LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Santa Monica, CA

As a Black, queer clinician, I have witnessed the mental health challenges that can arise while existing in environments that do not affirm our identities. My practice is dedicated to uplifting the lives and experiences of historically marginalized communities, including Black and Indigenous People of Color and the LGBTQ + community. My aim is to promote resilience, empowerment, and authenticity by cultivating an affirmative therapeutic relationship.

As a Black, queer clinician, I have witnessed the mental health challenges that can arise while existing in environments that do not affirm our identities. My practice is dedicated to uplifting the lives and experiences of historically marginalized communities, including Black and Indigenous People of Color and the LGBTQ + community. My aim is to promote resilience, empowerment, and authenticity by cultivating an affirmative therapeutic relationship.

We all have a need to connect and feel understood. When we are struggling to cope with life’s challenges, we may need more support than friends and family can provide. Whether you are struggling with addiction, in the midst of grief and loss, or at a crossroad in your life and want to get in touch with parts of you that feel lost, you do not have to face it alone. You may feel like something is wrong but don’t know what it is and need help figuring it out. Maybe you need support in exploring your sexuality or gender and navigating issues specific to the LGBTQ experience. Whatever got you here, we can find solutions together.

How many times have you felt as if you've lost sight of your identity or look back and wonder how you've been managing all this time? Are you living a narrative that doesn't feel like yours, and do you yearn to live a more authentic life? Everything around us gives us narratives about who we should be, how we should feel, and how we should interact with the world from the moment we are born. These narratives shape our expectations of ourselves, especially if we are part of marginalized communities, and can force us to live a story that doesn't feel like it fits, leaving us feeling isolated and lonely.

Specializing in Aging, Anxiety, Belonging, BIPOC, Career Changes, Communication/Intimacy, Cultural Expression, Family Systems, Gender, Identity, LGBTQ +, Motivation, Self Esteem, Spirituality & Values Clarification. This motivational work is ideal for clients who are ready to let go of limiting beliefs, create a plan of action and make changes in their lives. As your therapist, I will support you in defining clear, measurable goals that you can work toward each week. My hope is that I can be a trusted partner for you— someone who will gently hold you accountable and cheer you on while you work to turn your dreams into your reality.

I work with many folks who are experiencing distressing life transitions and seeking to find more confidence in themselves. I specialize in treating stressors related to life transitions, all of which are exacerbated within the context of the pandemic. I treat anxiety, depression, phase of life stress, relationship stress, traumas, and am LGBTQ + affirming.

I’ve spent most of my 30+ years in private practice working with clients on issues related to gender identity. Until recently, transitioning was strictly thought of in binary terms: Male-to-Female (MtF), Female-to-Male (FtM). Today, thankfully, we have evolved to include gender non-binary models. Maybe, you identify as “ trans ,” “non-binary,” or some other term denoting gender variance. Or, perhaps, you’re the parent of a child that identifies this way. Putting labels aside, for the moment, the journey can be challenging and self-acceptance is key. We all long to be loved, but the love must come from within, too.

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost - J.R.R. Tolkien. Therapy is a unique type of wandering. It's a journey that begins by taking a step inward with an understanding that self-reflection and introspection have purpose. Your purpose and motivation is unique to you. You could be motivated by growth, healing, connection, love or pain. Knowing your motivation will help you stay focused and persevere through your journey.

In an often unwelcoming world, it can be challenging for us to live authentically as LGBTQ + people. Heteronormativity, cisnormativity, and homo/bi/transphobia can impact our sense of self, relationships, and quality of life. As an LGBTQ + affirmative therapist, I aim to provide compassionate and affirming therapy for people who are seeking support with sexuality issues, gender identity issues, coming out, self-esteem, self-acceptance, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges. I mindfully work to create an inviting space that respects, affirms, and values your intersecting identities and lived experiences.

I use a variety of practices and therapies, including: EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma Informed Therapy. My process is always to ask you, the client, what it is you want, what would that look like, and what is in your way. Then we collaborate to get you there!

I strive to create a safe, healing space where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, and life experiences. I am a trained mindfulness meditation instructor and view mental health from an integrated, holistic lens. The most effective therapy is built on an open, collaborative relationship and I am sensitive to your unique needs, culture, and identities. I believe the journey towards authenticity begins with expressing emotions and illuminating insights. I am excited to take the first step in this transformative journey with you!

I see myself as an intuitive, creative, informed, and highly trained Clinical Psychologist that provides a safe, nonjudgmental, and transformative environment. Therapy with me fosters a deep sense of engagement and connection, a sense of feeling heard and understood, and clarity where there was previously ambiguity. I have a passion for the importance of relationships, authentic living, self-acceptance, and the complex experiences of those who hold multiple identities. I specialize in hard to talk about topics that are often stigmatized or concealed. This includes interpersonal trauma and experiences of minority stress. LGBTQ +

Clients that have worked with me realize how they can be in the driver’s seat of their life and challenge the guilt, anger, and pain that keeps them stuck. Many of my clients overlook their well-being due to overextending themselves to others, or have difficulties with confidence, acceptance, and managing hard emotions. I help clients develop skills to deal with challenging situations, establish a healthy relationship with self, and challenge negative beliefs that are keeping you “stuck." I strive to create a safe and encouraging space where you are able to freely share, express unfiltered thoughts and explore personal pains.

Throughout our lives, we encounter a number of spaces where we feel our voices silenced. Continual experiences of being quieted can lead us to internalize messages that we don’t have the permission to speak – questioning whether or not to start therapy is no exception to this. As a queer , Korean-Japanese American, there have been countless times when I’ve been told that I’m not man enough, that I’m unfit for love, and that I don’t have a story to be heard. Much of my work is informed by the idea that, in order for us to heal, we must first feel like our perspective matters and that our struggles are deserving of support.

Are you a survivor of trauma? Are you a BIPOC/POC (person of color), LGBTQIA +, immigrant or 1st-generation American in your 20s, 30s, or 40s? Do you feel lost, hopeless, anxious, or isolated, like no one "sees" you for ALL of who you are? Do/did you have narcissistic or borderline parents -- and trouble living up to their (or your) perfectionist standards? Do you often feel "not good enough," "bad," ashamed, guilty, or unworthy of love? Do anxiety, depression, chronic, negative thinking, or self-defeating patterns hold you back or prevent you from moving forward and living a life you want /deserve to live?

Some of the questions my clients often grapple with in therapy include: What has served me in the past that no longer serves me? Which choices help me open to experience rather than withdraw? How can I rely on my strengths to overcome obstacles? How do I grow from connections and disconnections in my relationships? I am primarily guided by the unique qualities and needs of each person or couple, and work collaboratively towards their desired outcomes. When appropriate, I provide suggestions for behavioral practices between sessions, in order to bridge what we do in therapy to your everyday life.

Maybe you remember this scene from a movie; picture it, a peaceful airplane ride becomes turbulent. The plane begins losing altitude rapidly. The flight attendant urgently instructs you to "put your oxygen mask on first" before helping others. That simple, but critical statement, is just as important in our everyday lives. Remembering to take time to yourself, non selfishly, can be difficult for anyone who tends to place others' needs first. Together, we'll explore your thoughts, feelings, decisions, choices, wants, and needs in your therapy. I will assist you in" finding your voice" and help you to "put your oxygen mask on first.

I’m a clinical psychologist and I specialize in therapy for adults. If you’re here, I’m guessing it’s because you are struggling with something in your life and feel like you need help. I know how hard it can be to reach out and ask for help, and I’m glad that you’ve made it this far. Therapy doesn’t have to be daunting and mysterious. At the most basic level, therapy is just two people relating with one another in a relaxed, safe, and supportive atmosphere. What makes it different from other relationships is that we keep the focus on you, and I have specialized training that enables me to foster the conditions necessary for change.

I encourage you to get help when you need it despite how difficult it feels. As an experienced, professional psychotherapist, I can work with you in an individual or group setting to help you get through your issues and make changes in your life. You may come see me in my Santa Monica, California office or in my New York City office where I see clients once a month. I can also work with you online using Skype. I have clients as far away as London and Hong Kong. Call me if you would like a consultation.