Podcast: What Straight Couples Can Learn From LGBT Couples
Our clinical director is featured on the Empowered Relationshippodcast with Dr. Jessica Higgins talking about LGBT couples therapyand what straight couples can learn from queer couples. Laureland Dr. Higgins talk about what’s similar and what’s different when a couple is part of the LGBT community.
Claiming your identity as a lesbian later in life can be both liberating and overwhelming. Working with a lesbian therapist can make all the difference. Therapy offers a protected space to process questions, grief, anxiety, and excitement, all while being supported by someone who understands the nuances of your experience.
Planning a wedding is can be exciting. But for LGBT couples, the process often comes with challenges that straight couples may not have to consider. Here are our LGBT therapist approved tips for couples to plan a wedding that truly reflects your love while minimizing stress.
The first half of 2025 has been particularly difficult for our LGBT community. As we are all aware, political unrest and targeted efforts to strip away our rights have accelerated in recent years. These forces have taken an especially heavy toll on our trans siblings. It’s in times like these that relationships within our community are tested. Here are ways to fortify your LGBT relationship against the political stress we are facing.
If you're a trans person receiving gender affirming care, you know it sometimes involves jumping through some annoying hoops. While overall access to trans-affirming healthcare is getting easier in California, there are still some steps we wish weren't there. One of those is getting a letter from a mental health professional to undergo gender confirmation surgery. We hope this step is eliminated soon. But until then, we'll continue to offer our assessment and letter writing services. If you're considering coming to us for this kind of assessment, here's what you can expect.
No one should feel less valuable because of who they love or how they express their gender. Unfortunately, many people experience this pain. Internalized homophobia happens when people in the LGBTQ+ community believe negative things about their identity. This harms self-esteem, relationships, and mental health.
We can't live in a society that discriminates against us LGBT folks and not have it effect us. It also affects our closest, most sacred relationships. Here are subtle ways it might be showing up and what to do about it.
It's natural to experience a range of emotions about your teen's identity. This is especially true if it feels unfamiliar or triggers anxiety. Ignoring or suppressing your emotions may hinder your ability to provide the support your teen needs. But it's also important that you process your feelings away from your child. Here’s what our teen therapists recommend.
For people who are considering gender confirmation surgery, the role of different professionals in the process can get confusing fast. We'd like to clarify the role of therapists in this process. Therapy during this journey not only supports you emotionally but also fulfills a role in the medical process itself. Letters from therapists are often required by medical providers and insurance companies. Here's what you should know.
San Francisco has long been a hub of LGBT culture. As therapists who love to read, queer bookshops are a bit of weakness for us. These cozy corners offer a trove of queer literature and serve as hubs for connection, celebration, and belonging. The following bookstores invite readers to explore LGBT narratives.
Adolescence is a trying time time when your child is figuring out who they are and where they fit in. In recent years, gender has become a more common theme. You may wonder whether your teenager is experiencing a genuine exploration of identity or just going through a phase. Specifically, you may wonder, "Is my child trans, or is it just a phase?" Our teen therapists explain the research, the reality, and how you should proceed if your child is exploring their gender.
Life is a shared journey when you're part of a couple. Like any journey, it has its share of challenges. One significant challenge that can impact a lesbian relationship's health is internalized homophobia. Its effects can be simple but profound: feelings of shame, guilt, or self-rejection that stem from prejudices against non-straight people.
Bisexuality often doesn't get the attention it deserves. While much is said about being gay or straight or trans, being bisexual comes with its own unique experiences and challenges that aren't talked about. That's why we're going to look at what it means to be bisexual, the beauty and the challenges, and how celebrating this part of who you are can make your life better.
In a city as big and busy as Los Angeles, it can be hard to find places to make other queer friends. But if you know where to look, there are opportunities to meet and connect with other queer women. Whether you're new to the area or looking to expand your social circle, here are places to meet other lesbians and make new friends.
Most of us long for closeness that feels deep, safe, and genuine. But sometimes, in the rush to get there, people may overshare too soon, leaving both parties feeling vulnerable and off balance.