LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Berkeley, CA

To be human is to have thoughts, feelings and behaviors that don't make sense to our rational self. That can leave us feeling trapped in cycles of experience we never chose and don't understand. What we call "symptoms" (anxiety, stress, insomnia, reactivity, depression, etc.) are really just teachers that we don't yet know how to listen to. I'll work with you to transform your symptoms into meaningful and lasting change. I work with folks from all walks of life, and specialize in working with gay men and the larger LGBTQ + community, to alleviate anxiety, work stress, relationship issues, questions of meaning, and life transitions.

I am drawn to support clients heal the anxiety, guilt and shame from trauma. This may include trauma related to abuse, bullying, accidents, harassment, religious impositions, discrimination, and more. My clients often want to feel less anxiety, better manage their triggers, enjoy sexual intercourse with their partner(s), and redefine themselves from the trauma they experienced. Grounding techniques, challenging learned beliefs, asserting needs, and living more for self, are common themes in my practice and essential for post-traumatic growth. Integrating identities (e.g. race, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.) is common in my practice.

Do you feel lost, questioning who you are or where you're going with no easy answers? Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn, we hit a bottom, or we just realize that something in us is different...or something must change. Such times of confusion and crisis are often the meeting point for our work together. They are also openings to self-discovery and real change. I listen deeply for what you want, develop a relationship of trust, and work WITH you to establish the clarity and direction you need.

I enjoy working with a diverse range of people who are dealing with a broad spectrum of life experiences. I particularly love working with people inside the LGBTQ + family. I help people navigate through many things including life transitions, anxiety, relationship dynamics and family of origin conflict. My ideal client is someone that is ready to engage in therapy with openness, curiosity, and vulnerability. You are ready to build a therapeutic collaboration to explore, process, and challenge yourself for growth. You are interested in learning ways to do or see things, or are curious about why things happen as they do.

About three-quarters of my practice is devoted to individual therapy with gay men and counseling for gay couples. The remainder of my therapy hours are devoted to women, the parents of gay men, and others. I specialize in gay and bisexual issues, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, aging, trauma, personal isolation, relationships, intimacy, sex, HIV, and survivor issues. I have written extensively about the psychological and social issues of gay men and gay communities. My most recent book, released in June 2019 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (and Penguin in the U.K.), is "Out of the Shadows: Reimagining Gay Men's Lives."

I work with gay men and queer people who would like to feel more empowered, more at ease, and more connected in their lives and relationships! It’s not easy to walk your own path and find safety, belonging, and purpose in this world. If you identify as LGBTQIA , you didn’t grow up with good models for queer relationships. Even if your life is "perfect on paper," it might be a challenge to find trust, deepen intimacy, set boundaries, stay centered, and go after the life you want.

Are you struggling with issues of anxiety, panic, phobias, OCD, stress, self-criticism, shyness, or excessive worry? Are your efforts to cope not working or making things worse? My goal in therapy is to help you move out of old, unproductive ways of dealing with problems, and learn more flexible and effective ways of responding to life's challenges. I am an experienced and caring therapist. My style is supportive, interactive and engaged. Together we can work on what is most meaningful to you, and help you move towards those things that you care most deeply about in your life.

I provide teletherapy to clients in Pennsylvania and California (I am a licensed therapist in both states). I specialize in working with adults (18-65) who identify as LGBTQ + who are dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, substance use, and a range of issues related to interpersonal relationships and identity. Each client brings unique experiences, goals, strengths, questions, and problems to the process of therapy. Therefore, therapy constantly presents new opportunities for change, learning about oneself and others, and cultivating compassion for oneself and others.

We all deserve to feel safe and connected. Sometimes, overwhelming things happen that prevent us from feeling safe and settled in the world. In therapy, we support the strengths that have helped you survive and grow your capacity to move towards the life you long for. Whatever you are experiencing, be that anxiety, depression, or the pain of trauma or oppression, together we will collaborate to tend to what hurts and to nurture the vitality that exists inside you.

My ideal clients are individuals age 16+ who want support navigating anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, identity, family, relationships (monogamy/non-monogamy/poly), sexuality/desire (kink friendly), racial/multicultural stress, and everyday life stressors. I supporting clients no matter if you are seasoned at engaging in therapy or looking to take this journey for the first time. My approach is client centered and structured to meet you where you are, as we work together to build the best journey for your needs. My specialty is serving Queer / Trans BIPOC individuals.

For three decades I have been privileged as a marriage and family therapist to make a difference in people's lives. Though I am most known for being a Jungian-oriented therapist and author, my training in pastoral counseling and spiritual direction, my experience in long-term psychodynamic treatment, and my long-standing interest in all the many forms and expressions of human sexuality, as an "out" gay therapist and activist, are areas of expertise that come together in my work to help clients find a way to be their deepest, healthiest and most authentic selves.

I have worked in outpatient settings with folks surviving the trauma of substance abuse, incarceration, and violence. I have also worked extensively with members of the LGBTQ + community and understand the profound impact homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia can have on mental health and access to care. My work is strength-based and client-centered: I know that you are the expert on your own journey. My job is to help identify and uncover your strengths and resources, (re)learning how to apply them to your goals, and connect with new sources of support.

As LGBTQ minorities, we often find ourselves living in anothers' world. It seems like we've tried everything but we don't feel like we belong or we are in a safe place to live or work. We often wonder... when is this going to get better? When can I just live my life fully how I am? Sometimes we feel sad and it can be a very lonely place. We can even forget just how special and unique we are because we are so different and surrounded by those who just "don't get it." We really want someone who can connect to us and make our experiences feel validated, reminding us that we are beautiful.

Existing as a queer person is hard. I get it! I specialize in somatic and relationship therapy for queer and trans adults who've been through hard things and feel disconnected, small, and exhausted. Maybe this resonates for you! You want to show up in your relationships as your full, messy, authentic self. You're done and you're ready for more. More connection with yourself. More connection with your partner(s). More liberation from old wounds. And more joy in the life you're living right now.

You're considering therapy. It is a complex, courageous and oftentimes difficult decision, but sometimes we just know that it's time to try something new. I believe that therapy helps individuals and families address challenges that keep us from our full potential. Whether you are suffering from anxiety or depression, relationship issues or isolation, financial preoccupations or a desire for a new career, you know it is time to work to make things better. I am a psychologist providing flexible, relational therapy to help you to address a range of issues. My style is warm, compassionate, and down to earth.

We seek therapy because at some level we imagine that life could be better. We all suffer in different ways and suffering is universal, but it is precisely that suffering that leads us into a process of discovering how our deepest selves want to be expressed in the world and then to find the inner resources to live that out. In its truest sense, psychotherapy – which means “tending to the soul” – is not only concerned with alleviating symptoms, resolving issues, or adapting to life’s demands (though these are important), but ultimately with living lives that are more joyful, creative and free.

While I work with a diversity of people, I specialize in working with LGBTQ individuals, couples and youth. As a Marriage and Family psychotherapist, I seek to help my clients find their way through the hardships that life can bring. I believe in the healing power of the therapeutic relationship as well as each individual having the power to heal themselves. I believe in a strength based, solution focused approach to therapy and work with my clients to not only overcome their current circumstances but to also develop tools and strategies that they can use moving forward in their lives.

At many junctures in life, we all find ourselves in a place of confusion, hurt and wanting to learn more about ourselves and how to find a way through it. Therapy can be a helpful place for reflection and exploration. Themes that often come up in my work with clients are life transitions, desire to improve relationships and coping with stress/trauma. I view my role as that of facilitator to gently guide you as you gain better understanding of what your needs are. As this process requires great vulnerability and trust, the therapeutic relationship is an essential piece to be able to do this hard and important work.

Hey you! My name is Miranda. Like many, I came to the world of therapy through my own healing journey. I view mental health and resilience as deeply intertwined with social justice — both because injustice creates trauma, and because our determination to heal can elevate both ourselves and our larger communities. In my spare time, I love doting on my two senior kitties, crafting and baking, and living up to stereotypes about “woo-woo” Californians. I am most effective with clients who are recovering from trauma and abuse, including from the effects of childhood events and societal oppression.