Services

LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy:

LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy is a deeply intentional, non-neutral approach. It is rooted in the belief that being LGBTQ+ is not a condition to be “tolerated,” but a vibrant identity to be celebrated for its inherent value. This perspective is vital to the healing process, as it directly confronts the decades of hostility rooted in homophobic and heterosexist cultures. For many, surviving in such a society leads to internalized shame and self-hatred—often the very burdens that bring people to therapy. Through an affirmative lens, we work to transform that self-hatred into self-compassion, moving through the pain rather than avoiding it, and ultimately turning shared suffering into individual empowerment.

Individual Therapy:

Individual therapy is a deeply personal journey, uniquely tailored to your specific needs. In our weekly 50-minute sessions, we work as a team to define your goals and map out the path to achieving them. For many, our work involves uncovering how shame has stifled growth and learning how to cultivate true self-acceptance. We explore how healthy emotions can become toxic when shaped by oppressive environments, and we work to restore them to a place of strength. Whether you are seeking to regulate your emotions, heal from loss, or improve your relationships, I strive to provide a judgment-free sanctuary where you can safely explore who you are—and who you want to become.

Presentations & Trainings:

Cultivating Empowerment: Preventing Suicide in the LGBTQ Community using Affirmative Therapy (2 or 6 hours)

With a suicide death every 11.9 minutes and over a million attempts in the United States every year, suicide impacts every community. This is especially true for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning communities. LGBTQ Affirmative Therapy is an approach to psychotherapy that is based on the understanding that LGBTQ people are not just tolerated or accepted, but celebrated for their value in any culture. Mental health clinicians trained in LGBTQ Affirmative Therapy and Suicide Prevention can improve their effectiveness for helping LGBQ clients increase protective factors and resilience while decreasing risk of suicide attempts and death.

How to Become an LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapist (2-hours)

LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning) is not a neutral approach. It is based on the understanding that LGBTQ people are not just tolerated but celebrated for their value in any culture. This perspective is essential for effective therapy since it challenges many years of hostility inflicted by a heterosexist culture. Participates of this training will learn specific clinical interventions and assessment tools to more effectively treat LGBTQ clients, be able to assess psychological trauma of growing up LGBTQ+ and know how internalized stigma impacts development and will also know the six distinct stages of the coming out process to provide optimal amount of support to the client.

A Collaborative Intervention: Suicide Risk Assessment & Safety Planning (2-hours)

This training provides an in depth view of suicide prevention from a clinical perspective. Participants learn about the nature of suicide, suicide related statistics, mental health and warning signs.  Participants also learn to assess risk, how to collaboratively work with a client/patient on safety, standard of care, and information on available resources for intervention and postvention.  One of the most effective ways of preventing suicide is recognizing the signs and knowing how to help. This training will better prepare participants in recognizing the warning signs of someone at risk for suicide and how to appropriately intervene and link that person to life-saving services.

Suicide Attempt Survivors Support Group Facilitator Training: Fighting Stigma, Promoting Connectedness, Saving Lives (2-day training or 90-minute overview)

A history of suicide attempts is considered the single highest risk factor to going on to die by suicide. It is estimated that there are more than a million suicide attempts in the United States each year. While most people just attempt once, more than a third will try again. Yet there are few places where people with histories of suicide attempts can go for help. The city of Los Angeles is an exception. Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services’ Suicide Prevention Center has developed an innovative eight-week support group, Survivors of Suicide Attempts (SOSA). The facilitator’s manual which describes the development and implementation of this group was also created and has been recognized as a best practice by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Best Practices Registry. The manual for running a Survivors of a Suicide group has now been distributed to hundreds of people across the United States, and in fact the world. In this training, participants will learn the background and development of this innovative support group and will also understand how the 8-week group works to achieve the desired results of increased hopefulness, connectedness, and coping skills, along with a reduction of suicide intent and ideation.

Speaking Events:

Antioch University Los Angeles * Champion Counseling Center * Sacramento LGBT Center * LGBTIQ Psychotherapy Association Conference * Los Angeles County Psychological Association Convention  * Vantage Point Center for Psychotherapy * Balance Treatment Center * 52nd American Association of Suicidology Conference * California Psychological Association Annual Convention * Alameda County Crisis Center * 11th Multicultural Conference and Summit * WestCoast Children’s Clinic * The Redwood Empire Chapter of CAMFT * Veterans Administration Montana * CAPED 44th Annual Training and Convention * Gender Health Center * University of California Davis CAPS * San Joaquin Delta College * Folsom City College * Sacramento Valley Psychological Association Diversity & Multicultural Training Series * 2nd Annual Sacramento Valley Psychological Association Conference * Oklahoma Department of Mental Health * 49th American Association of Suicidology Conference * Sutter Center for Psychiatry * Georgia Department of Mental Health * 1st Sacramento Valley Psychological Association Conference * Buffalo Psychiatric Center/Office of Mental Health * Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services – Suicide Prevention Center * International Association of Suicide Prevention Conference * 48th American Association of Suicidology Conference * 47th American Association of Suicidology Conference * Northern California Suicide Prevention Summit * University California Los Angeles * University of Southern California * California State University Northridge * San Gabriel Valley CAMFT * The California School of Professional Psychology * Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Summit * The Chicago School of Professional Psychology * Los Angeles LGBT Center * South Central Training Consortium *