Queer Counseling in Federal Way, WA
3 Reasons Your Queerness is Important to Your Mental Health
Sense of Self
Whether you’re out and proud or still making sense of your identity, you need a space to process the complexities of being queer and all that encompasses your identity. You struggle with living in a world that tries to make you fail and increases your anxiety. All you want is to be able to live authentically without fear of harm or judgement. Maybe you’re still figuring out what your identities are and there’s some shame or guilt about this. Those feelings are made extra complicated when you’re not sure who you are or how to claim your identity. OR maybe you know exactly who you are, but you’re exhausted from constantly navigating LGBTQ+ issues and justifying your existence. Despite having grown into your queerness, there are past wounds that still need healed.
Family Relationships
You may or may not have a supportive family, but you know that your relationships with them are important. You want to learn how to better communicate your needs, including how they can best support you as you navigate your queerness. You may be afraid to share this part of you and worry your about rejection. Perhaps your culture or religious upbringing adds another layer of fear that you’re not sure how to address. You find yourself thinking “what if I break my family apart?” OR maybe your family has been accepting but you need a deeper level of support. You wish your family would be more involved in the LGBTQ+ community and advocacy. You want to express your need for them to be more curious about your experience as a queer person.
Social Expectations
Socially, you’ve been minimized and dismissed which makes engaging in community terrifying. Being uncertain of who is trustworthy has impacted your ability to be who you are. Perhaps you’re afraid to express your feelings and be vulnerable. Maybe you’re tired of being the person to educate people about gay and trans rights. This takes an emotional toll that you’re not always aware of until you’re burnt out. You’re exhausted from having to fight the system all the damn time. Maybe you’re a sensitive person who absorbs the trauma of this world just a little deeper than others, which increases your depression and loneliness. You’re ready to ask for help so that you don’t have to carry the burden of family and social issues all on your own.
I’m Katie, a licensed therapist in Federal Way, WA and I work with queer adults who struggle to embrace their identities while navigating anxiety due to the sociopolitical issues of our world. I’m a queer-competent therapist with personal and professional experience in supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Tacoma & Seattle. Having seen a therapist for my own sexual identity, I know how uncomfortable it can be to talk to a stranger about something so vulnerable. BUT I also know how empowering and enriching it can be to accept your own self and live in alignment with your values and identity.
LGBTQ+ Competent and Affirming Counseling in Federal Way, WA
As my client, you’ll experience change in therapy when you explore how family, culture, and social experiences impact your sense of self and ability to set boundaries and voice your needs. Change also comes from learning how to safely rebel against systems that cause harm, while building a trusted community. My approach is casual, comfortable, and compassionate while being firm and challenging when necessary. You may find my dark humor and swearing beneficial to the therapy process as we explore social issues and inequities that impact your well-being. I love it when clients tell me “You’re the first person I’ve ever told that to” because that means I’m doing my job right! I’ve heard all the things so I promise there will be no judgment from me. I work collaboratively with you to determine best course of treatment and ways to minimize barriers to success.
You’re ready to feel empowered to be yourself and build connections with safe and trusting supports. Book a FREE 15min consultation here. Discover what therapy would be like with a therapist who prioritizes your uniqueness and wants you to be your beautiful Gay/Bi/Trans/Non-binary Self!