LGBTQ+ Therapists in Mid City, Los Angeles, CA
See all therapists in Mid City, Los Angeles
Joshua Polk
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
Verified
I specialize in
LGBT
affirmative therapy, which helps me to better understand difference, the need for acceptance, and oppression.
Life can be overwhelming at times because so much is happening to us and around us everyday. Navigating your way through all of it, in the healthiest way possible, can sometimes seem harder than the challenges themselves. Maintaining your peace, living unapologetically, setting boundaries, processing your emotions, owning your truths and overcoming one obstacle after another can all sound like easy tasks, but we’ve all struggled with them. I’m here to invite you into a safe and brave space of recognizing and resolving the challenges you face, while we discover your strengths. The time for radical change and healing is always now.
Eric Burke
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT, APCC
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I am a bi-racial Native with Indigenous worldviews, a member of the
LGBTQ
+ community, and
queer
-affirming.
Our deepest Self is good, creative and generative; we are beautiful and resilient beings, an integration of body, mind, spirit, and ancestry. Yet sometimes life’s challenges sabotage our joy or interrupt our purpose, leaving us feeling anxious, grieved, or manifesting destructive thought and behavioral patterns. These challenges are the daily demands of navigating our chaotic world, but sometimes include other traumas such as violence, abuse, or family and inter-generational wounds.
Dr. Douglas G. Sadownick
Marriage & Family Therapist, PhD, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I founded the Antioch University
LGBT
Specialization and Colors
LGBTQ
Youth Counseling Center in 2006.
I come from the heart. I'm here to help you feel safe and secure. I am here to go on a journey with you to find your true self, to lift depression, to work with anxiety, and transform this time of crisis into stronger relationships and more heart-felt productivity. As a
gay
, Jewish man, I have an ear for all people struggling with difference and oppression. I can go deep with you into healing old trauma. Or I can help you coach you with day-to-day career and relationship challenges. If you need a therapy to jump-start new growth in the New Year, I am here for you on that quest of both self-discovery and seeing more palpable results.
Lyndsey Doolen
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
6 Endorsed
Verified
6 Endorsed
I'm an
LGBTQ
+ affirmative therapist with specialized training in the exploration of gender, sexuality, and internalized oppression through an intersectional and culturally sensitive lens.
I'm a therapist because therapy saved my life. Through that lived experience, and with education and training, I help clients improve their communication (with themselves and others) and navigate issues related to trauma, gender identity, sexuality, ENM, dating, anxiety, and self-worth. My clients are thoughtful people who have done the best they can on their own and are looking for additional support. They seek to expand their perspective, to feel differently in the world, and want lasting change.
Thomas Blake
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Thomas Blake (he/him/his) is a licensed marriage and family therapist working with adolescents and adults of all ages. Thomas is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and somatic based therapy which he integrates into his process as a psychotherapist practicing through a Humanistic-Existential lens. In addition to his work in private practice, Thomas received his clinical training from The
LGBTQ
Center in Orange County, California and currently provides professional consultation at The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention service supporting
LGBTQ
+ youth ages 13 to 24 years old.
Robert O'Brien
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I have advanced training in treating anxiety, ADD/ADHD and
LGBTQ
issues and much of my work centers on helping people increase their daily focus and motivation and rediscover meaning and purpose in their lives.
Feeling stuck or caught in an endless loop of personal challenges? Fortunately, therapy is where we can discover the unconscious patterns of our behavior that unknowingly create recurring problems in our lives. It is also where we can explore our hidden selves and examine what it means to be both vulnerable and strong. You may be seeking therapy for emotional healing, relationship challenges or contemplating a significant life change. Whatever your reason, my goal as a therapist is to help the people I work with ignite healing transformations through insight, awareness, self-discovery, self-compassion and cognitive skill building.
Ezak Marquez
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC
Verified
Verified
I specialize in working with the
LGBTQ
+ community with a focus on
transgender
and nonbinary folks to address a variety of issues including gender dysphoria, identity exploration, anxiety, and depression. I utilize a social justice and intersectional framework in acknowledging the systemic oppression affecting BIPOC communities and its impact on mental health.
Christine Olson
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC
Verified
Verified
I am a social-justice-minded, trauma-informed therapist passionate about working alongside persons of diverse cultural identities, particularly within the
LGBTQIA
+ and gender-expansive communities.
My style is warm and collaborative. I aim to provide empathy, compassion, and non-judgmental space for building a strong therapeutic relationship that serves as the foundation for growth, healing, and achieving one’s therapeutic goals. I work from a trauma-informed and culturally-attuned lens. I am specially trained in and utilize EMDR in conjunction with mindfulness-based strategies, somatic therapy, as well as other evidence-based tools to support change and healing of past wounds that may be impacting overall health and wellbeing.
Adryan Caron
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I have specialized training with the
LGBTQ
+,
Transgender
, Gender Non-Confirming and
Queer
community, and have a passion for helping these individuals thrive as in our often complex world.
My focus as a practitioner is to help you connect with your authentic self, attune to your values and needs, and learn practical tools to improve your quality of life. With over 10 years of experience serving a diverse range of individuals, I provide a therapy experience that is warm, empowering, and puts your goals at the forefront of care. I specialize in trauma-informed, attachment-focused therapy, with an emphasis on cultural humility, honoring the brain/body connection, and holistic wellness. If you are ready to heal from within, then I am here to act as your ally in that process.
Not accepting new clients
Christina Harrison
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I am dedicated to working with communities who have been pushed into the margins: our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color) family,
LGBTQIA
+ & GNC (gender non-conforming) family, poly family, and disabled family.
NOTE: While as of January 2023, I am unable to accent new clients, please feel free to connect with any of my fellow colleagues as Nokdu Therapy (nokdutherapy.com) <3 My primary goal in working in mental health is to put myself out of a job. Given that each of us intrinsically know what we need to heal and grow, my approach to psychotherapy is to couple your expertise of being you – your reality and lived experiences – with my skillset, in order to collaboratively work towards achieving your goals. Through a culturally-affirming and healing-centered stance, I utilize evidence-based treatments to facilitate our work.
Kristopher Curtis Kern
Psychologist, PsyD, MSCP
Verified
Verified
My own experiences as a
gay
, multi racial, cisgender male undoubtedly impact my approach to care.
Struggling to effectively manage stress? Having difficulty forgetting intrusive thoughts about a past event? Experiencing bouts of anxiety due to a recent or past stressful experience, especially when reminded of this event? Ever have those moments of deep sadness because of a negative view of the world or yourself? Or ever felt like you were on edge or unnecessarily hyperalert in situations where you were safe? These are common reactions to stress and trauma. My role as a therapist who focuses on stress and PTSD is to support your healing journey where you can move more authentically through life and find resolution from your past.
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Connie Hall
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I have vast experience in the areas of addiction and self-injury, childhood abuse, and intimacy issues, as well as with the
LGBT
community.
Do you feel useful and fulfilled in life? Are your relationships deep and meaningful? Are all your dreams coming true? Or are you overwhelmed by life? Do you doubt yourself? Are you disappointed with the people closest to you? If you are experiencing difficulty coping with the realities of your life and find yourself sinking into negativity, I can help you. In a compassionate, safe environment we can work together to overcome your problems. We can address the issues that are limiting your enjoyment of life and holding you back from happiness as your authentic self.
Becker Grumet
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
Supporting
trans
& non-binary clients & their families through navigating the often confusing & emotional rollercoaster of social, mental, and medical transitional existence continues to bring me immense joy.
We all need to be seen & witnessed. Whatever it is that feels too hard—be it exploring identity, navigating attachment wounds, combating intrusive thoughts, or processing the collective grief in the world—one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself is dedicated time just for you & your needs. I would be honored to walk with you on your path. For me, therapy is relational. The human on the other side of the room (or screen) should feel like precisely that: a human! Together, we will create a container in which you can authentically examine your relationships with others as well as the pivotal relationship to self.
Waitlist for new clients
Evelyn Gould
Psychologist, PhD, BCBA-D, CPsych
Verified
Verified
Our program at New England Center for OCD and Anxiety (Boston and Los Angeles) offers specialized, affirmative, compassionate, and culturally responsive care for individuals and families struggling with OCD and related disorders. I have been supporting families and individuals with a broad range of challenges for two decades, and have particular interest and expertise in OCD, anxiety, Autism,
LGBTQIA
+ and college mental health, and complex co-morbid presentations. I also specialize in supporting caregivers, loved-ones and families.
Wendy Ortiz
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFA, MFT
Verified
11 Endorsed
Verified
11 Endorsed
Among the populations I serve are artists, writers, and those who wish to claim those identifiers; single people;
queer
and/or gender non-conforming people; heterosexual and LGBTQI people.
Your issues, needs, and goals might include how to find balance in daily life, resolving relationship or family conflicts, questioning gender, processing trauma, or how to best navigate any of life's transitions. I allow what comes up in the room to guide how we will work together--which might mean we look at and process the past, or stay in the here-and-now, or a combination of both. I approach each client anew, drawing on a number of modalities, with the understanding that each person's needs are unique.
Jaha Higgs
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I have been successful in supporting clients facing challenges such as, depression, anxiety, life transition, difficulties with work, family conflict, relationship concerns, stress, trauma, loss and grief, creativity, cultural issues, and racial trauma. I work with clients from all paths of life, including, artists/ creatives, adolescents,
LGBTQIA
+ individuals. I am committed to being a part of the collective effort to make mental health services more accessible for marginalized communities; therefore, I especially welcome clients who are Black, Indigenous, or who are of color.
Yisraela J Ketterman
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Do you suffer from the effects of having bad experiences that have left you feeling traumatized & stuck in the past? There are big "T" (traumatic) events such as sexual assault, rape, child abuse, war, death, major car accidents and then there are what is called the little "t" events such as emotional abuse, neglect, rejection, homophobia (bi-
trans
), hurt and a series of other "seemingly smaller" but yet a times equally damaging experiences. Over time these events can over time erode your feelings of self esteem, sense of safety and ability to trust in the world.
Kimberly Resnick Anderson
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, AASECT
Verified
Verified
I've also treated thousands of individuals with varied sexual lifestyles including
LGBT
, Polyamory and BDSM clients.
Everyone has a 'sexual story.' Our culture has a love-hate relationship with sex and sends many mixed messages. I help people explore the legacy of their sexual story and identify the biological, social and psychological barriers to sexual health and satisfaction. I am an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA School of Medicine with 30 years of clinical and teaching experience. I developed my own model of talking to clients about sex ("Comfort-Inducing Sexuality Dialogue") that is both comforting and profoundly liberating.
Nicole Rademacher
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT, ATR-P, MA, MFA
Verified
Verified
I am dedicated to working with BIPOC,
queer
, disabled, female-identifying, gender non-conforming, and the adoptee community.
Do you find it hard to shake feelings of emptiness? Perhaps you are stricken with a grief that you don’t quite understand. Do you feel trapped by a nagging feeling of being “broken” or an “outsider”, like a stranger in your own skin? Maybe you are privately struggling with unrelenting loneliness and at the same time find it hard to trust others. People may tell you that you had a fine childhood, but it doesn’t mean that you didn’t face difficulty and endure trauma. Everyone experiences life uniquely. Our past––and how we each process it––can impact our present and impair our ability to function with resilience and ease.
Waitlist for new clients
Alessandra Rizzotti
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MSW, RYT-200
Verified
Verified
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (100466), Master of Social Work, and CBT Certified Academy of Cognitive Therapy Therapist (01927), EMDR Certified therapist, and DBT therapist, I work with
LGBTQIA
, chronically ill, BIPOC, & diffabled folx.
Have you found yourself emotionally, mentally, or physically dysregulated after a crisis, trauma, or change? If you have found difficulty managing anxiety, depression, grief, BPD, or chronic illness, I can help using therapeutic tools customized to your recovery. Whether you are looking for short-term or long-term therapy to transform your narrative from helplessness to self-efficacy, I offer treatment plans utilizing culturally aware care, as well as evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and EMDR.
(424) 321-6271
Waitlist for new clients
See more therapy options for ,
LGBTQ+ Therapists
Do LGBTQ-affirmative therapists receive special training?
Yes. Many therapists who practice LGBTQ-affirmative therapy have completed specialized training, either during their degree program 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 marginalization 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 specialized training or experience in providing support to queer individuals, couples or families.