Are you tired of having to be the expert and educate your providers on what it means to be trans, non-binary or gender fluid? If so, you have come to the right place. I am a Certified Transgender Care Specialist providing affirmative services to the LGBTQIA+ community in general and gender expansive individuals in particular.

To be transparent, I am a cisgender, heterosexual, privileged, white woman. I continue to do work to dismantle my own biases and to recognize how my privilege shows up in my life and in my work. I may have learned a lot in my work, training, and readings, but I will never pretend to be the expert in your particular lived experience. I would never assume that I know better than you what your identity, sense of self or experiences have been.

Just a note, currently I am using the term gender diverse to refer to anyone who is transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, agender, and everyone else who does not fit into the category of cisgender. I realize that not everyone is comfortable with every label, but it is the one I feels like the best fit for now.

Affirmative therapy is an approach to therapy that takes an inclusive and fluid view of gender, gender identity, gender expression, and sexuality; and it challenges the assumptions of the gender binary. Affirmative therapy includes education, resources and support in developing a positive identity and self-esteem while addressing the impact of minority stress, discrimination, and trans-phobias.

Therapists and mental health professionals, if you are interested in learning more about becoming an affirmative therapist for gender diverse adults, click here.

In addition to taking an affirmative stance, I use a client-centered, strength-based approach with a focus on helping resolve any trauma history. I recognize that abuse, harassment, and discrimination towards gender diverse people, particularly trans women and femmes of color, is significantly higher than for the general population and it is important that this reality not be minimized.

I will work with you wherever you are at in your identity journey and recognize that you need to be in control over your life, your choices and your treatment. My job is to make sure you feel seen, heard and valued for exactly who you are, even if you don’t know exactly who that is right now. It is my job to hold space for you so that you can explore and better understand yourself.

I also understand you are more than your gender identity and may want to focus on other things. Trans folx seek out therapy for the same reasons as cisgender folks, and our work together will focus on your goals.

If you are seeking a therapist who is willing and able to write a letter in support of gender affirming medical care (hormones or surgeries), I am here for you.

If you are not seeking therapy and simply need a letter this will require meeting once for an evaluation. During this evaluation we will discuss both your past and your present as it relates to your gender identity and transition journey to date.

It is NOT your job to prove how trans or non-binary or gender fluid you are. I trust that you know this about yourself.

You do NOT need to hide that you have or have had mental health struggles. I do not have some unrealistic expectation of perfect mental health in order to get a letter.

There is no additional cost for writing or providing you with the letter based on your evaluation. I typically have a one week turn-around time on such letters.

I am committed to reducing barriers for people seeking such letters. Therefore, if my fees are out of your price range, please contact me and we can come to an agreement so that you can get your needs met.