LGBTQIA2S+ Folx

Research consistently indicates that individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community experience significantly more stress than their peers. Being queer means navigating environments of invalidation, discrimination, prejudice, non-recognition, and non-acceptance. This stress is amplified for individuals who identify as trans or non-binany. Moreover, the intersection between multiple marginalized identities can oftentimes generate seemingly insurmountable challenges to healthy living.

The aversive impact of historic and ongoing systemic oppression of the LGBTQIA2S+ is undeniable; it is an understatement to say that queer folks deserve a space to feel seen and validated! Unfortunately, LGBTQIA2S+ folks experience barriers to accessing therapeutic and affirming care.

LGBTQIA2S+ adults also express reluctance to seeking care. Many individuals within the queer community have felt invalidated by previous providers and, as a result, are hesitant to pursue further treatment.

Findings from Trevor Project revealed that 81% of all LGBTQ young people (ages 13-24) wanted mental health care; however, 56% of these individuals were not able to access care in the past. The top three barriers to seeking care were:

  • fear about talking about mental health concerns

  • fear of asking parents or caregivers permission

  • fear that they would not be taken seriously

Challenges Explored In Therapy

Many LGBTQIA2S+ folx have experienced rejection within their families and communities, and, beyond that, are living in a society that prioritizes heteronormativity, leaving queer folks in a default position of marginalization. Queer individuals may present to therapy with internalized homophobia as a result of their consistent exposure to a world explicitly or implicitly tells LGBTGIAS+ individuals that they are “different.” The reality: growing up in a society that tells you that you are “wrong” has an impact on your emotional health.

All identities are complex. Even within queer spaces, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals may have the sense that they are not “queer enough.” Queer individuals may feel that they do not belong in certain spaces. It is common for folks who identify as bisexual or pansexual to experience biphobia and to navigate insecurities that come up as a result of  bi-erasure.

If you are queer AND emotionally sensitive, the impact of invalidating environments takes an even more significant toll on the mind, body, and spirit.

Therapy With Me

Let me be clear… being queer isn’t all trauma! Queer people rock. The hard stuff doesn’t negate the amazing stuff. Therapy is ALSO a space to celebrate the unique strengths of your identity.

My goal is to create a therapeutic environment that challenges the heteronormative narratives and upholds the truth that identity is a multifaceted, complex, and fluid construct. I recognize that developing and maintaining cultural competency and humility is a life-long process AND I vow to continue to put effort into educating myself on the multitude of experiences within the queer community. I have my own experiences as a queer cis gal and remain curious and open about the experiences of all my clients.

In therapy with me, you do not need to justify or explain yourself - it’s a space where you can process your many strengths as well as areas of challenge as your fullest, authentic badass self.

Hi, I'm Dr. MK!

I am an inquisitive, playful, warm, queer psychologist who will empower you to live the life you WANT to live. I provide care for individuals who may experience emotions that feel out of control, engage in behaviors that make things worse, worry about what others are feeling and thinking, and feel exhausted in life.

I help feelers live a purposeful and vital life by providing them with skills to change their relationships to their thoughts and feelings. Most of the clients I work with have the “problem” of letting their own private experiences (thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, memories, urges, traumas) dictate how they live their life. I’m here to address this “problem.”

What makes me different: I understand how painful and overwhelming it can be to navigate big feelings on a daily basis. In addition to validating your feelings, I bring in humor, hope, and tools to support you in navigating the rollercoaster that we call life.

My services are unique and effective because they are action-oriented. Sometimes it’s not enough to talk through things—we may feel stuck. Sometimes it’s too much to talk through things—we may feel overwhelmed. Sometimes we just need to act to get to where we want to go.