+ folks and who is committed to integrating social justice into therapeutic work?
Vancouver, BC V5L
& Online
Waitlist for new clients
Hal Slaunwhite Counselling & Support Services
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, RSW
Verified
Verified
I approach counselling from a lens that is grounded in the continued practice of anti-racism, disability justice,
queer
theory, sex positivity, and that recognizes the systemic violence that has, and continues to, harm us and impact our experiences in the world, and inside ourselves. The main niche of folks that I have had the honour of working with over the years have been
queer
and
trans
folks, sex workers, disabled folks, non-traditional relationship networks, kink and bdsm communities, BIPOC folks, folks navigating complex trauma, and those living at the intersections of many of these identities.
Ross Stogryn
Counsellor, MEd, RCC
Verified
Verified
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor & the Owner/Director of Affirmation Wellness. I hold a Master’s of Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of BC & am a member in good standing with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. I've spent my career serving & supporting diverse populations of youth to elder clients in higher education, community non-profit & private practice settings. I also work extensively with the
LGBTQIA
+ community. In this role, I've gained experience supporting & working with people through stress, identity/sexuality concerns, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, trauma & relationship conflict.
Waitlist for new clients
Dai Kojima
Registered Psychotherapist, PhD, MEd
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
As a
queer
of colour and neurodivergent therapist with lived experience of mental health struggles and recovery, I am committed to creating a warm space of validation, trust, and optimism for my clients.
Why does being me feel so difficult? If you’re asking yourself this question, it's perhaps because what used to help you cope with life is no longer working. But your suffering is not your fault. I'll walk with you on your journey towards discovering and unburdening the parts, feelings, and needs in yourself that have been silenced. I work predominantly with racialized, neurodivergent, and
LGBTQ
+ people experiencing anxiety, depression, self-criticism, emotional difficulties and other complex-PTSD symptoms. My goal as your therapist is to help you write a new self narrative that is more liveable, authentic, and empowering.
Vancouver, BC V6J
& Online
Waitlist for new clients
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Ari Mastro
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I’m a
queer
,
trans
-masculine individual with lived experience in navigating societal and cultural systems that have historically sought to pathologize and ostracize sexual, gender and neurodiverse folks.
Accepting new clients virtually in ON and BC - You deserve to feel heard in a safe, respectful & non-judgemental space. I believe in a compassionate, integrative, whole-person centred approach to therapy and draw upon multiple therapeutic frameworks to help you live the life you truly want.
Tara Jane Wodelet
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MA
Verified
Verified
Welcome! I am a
queer
and gender expansive therapist, offering individual online therapy across most Canadian jurisdictions. I offer a contextualizing, self-compassionate, and strengths based approach. While life's hardships will never disappear, I can help you come to more peace and aliveness within yourself. I offer a warm, non-judgmental space to be seen, heard, and grow within. Therapy is kind of like detangling a big ball of yarn; it can be both hard yet relieving (you're not broken, just tangled!), and ultimately allows room for more consciousness/choice to flow in: now that your threads are free, what would you like to weave?
Vancouver, BC V6G
& Online
Nathan MacRae
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, RSW, MSW
Verified
Verified
As a
queer
-identified
trans
man, I am intimately aware of the unique needs of our community and want to help you craft a path forward to a healthy and fulfilling future. I am passionate about working with individuals with
transgender
, gender-diverse or LGBTQ2A+ identities and their partner(s) and families on challenges related to navigating the world with a marginalized identity, or in coping with other challenges (depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma) from a place of understanding. I also offer gender-affirming hormone (HRT), top surgery and gonadectomy surgical assessments in BC and ON with no waitlist/quick report turnaround.
David Jennings
Counsellor, CCC, MC, BA
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am humbled to work with adults experiencing depression, anxiety,
LGBTQ
+ related challenges, trauma, relationship challenges, stress, and worry. Regardless of what led you here, many of my clients seek counselling as a result of being fed up with the way things are. Together we will work to uncover why you feel the way you do, develop tangible strategies to work with rather than against your emotions, and spend time expressing them in ways that will work for you long term.
William Koné
Registered Psychotherapist, MA , RP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Are you someone that identifies as
LGBTQ
+, seeking an outlet to express one’s worries? Are you a racialized person struggling to find someone you can speak to about life challenges? Have you reached a roadblock in your communication with a romantic partner?
LGBTQ
+ and racialized folks are often limited in spaces that allow them to feel fully seen. With couples, there are often difficulties figuring out where to start in managing conflict. Through a collaborative therapeutic stance, I am to challenge such difficult realities by supporting clients to fulfill their desired goals.
Devin Chen
Counsellor, MCP, RCC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I go by he/him/his and I work with folks who are in the marginalized group(s) (
gay
/bi/
queer
, person of colour... etc.) who experienced discrimination and/or sexual and physical assault who wants to have more options to respond and understand themselves. Folks who feel that they oftentimes react out of proportion to the situation and experienced challenges to trust and build favourable relationships with others. Folks who want to gain some perspectives on their own strengths and resilience. My client demographic so far has only been with men or masculine identifying individuals.
Alexa Charlene
Counsellor, MCP, RCC
Verified
Verified
I use my own experience as a feminist, cisgender, pan/
bisexual
, femme, and poly woman to inform my practice.
Life can feel incredibly painful when we are feeling disconnected, isolated, and ridden with distressing thoughts, memories and emotions. Together, we can make space for the parts of you needing to express that pain. By experiencing, and embracing the disenfranchised parts of you, we can move into a life rich with meaning and fulfillment.
Vancouver, BC V5Z
& Online
Kelsey Harris
Counsellor, MA, RCC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have lived experience with chronic pain and illness, and am a member of the
LGBTQ
+ community.
Hello! My name is Kelsey Harris and I'm a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. I have a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. I specialize in working with clients with chronic pain, chronic illness including cancer, and traumatic brain injury/post-concussion, as well as pre/postpartum mental health. I have experience working with clients with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, and
LGBTQ
+ issues. I aim to help you improve your overall well-being and move through the emotion you are dealing with.
Waitlist for new clients
Ljudmila Petrovic
Counsellor, MA, RCC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I work with adults and youth (16 and up) around trauma, sexuality, identity, and relationships. I provide
queer
and
trans
affirming individual and relationship counselling services for folks in various relationship structures, including hormone readiness assessments. I specialize in sexualized violence and also work more expansively looking at reclamation of self and identity after trauma of displacement and/or collective and intergenerational trauma, as well as institutional trauma. I believe that healing is expansive and I strive to honour and integrate into our work whatever ways of healing you have already been using.
See more therapy options for
LGBTQ+ Counsellors
Do LGBTQ-affirmative therapists receive special training?
Yes. Many therapists who practice LGBTQ-affirmative therapy have completed specialised training, either during their degree programme or as continuing education, to learn the core principles of affirmative therapy and how to best support their LGBTQ clients; some have received certifications in LGBTQ-affirmative therapy. Prospective clients should inquire as to a clinician’s background and training to ensure a good fit.
Why might I want to see an LGBTQ-affirming or LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
Queer and gender-non-conforming individuals frequently experience bias and marginalisation in day-to-day life. Working with a therapist who understands these unique challenges, as well as accepts and affirms their identity, can help LGBTQ clients feel safe and supported during therapy—allowing them to better navigate their relationships, mental health, and anything else that they wish to explore during therapy. It is important to note that many therapists can be effective in their work with LGBTQ+ individuals, even in the absence of specific training or background knowledge. The most important component in therapy is the alliance between therapist and client, and this alliance can exist between individuals with very different backgrounds.
How can I find an LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
You may wish to inquire about a therapist’s expertise with your specific challenges or concerns—depression, for example, or relationship strife—as well as their past experiences treating LGBTQ+ clients. Prospective clients may also ask whether a therapist has obtained additional training and/or certification in LGBTQ-affirmative techniques.
How can I inquire about a therapist’s experience with LGBTQ issues?
Prospective clients should feel empowered to directly ask therapists whether they have received training or been certified in LGBTQ-affirming therapy; competent therapists will be happy to explain their educational background and preferred approach(es) to help a client find the best match for them. Clients may also wish to ask how a therapist has treated clients with their particular challenges in the past and what they expect treatment to look like.
Are all the therapists listed in the LGBTQ directory themselves members of the LGBTQ community?
While therapists may choose to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity in their profiles, the LGBTQ directory features not only those who have shared this information but also those who assert specialised training or experience in providing support to queer individuals, couples or families.