Work with a therapist that gets it.
I have lived and worked in rural areas for the past 10 years. I grew up in a small, rigid religious bubble.
Being queer out here isn’t easy.
It’s challenging enough trying to explore and figure out who you actually are… gender and sexual identities, how you want to present and be perceived, how you actually view the world.
Add in living in a conservative, rural area? It’s not for the faint of heart.
More than just affirming care.
Clients often decide to work with Catalpa Counseling because they are seeking to work with someone who isn’t just affirming, but rather can understand some of their own challenges from first hand experiences. They’ve worked with therapists before who have taken the trainings, done the readings, and, honestly, are truly affirming. Yet, still, they found themselves hoping and looking for more in the therapy space.
When you decide to work with Catalpa Counseling, not only will you receive affirming care, but you’ll be working with someone who is well-acquainted with many of the challenges you’ve come against. I’m here in the trenches with you, not merely looking from the outside-in, thinking “yeah, that looks like a rough time.”
This is your space.
We’re constantly being bombarded with news of attacks on our rights and attacks on members of our community. We’re assessing dangers and threats and deciding how much of ourselves we want to or are able to show. Perhaps you feel as though you’re often “on guard” or are just tired of having to decide whether or not to explain yourself to others or “just let it slide”.
Therapy should be a place where you’re safe to let that guard down for a little bit. But, I know that that’s unfortunately not always the case.
So, this is my hope: that you and I can work together to create a “space” in which you feel safe to explore your thoughts and feelings, your fears and curiosities, and the memories that you still carry with you. You will always be welcome just as you are- no need to put on a show or decide how you need to be perceived that day.
When you enter this space, my hope is that you will know and feel that you are not alone.
Who is this therapy for?
Those who are at any stage of questioning any aspect of their identity.
Those who may identify as cisgender and straight, but have found themselves in a relationship with someone who is not and would like to work with a therapist who can better understand the nuances of a relationship like that.
Those who are seeking therapy specifically to have a safe place to explore their identity.
Those who are confident (at least most of the time!) in who they are and, while not needing therapy to explore their identity, they still want a therapist who has a deeper understanding of their identity and the community they belong to.