Sexuality

I am a competent resource here to help you navigate the development, exploration, and affirmation of your sexuality and relationships. This may include navigating the coming out process, including the risks and benefits of both disclosing your sexual identity and/or remaining “in the closet” due to safety concerns. Coming out can be necessary, liberating, and traumatic. The journey to self-discovery is individualized, AND, you do not have to do it alone.

Sexuality is more than just “coming out”. You may benefit from exploring how trauma intersects with sexuality development and sexual health. Sexuality is also navigating relationships with others and with ourselves- both emotionally and physically. You do not have to be confined to any box nor do you have to limit your exploration or identity due to shame or lack of information.

Gender Identity

Development of Gender identity is a complex navigation involving Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Gender Role, and Sex Assigned at Birth. Despite having more language to describe the way we experience our gender, navigating gender is a complex journey worth exploring with someone who has experience working with gender variant folx across the spectrum.

Explore and experience your gender identity in a space that you make safe for you. I trust that you are the expert on you and I would be honored to witness your authenticity and courage.

Gender Affirming Services

As stated in WPATH SOC 7, the experience of “discomfort or distress that is caused by a discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and that person’s sex assigned at birth” and “associated” primary/secondary sex characteristics and gender roles occurs for many gender nonconforming/Trans* people.

Gender Dysphoria is not required nor needed to identify as Trans*. Treatment is beneficial and individualized for each person. Beyond the affirming therapy approaches used in my modalities and style, I also provide letter-writing in support of accessing gender-affirming medical services, should that be the intervention needed to alleviate symptoms of gender dysphoria.

The “letter-writing” service is not provided with a standard template or format. “Letter-writing” is the documentation of the therapeutic discussions and requested interventions agreed upon in sessions with your therapist. This service is provided competently by following strict ethical standards from WPATH, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, and professional experience. Insightful Minds Counseling does not wish to be a barrier or gatekeeper to your transition and transitioning needs. From my experience, it takes from one to two 45-55 minute sessions to complete the assessment needed to produce a support letter. For clients seeking a letter-writing consult, a sliding-scale fee is charged on a case-by-case basis. I do not charge additional fees for letter writing, including clients who require more than one support letter.

* “Trans” is often utilized as an umbrella term to reference/include many non-cisgender identities.