specialized Queer and gender-affirming care in society hill, philadelphia & pa
LGBTQ & Transgender Care in Philadelphia
You can't shake the nagging feeling that you’re not living a life that feels like yours.
-
When you look in the mirror, it feels like you’re staring at a stranger. Certain clothes feel awkward, and you always feel restless and on edge. You try to go about your day but you feel like you’re going through the motions. Something just feels off.
You’re at your friend’s wedding, wishing you could just enjoy yourself. But instead you’re hyper-aware of how you look and you feel like you don’t belong.
You just want to disappear.
Sometimes you fantasize about being a different gender, and it’s the one thing that gets you through the day. However, the 1 am internet deep-dives about whether you’re trans leave you feeling confused and scared.
You want to talk it out with someone, but you’re afraid to take the first step because that will make it more real.
-
Maybe you’re a millennial or Gen X, who grew up with limited awareness and language around queerness. You only knew of two options: gay or straight, and neither label really felt right to you.
So you stuffed the feelings down, thinking that everyone wants to kiss their friends sometimes.
Now you’re on Instagram and Tik-Tok reading about Comp Het, pansexuality and gender fluidity. It’s starting to click, but it feels like you have a lot to lose. What if your straight partner/spouse freaks out, and your religious family disowns you?
You thought you had a vision for your future, but it’s been flipped upside down.
-
You’ve sent the email to your family, you’ve had the Zoom call with your friends, and now you’re about to come out to your boss at work.
Your heart is racing and while you’re on the other side of some of these conversations, you still can’t fully relax. Because coming out is an ongoing process, and you’re always bracing yourself for how the other person will react, even with your progressive friends.
Maybe you’ve flown under the radar but now you’re in a visibly queer relationship. You want to introduce your new partner to your family, but you’re scared because they don’t know you're queer and you’re not sure how they'll react.
Perhaps you’re exploring options around HRT and gender-affirming surgery, and you’re looking to talk it out with someone.
-
Whether you’re navigating dating apps, ethical non-monogamy, or a long-term relationship, queer dating hits a little different.
Maybe you are trans and you’re realizing you are attracted to more than one gender. You’re excited, but also nervous because you’ve just re-entered the dating scene since you’ve transitioned. Or maybe you’ve been dating for awhile, but you’re tired of trying to weed out the people who only see you as a fetish.
Perhaps you’re seeking a sapphic relationship, and you’re struggling with knowing how to flirt with women and show them you’re interested.
You’re poly, and google calendars have become your best friend, as you juggle time with your nesting partner, date night with your long-distant partner, and Back-to-School Night.
Maybe you’re dealing with
Fantasizing about being with someone of the same gender, even though you’ve identified as straight up until now.
Being misgendered by friends and coworkers while feeling burdened with having to reassure them when they overly apologize.
Family members calling you by your old name and rolling their eyes when you try to correct their pronouns.
Strangers commenting on your body and feeling terrified to use the public bathroom because you don’t know how people will react.
Wishing you had more queer and trans friends, but you feel too shy and awkward to meet people.
Trying to date as a queer and trans person and grappling with feelings of not being good enough.
My Approach
Your struggles aren’t personal failings. They are normal reactions to living in an unjust world.
I believe our identities and lived experiences are important in how we work together. My goal is to create a space where you can talk about what’s it’s like to work with me and address any concerns you might have. As a white, cisgender queer woman, I’ll never fully know what it’s like to walk in your shoes. However, I am committed to creating the safest place possible where you can be vulnerable and do deep, transformational work. I’d love to walk alongside of you in your journey.
Therapy can help you understand why you feel stuck, and give you the tools to know how to change it. I use approaches like art therapy and Internal Family Systems to help you gain new perspectives on your experiences, and to cultivate compassion towards every part of you. We’ll uncover what’s really been holding you back so you can feel more confident in who you are and more seen in your relationships.
In therapy, we’ll call out the systems that put certain bodies and identities above others, so you can release self-blame and feel more at peace with yourself. We’ll explore how these societal pressures have impacted how you see yourself and move through the world.
Together, we’ll help you shed the shame and self-doubt you’ve carried, so you can reconnect with who you really are
Queer-Affirming Therapy in Society Hill, Philadelphia
As a queer-identified therapist specializing in gender-affirming care, I provide compassionate support for transgender and non-binary individuals navigating the complexities of gender identity, body image, and authentic self-expression. My practice offers a warm, affirming space where you can explore your true self without judgment.
Specialized Gender Affirming Care for Your Journey
Gender-affirming care means getting support that truly sees and respects who you are. As a trans or non-binary person, you deserve therapy that understands how gender identity, body image, and eating struggles can overlap—and helps you find peace in your body and yourself.
Finding care that gets it shouldn’t be this hard—but for so many trans people, it is. I’ve had advanced training in affirmative care for trans health, and as someone married to a trans woman, this work is deeply personal to me. I want therapy to feel like a space where you don’t have to explain yourself or brace for judgment—you can just show up as you are and be met with understanding.
Everyone’s gender journey looks a little different. Maybe you’re just starting to explore who you are, or you’re in the middle of transition and want support along the way. However your story unfolds, I’ll meet you where you are and help you find steadiness in a world that doesn’t always make that easy.
Supporting Transgender Youth and Their Families
Supporting trans and non-binary teens means creating a space where they can be fully themselves—without pressure, labels, or fear. I work with young people to help them express themselves freely, find strength in their identity, and handle challenges at school or home with more confidence and support.
If your child has come out as trans or non-binary, you might be feeling a mix of emotions—love, worry, confusion, maybe even grief. You want to show up for them, but it’s okay if you’re not sure how yet. I help parents create homes where their kids feel seen, safe, and supported, while also making space for your own learning, growth, and support along the way.
I help parents and loved ones find their footing by understanding their own emotions while learning how to support their trans child in ways that truly help.
This might look like figuring out how to talk to teachers, explain things to relatives, or support your child as they start showing the world who they really are.
When parents show up with love and affirmation, trans kids thrive—even when the world around them doesn’t always make it easy. I’ll help you build that kind of supportive home where everyone feels connected and understood.
The Intersection of Eating Disorders and Gender Identity
A big part of my work is helping people who are navigating both eating struggles and gender identity. Traditional eating disorder treatment often misses what it’s like to live in a body that doesn’t feel right or that the world misunderstands. I understand how gender dysphoria can make your relationship with food and your body even more complicated—and we’ll work through that together
With training in both eating disorder recovery and gender-affirming care, I help people sort through how food, body, and gender all connect. We’ll talk about how dysphoria can shape eating habits, how hormones might change the way you see your body, and how to find more peace with food while honoring who you are.
Sometimes talking only gets you so far. That’s why I use creative tools like Art Therapy and IFS to help you work through the stuff that words can’t always reach. Art, in particular, can help you explore the messy, emotional parts of your relationship with your body and gender in a new way.
Support for partners of transgender individuals.
When someone you love transitions, it can bring up all kinds of emotions—for them, and for you. You deserve a space where you can be honest about those feelings without fear of judgment. Together, we’ll help you care for yourself and your relationship at the same time.
Relationships change during transition—it’s normal. You might be figuring out how to talk about your needs, what intimacy looks like now, or how to stay close while everything’s shifting. I’m here to help you sort through your feelings so you can move forward with grounded awareness.
Learn More About Support for Partners and Spouses of Trans Individuals
My Therapeutic Approach
My practice integrates multiple evidence-based modalities tailored to support gender-affirming care:
-
IFS helps us understand and heal different parts of yourself that may hold conflicting feelings about gender identity. This approach proves particularly powerful for those experiencing internal criticism or feeling torn between authentic expression and safety
-
Art Therapy provides non-verbal pathways to explore gender dysphoria, body image, and identity. Creating art allows access to emotions and insights that feel too complex for words, making it especially valuable for processing experiences related to gender.
-
Psychodynamic Therapy explores how early relationships and cultural messages about gender shape current patterns. Understanding these influences creates opportunities for profound healing and change in your relationship with yourself.
-
ERPoffers structured support for OCD symptoms related to gender identity or body image, helping you face fears while resisting compulsions that interfere with authentic living.
Group Therapy for Community Connection
Along with one-on-one work, I also offer small group sessions where trans and non-binary folks can connect and share openly. There’s something powerful about being in a space where you don’t have to explain yourself — just show up, be seen, and realize you’re not alone in what you’re going through.
Whether you’re working on recovery or navigating gender transition, there’s something powerful about healing alongside people who truly get it. These groups offer a space to be real — to share stories, find community, and remember that you’re not alone in what you’re feeling.
Group therapy is a space to connect with people who get it — folks who’ve been through similar struggles and are ready to show up with honesty and care. You’ll share stories, build real connections, and realize you’re not as alone as you thought. Over time, those connections often turn into lasting support that stays with you long after the sessions end.
LGBTQ-Affirming therapy can help you…
Find Your People
Therapy helps you strengthen the connections you already have, while helping you build new friendships in queer spaces.
Discover Your True Self
You’ll uncover the parts of your authentic self—your values, goals, passions, and relationships that truly matter.
Learn Self-Compassion
Therapy helps you look at every side of yourself with compassion, not criticism. Even the parts buried in shame and guilt.
Advocate For Your Needs
Learn how to set boundaries and protect your well-being when dealing with invasive questions, misgendering and navigating cis-het spaces.
Reduce self-blame
The beliefs you inherited from oppressive systems aren’t yours to carry. It’s time to start directing your anger where it belongs—at the systems that caused the harm, not you.
Celebrate Queer Joy
Find ways to notice small moments of gratitude and what brings you happiness, even in a cis-het world. Learn how to carve out time for pleasure, fun and rest.
You don't have keep feeling ashamed of who you are.
Together, let’s build the confidence to live the life you truly want.
Questions?
FAQs
-
In our first session, I will ask you to share about your journey leading up to seeking therapy. Together, we’ll discuss what your hopes are for therapy and whether you have any specific goals.
We may discuss how oppressive systems are affecting your journey and sense of self. What makes you resilient and who is in your community?
I am always thinking about how privilege and oppression are showing up in the therapy room. I do my best to hold a safe space for you, with the awareness that I don’t know what it’s like to walk in your shoes.
I understand that being a therapist also makes me gatekeeper, especially when it comes to gender affirming healthcare. I do my best to reduce gatekeeping as much as possible.
Sessions may involve just talk therapy and mind-body approaches like art therapy and parts work, depending on what you’re looking for. If helpful, writing exercises are implemented between sessions to help support you outside of therapy.
-
There is no set length for therapy. It all depends on your needs. I frequently check in on how therapy is going, which helps us stay focused on what is most important to you.
Sometimes goals/needs change in therapy, or you might realize that something is missing in sessions. I always center your needs in treatment and encourage feedback on what’s working for you and what’s not working
-
I get it, starting therapy is a huge leap! Here are some things to consider:
You’re looking to explore your gender and feel ready to talk about it.
You’re considering HRT or gender affirming surgery and need support in how to take those next steps
You’re looking for a gender affirming letter.
You’re looking for a social justice, anti-oppressive approach to therapy.
You’re interested in trying non-traditional approaches to counseling (in addition to talk therapy).
You’re looking to do deeper work to understand yourself better.
-
You can schedule a consultation by booking online. I’ll reply to your email within 1-2 business days (not on weekends). From there, we’ll pick a day and time that works for both of us.
After the phone call, if it’s a good fit, we can schedule that first appointment. You will receive an email to set up your client portal and complete the intake paperwork online. Once all of the forms are completed, your appointment will be confirmed.
What to expect in our work together
We’ll start with a quick, free 20-minute phone chat to talk about what’s been coming up for you and what kind of support you’re looking for. There’s no pressure — it’s just a chance for us to connect and see if working together feels like a good fit. You deserve a therapist who really gets your experience and makes space for all of who you are.
Before our first session, I’ll send you the intake forms through a secure online portal. Our first meeting is all about getting to know you — what’s been coming up around gender, food, or identity — and figuring out how therapy can best support you right now. We’ll go slow and make sure the process feels safe and collaborative from the start.
My clients meet with me once a week for an hour — that steady rhythm provides consistency which is helpful for making progress. Sometimes when we’re doing deeper work around gender, food, or trauma, it makes sense to meet a little more often or for longer sessions. Between sessions, I might offer reflection questions or creative prompts to help you keep exploring what comes up.
Creating Your Path Forward
Living as your true self is possible, even when the world makes it hard. Together, we’ll help you feel more grounded in who you are, find comfort in your body, and start imagining a future that feels like yours. You don’t have to figure it all out alone — I’ll be here with steady support as you explore what authenticity means for yo
Recovery and healing aren’t a straight line — some days feel lighter, and others might feel like a setback. What matters is having someone in your corner who really gets what it’s like to move through the world as a trans or non-binary person. You don’t have to do it alone — we’ll take it one step at a time, together.
Queer Joy is Healing.
Queer Joy is Healing.
Begin Your Journey Today
If you’re ready for therapy that truly sees and supports who you are, let’s connect. Whether you’re exploring your gender, moving through transition, working on your relationship with food, or supporting a loved one who’s trans, this is a space built for you — affirming, compassionate, and rooted in real understanding.
If this sounds like the kind of support you’ve been looking for, let’s start with a free 20-minute chat. You can schedule a free consultation through my website. Together, we can explore what’s been feeling heavy and how therapy can help you feel more grounded and at home in yourself. Who you are is valid, your story deserves to be heard, and you deserve care that truly celebrates you.
Serving the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia with in-person and online sessions available.
