LGBT+

Here at the Works Counseling Center we specialize in working with queer, bisexual, pansexual, transgender and partners of transgender folks who are struggling with identity, life transition, defining relationships and belonging to community.

What about my child?

We practice from a gender affirmative treatment model, meaning we validate and support each child in finding their authentic gender identity and gender expression. We are able to help families assess whether their child is among the small number of gender variant children who are potentially transgender. When that is clearly true, we help with “social transitions”. We provide a completely supportive environment for all members of the family and, when needed, we are not afraid to advocate for our clients with social institutions like schools.

• Do you struggle to feel as though you belong to a community that celebrates/understands your queerness?
• Do you feel like it is easier for other people if you say “I am a lesbian or I am gay,” rather than really saying who you are: genderqueer, queer, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, a partner of someone who is transgender?
• Do you feel like you have to defend your queer identity?
• Do you ever wonder if you are queer enough to belong in the queer community?
• Do you feel like you are the only queer person like you, you know?
• How do you maintain your queer identity when you start dating a partner of the same gender or opposite gender?
• Lesbian/gay/straight/queer, how do you deal with your sexual identity being defined by those you date?
• Does your community understand you are still queer regardless of who you are dating?
• Does your community understand the fluid nature with which you are open to dating all genders?
• Do you feel afraid to introduce those you are dating to your community?
• Do you fear people interpret your queer sexual fluidity as a choice?
• I specialize in queer politics and queer oppression. I recognize that as a queer person you might not be seeking therapy to focus on queer specific issues, but would like to know that your therapist is LGBTQ friendly and queer competent.   You have come to the right place.

As kink-aware and poly friendly clinicians:

• We won’t assume that the issue you’re seeking help with is caused by or is related to your kink or poly orientation.
• We won’t make assumptions about your treatment goals – particularly that these goals include changing your sexual desires.
• We won’t try to “cure” you of BDSM or poly desires.
• We will be aware that any distress you have about your kink or poly identity may be a normal part of internalized cultural bias against your sexual orientation rather than evidence of a disorder. We will help you to locate and get support from community resources.
• We will be sensitive to whether and how your kink or poly identity affects your work, social, and family relationships.
• We will not assume abuse when you are in a BDSM relationship. I will not assume you are cheating or are tolerating cheating if you bring up other partners.
• We will not assume that BDSM interests mean that you are not also interested in vanilla sexual behaviors.
• If you have experienced abuse within a BDSM relationship, we can help you to process and understand that. We know that this can sometimes happen and that it can be very difficult to talk about.
• We can help you to navigate the terms of your poly relationship and negotiate agreements that best serve you and your partners, identifying and honoring your needs.