Sexuality Identity

We find that a good first step in the coming out process is to reflect on your own personal journey of self-discovery and knowing: When did I first recognize I was different? What did it feel like for me to feel trans or queer? How did I want to express or hide it? How did I try to change or embrace it? As we find the language of our own story, it gives us confidence to share our internal truth with others. A great next step is to identify the safety and trustworthiness of your close friends and family. Coming out to true allies will help you build a network of support making it easier to come out to those who might be a bit more standoffish or rejecting. 

Sexual orientation is the involuntary way the body experiences and expresses sexual arousal and attractions. Although gender identity stems from involuntary experiences in the body, it is very different from sexual orientation in that it describes how one experiences the knowing of being either male, female, nonbinary, or somewhere on the gender spectrum. Gender identity is not defined by the physical body, but rather by the internal knowing one has of who they are. 

Dating and creating long-lasting, healthy relationships might just be two of the hardest things we will ever do. Navigating them requires a lot of awareness, and for many of us in the LGBTQIA+ community, the healing from developmental trauma. Knowing your attachment style and how to manage it will also give you a lot of control in relationships. To learn more, scroll through our blog or reach out to us for a free consultation. 

At iAmClinic we are a team of queer, trans, and allied therapists. We believe it is important that you work with someone who has not only walked in your shoes, but has also experienced the changes you seek. You have found a good queer or trans therapist when they can speak from life experience in addition to their academic training. You should look for a therapist who does not need you to teach them about your queer or trans experience, but one who knows because they share that experience with you. 

We often say that it is our job to work ourselves out of a job. In that light, therapy sessions are collaborations between you and your therapist. We first want to earn your trust by being safe, well-trained, and capable. As the therapeutic process takes shape, it becomes a working relationship, much like teamwork. We often provide psychological education on certain behavioral patterns or relational dynamics and provide safe feedback that will help you grow in a safe environment. We also take great pride in showing up authentically, so you’ll get to know your therapist as much as we get to know you. We affirm what research tells us time and time again: It is the therapeutic relationship that is most important. As a result, therapy sessions are more of a safe place to be challenged, to be heard, and to be allowed to be honest with how you show up in the world. 

The length of therapy deepens on what you would like to address and how deep you want to go. Many people like to address a specific issue, while others want to reach a new level of wholeness. Although a specific number of sessions cannot be determined, you can work closely with your therapist to get the most out of every minute you are with us.

We have a wide range of experienced therapists who offer a variety of price points. Depending on what you would like to address and how deep you’d like to go, therapy will range in price. If you’d like to set a free consultation with a therapist, they will help give you an anticipated range of the cost. 

Yes. Therapy, especially therapy with queer, trans, or allied therapists, can be helpful in giving you tools to cope with, desensitizing reactions, and finding confidence to deal with discrimination and stigma. We often act as advocates when it is appropriate and help you find resources that offer support and assistance. In terms of therapy, we can use modalities like EMDR or Breathwork to help you gain the skills and insights to help you stand firm in a heterosexist, cisgendered world.