Queer-Friendly Therapy
LGBTQ+ Mental Health Therapy
You don’t have to navigate your mental health journey alone. Whether you’re new to counseling or looking to continue your self-care journey, our compassionate team of therapists is here for you.
We offer affirming LGBTQ+ mental health therapy and specialize in concerns commonly experienced in the queer community, like gender identity, sexual orientation, self-esteem, and healthy relationships. By offering a range of scheduling and payment options, and both in-person and telehealth appointments, our therapists work to fit into your schedule.
Learn More: LGBTQ+ Therapy at Affirmations
Who is this for?
We welcome members of the LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones, including friends, parents, and allies. We serve all ages, including youth and adults, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, or other identity. We serve individuals, couples, groups, and families.
What services are provided?
- Therapy at Affirmations focuses on topics such as gender-affirming care, healthy relationships, sexual orientation, gender identity, self-esteem, confidence, personal growth, and more.
- We provide referrals to psychiatrists who offer gender-affirming care.
- We can give letters of support for medical transition.
- For those who need help connecting to other resources, our on-site Care Manager offers one-on-one support navigating LGBTQ+ friendly options for housing, food, state benefit application assistance, and more.
What does it cost?
Accessibility is a priority for our mental health team – we strive to make counseling affordable by accepting many insurance plans and offering a low-cost private pay rate with the option to reduce fees as necessary for those who qualify.
Insurances we accept include:
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Complete
- Blue Care Network
- Carelon
- Cigna
- Humana
- McLaren
- Molina
- Meridian
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Priority Health
- Physician’s Health Plan
- United HealthCare/UMR
We offer a sliding scale fee to help lower costs for uninsured clients whose annual income is up to 225% of the Federal Poverty Level. View our Sliding Scale Qualification Details for more information and to find out if you qualify. If you do, an application will be made available during the intake process.
Who are the therapists?
Affirmations’ licensed and student therapists are trained in a variety of issue areas affecting the LGBTQ+ community. Our therapists come from diverse backgrounds and employ a variety of methodologies, but each shares our commitment to fostering a safe and affirming environment for the LGBTQ+ community.
Ariel Gant
she/her/hers
My therapy practice focuses on client-centered, strengths-based approaches. I completed my EMDR training in 2022 and hope to pursue DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) and LPC (licensed professional counselor) supervision. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, photography, arts and crafts, video games, and writing.
Experience
- Master’s degree in Counseling
- Therapist since 2017
Specialties & Service Areas
- Ages 12+
- Anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm
- Relationship issues, sexual health, polyamory, ethical non-monogamy
- EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)
- Motivational interviewing
- CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and TF-CBT (trauma-focused CBT)
Cate Spinney
she/her/hers
My practice is rooted in the belief that therapy is a partnership based on trust, understanding, and authenticity. I am pursuing certification in EMDR. My years of experience in this field have taught me that more often than not, the hardest step is the first one.
Experience
- Master’s degree in Social Work
- Bachelor’s degree in Psychology
- 17+ years of experience
Specialties & Service Areas
- All ages
- Addiction, child and family services, gender identity
- EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)
- CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and TF-CBT (trauma-focused CBT)
- LGBTQ+ CBT
- Motivational interviewing
Cham S
I am a trans non-binary Arab American counselor. I believe that we are the authors of our own stories and lives, and although there may be forces outside of our control that impose on our lives, we can still choose to take control of how we write and tell our stories. Through support, respect, and acceptance, we can cultivate wellness and wholeness of the mind, body, and spirit and the creative expression of self.
Experience
- Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Bachelor’s degree in English
Specialties & Service Areas
- All ages
- TGNC (transgender and gender nonconforming minority groups and TGNC POC (people of color)
- CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and TF-CBT (trauma-focused CBT)
- IFS (internal family systems)
- Trauma-informed, feminist, and strengths-based treatment
Eric Vest
they/them/theirs, he/him/his
I am a queer and pagan therapist who specializes in working with queer, pagan, kinky, and ENM/poly clients. I use an eclectic range of interventions to meet the needs of the client I am working with. I hope to create a partnership as we explore what is bringing you into therapy and blocking you from achieving your most authentic self. My focus has been on gender, sexuality, sex, and relationships because…well, how could it not? They are everywhere: in our music, our textbooks, in advertisements, our daydreams, our politics. They are sources of joy and anguish, grief and celebration, trauma and growth. I believe you can not try and help people reach their goals without considering the context of the world we live in. Inevitably my work has expanded into considerations of justice and equity
Isaac Ateek
he/him/his
Whether you’re seeking help with prescriptions, dosage adjustments, or ongoing psychiatric medication management, Isaac’s expertise can help you manage your health needs.
Leo Parikshak
he/him/his
I am a first-year MSW student at the University of Michigan and I’m very excited to start gaining experience as a mental health provider! In the past, I volunteered as a crisis line worker with the Ozone House for a year. I am passionate about the LGBTQ+ community, especially relating to gender identity, and I hope to serve adolescents and young adults. I am also an avid singer and musician, and can often be found singing with my university men’s choir and my acapella group. It would be a dream of mine to incorporate music into my career, and I am a huge proponent of music as a creative outlet and constructive coping mechanism. Overall, I am open-minded and looking forward to learning as much as I can!
Lizz Baarman
they/them/theirs, she/her/hers
I am a social worker who uses a client-centered approach mixed with CBT techniques. I have an upbeat, warm, and friendly personality, and I focus on personal connections with my clients while we build solutions together. I believe each person has their own unique journey in life and I see it as an honor to help someone find their path.
Experience
- Master’s degree in Social Work
- Bachelor’s degree in Psychology
- Therapist since 2022 (excluding internship)
Specialties & Service Areas
- Ages 15+
- Individuals and couples
- Anxiety, depression, people pleasing, codependency, trauma
- Relationship issues, sexual health, polyamory, ethical non-monogamy
- CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
Naheim Rida
he/him/his
I view therapy as a unique opportunity to reflect on your identity and experiences, and to lay the foundations for healing and thriving. I hope together we can co-create a space that is safe, inviting, and accepting where you can truly express yourself. I take a holistic and narrative approach to therapy using evidence-based practices. In my free time, I enjoy watching films, drawing, and journaling.
Experience
- Master’s degree in Social Work
- Therapist since 2022 (excluding internship)
Specialties & Service Areas
- Grief and loss, life transitions, anxiety
- CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
- ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy)
- DBT (dialectical behavior therapy)
- Motivational interviewing
- Narrative therapy
- Solution-focused and strengths-based treatment
Stacey Molinaro
she/her/hers
My therapeutic philosophy is that the client and therapist are a team, working together to identify strengths, abilities, and goals. Together we will identify barriers to personal growth, look for ways to address those barriers, and support change. I believe you are the expert in your needs and my role is to support your journey by offering tools and feedback along the way.
Experience
- Master’s degree in Social Work
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work
- Therapist since 2009 (exluding internship)
Specialties & Service Areas
- Ages 18+, with a special interest in adults 65+
- Certified Dementia Practitioner
- Anxiety, depression, bipolar, interpersonal challenges
- CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
- Motivational interviewing
- Narrative therapy
- Solution-focused and strengths-based treatment
How do I connect with a therapist?
When you’re ready to connect with one of our therapists, fill out the form below. We will follow up with you within 5 business days.
Current Clients
LGBTQ+ Therapy Resources
Some resources are created by Affirmations, and some are submitted by local partners and reviewed by Affirmations staff. External submissions have self-reported alignment with Affirmations’ mission to offer safe and affirming experiences for people of diverse identities. Learn More
Multilingual Resources
Connect to various resources available in your language needs. Conéctese a recursos accesibles en su idioma.