GROUP OFFERINGS

Specialized, topical group therapy. Available in-person in Philadelphia and online across PA.

What Is Group Psychotherapy?

Group therapy brings together individuals facing similar mental health conditions under the guidance of a trained therapist. Unlike individual therapy, group psychotherapy harnesses the power of shared experiences and mutual support. In my practice, I facilitate groups of typically 6-8 members who meet weekly to explore their challenges and growth together.

As a group therapist specializing in LGBTQ+ mental health, eating disorders, and gender-affirming care, I create therapeutic environments where queer and trans clients can show up fully. My approach recognizes that traditional treatment models often fail to address the unique intersections of gender identity, sexuality, and mental health concerns that my clients navigate daily.

My Specialized Group Therapy Offerings

Eating Disorder Recovery Groups for Queer and Trans Individuals

Traditional eating disorder treatment rarely addresses how gender dysphoria and minority stress intersect with body image and food relationships. In these group therapy sessions, members explore recovery without heteronormative beauty standards or binary thinking about bodies. We examine how diet culture specifically impacts LGBTQ+ individuals and develop affirming approaches to healing.

Group members support each other through the complexities of navigating body changes during transition while addressing disordered eating patterns. This specialized group psychotherapy creates space for discussions about top surgery and body image, HRT and appetite changes, and finding peace with food while honoring gender identity.

Support Groups for Partners of Transitioning Individuals

Supporting a partner through gender transition brings unique joys and challenges. These groups provide space for partners to process their experiences with other members who understand. Participants explore grief while celebrating, navigate shifting dynamics in their relationships, and maintain their own identity while supporting their loved one's journey.

In this group format, members share strategies for handling family reactions, discussing transition with children, and addressing their own concerns without centering themselves over their transitioning partner. The therapeutic alliance formed helps partners feel less isolated in their experience.

Queer and Trans Teen Group Psychotherapy

Adolescent LGBTQ+ clients face unique challenges navigating identity formation, family dynamics, and school environments. These groups provide crucial peer support during developmental years when isolation can be particularly harmful. Teen members practice authentic self-expression, develop coping strategies for minority stress, and build social skills in a supportive environment.

I facilitate these sessions with particular attention to creating safety while encouraging growth. Participants explore coming out decisions, managing social anxiety at school, and building resilience against discrimination. Parents often report that their teens feel more confident and connected after joining these groups.

General LGBTQ+ Process Groups

These open group therapy sessions address the full spectrum of mental health challenges within our community – anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, and relationship concerns. Whether you're processing workplace discrimination, celebrating finding chosen family, or struggling with dating while trans, these groups offer understanding and support.

Members benefit from the therapeutic factors unique to group psychotherapy: universality (discovering you're not alone), interpersonal learning (understanding patterns through group interactions), and instillation of hope (witnessing others' progress). The group becomes a laboratory for practicing new ways of relating and being in the world.

Schedule Free 20-Min Consultation

My Therapeutic Approach in Group Settings

My group therapy practice integrates multiple evidence-based modalities tailored to LGBTQ+ experiences:

Internal Family Systems (IFS): I help group members identify and work with different "parts" of themselves – including internalized voices of homophobia or transphobia. Participants discover that other members share similar internal struggles, normalizing their experience and fostering self-understanding.

Art Therapy: Sometimes words aren't enough. Through creative expression, group members explore gender euphoria, body dysphoria, and complex emotions. Creating and sharing art in groups bypasses intellectual defenses and creates profound connections between participants.

Psychodynamic Group Therapy: We explore how past experiences and unconscious processes shape current patterns. Group interactions become opportunities to understand relationship dynamics and create corrective experiences that heal old wounds.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): For clients with OCD, practicing exposures with group support enhances treatment outcomes. Members understand how perfectionism and OCD specifically impact LGBTQ+ individuals and hold each other accountable in recovery.

Benefits of Group Therapy for LGBTQ+ Clients

Community and Connection

Isolation is a common experience for LGBTQ+ individuals, even in Philadelphia's vibrant queer community. Group psychotherapy provides genuine connection with others who understand the exhaustion of code-switching at work, the complexity of queer dating, or the pressure to be the "perfect" professional. When group members share their experiences, the response of "I thought I was the only one" breaks through isolation.

Skill Development

Groups provide safe spaces to practice vulnerability, boundary-setting, and authentic communication. Members improve social skills that enhance all their relationships. The group setting offers real-time feedback and support as participants experiment with new ways of being.

Witnessing Resilience

In group therapy sessions, you witness other members at different stages of their journey. Seeing someone further along in their transition or recovery from an eating disorder provides tangible hope. This interpersonal learning – understanding yourself through observing and interacting with others – accelerates personal growth.

Cost-Effective Treatment

Group therapy typically costs significantly less than individual psychotherapy while providing professional therapeutic support. This accessibility matters for community members facing financial challenges due to discrimination or transition-related expenses.

Schedule Free 20-Min Consultation

What to Expect in My Groups

Getting Started

Your journey begins with a free 20-minute phone consultation, bookable through my website. During this call, we discuss what brings you to therapy, your hopes for recovery, and whether group psychotherapy fits your needs. If we proceed, I'll help you set up your client portal and complete intake paperwork.

Your First Session

First-time participants often feel nervous – that's completely normal. I structure initial group therapy sessions to help new members feel welcomed. We review group agreements about confidentiality and respect. You share as much or as little as feels comfortable while getting acquainted with other group members and the group's focus.

Ongoing Participation

Groups meet weekly for one-hour sessions at consistent times, creating a reliable container for therapeutic work. Between sessions, I may share journal prompts or exercises. For those in OCD treatment, there's specific homework practicing exposures and response prevention.

As trust builds, deeper work becomes possible. Members challenge each other compassionately and celebrate victories together. The group evolves into a source of accountability, encouragement, and genuine connection extending beyond the therapy room.

Combining Group and Individual Therapy

Many clients benefit from combining group psychotherapy with individual therapy sessions. Individual treatment might focus on specific trauma or concerns not ready for group exploration, while group experiences provide rich material for individual work. This integrated approach is particularly effective for complex concerns like eating disorders intersecting with gender identity.

Who Thrives in Group Therapy?

Group psychotherapy works best for individuals ready to both give and receive support. If you're curious about others' experiences, willing to practice vulnerability, and able to maintain confidentiality, group treatment could be transformative. During our consultation, we explore whether your current needs align with what group therapy offers.

My groups particularly benefit:

Queer and non-binary individuals struggling with perfectionism and self-worth
Trans individuals navigating transition and mental health simultaneously
Partners supporting transitioning loved ones
LGBTQ+ teens facing identity and family challenges
Anyone dealing with eating disorders through a queer lens
Individuals with anxiety disorders, depression, or OCD seeking community support

Schedule Free 20-Min Consultation

Why Choose My Group Therapy Practice?

As someone who's queer-identified and married to a trans woman, I bring lived experience alongside clinical expertise. My specialized training in eating disorders and gender-affirming care means I understand the complex intersections my clients navigate. Unlike traditional therapy that might pathologize LGBTQ+ identities or ignore how minority stress impacts mental health, my groups center and affirm queer and trans experiences.

I create spaces where you can discuss the real challenges of our community – from navigating polyamory and kink to dealing with family rejection or workplace discrimination. My warm, compassionate approach combined with evidence-based treatment helps clients build resilience while staying true to themselves.

Start Your Group Therapy Journey

If you're ready to transform isolation into connection and find healing within community, group therapy might be your next step. Whether you're dealing with perfectionism that keeps you awake scrolling through work emails, struggling with your relationship to food and your body, or simply yearning for deeper connection with others who understand your experience, my groups offer space for all parts of you.

Reach out through my website to schedule your free 20-minute consultation. Let's discuss how group psychotherapy can support your unique journey toward healing and authentic self-expression in Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community.