8 Best LGBTQIA+ Therapists in NYC

LGBTQ AFFIRMING THERAPY IN NEW YORK CITY

lgbtq therapist nyc

YOU DESERVE A SAFE SPACE TO THRIVE.

  • We are committed to providing a safe and affirming space for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Our practice offers virtual therapy to help people across New York City and throughout New York state. We believe in matching the right therapist with the right client, which is why we prioritize the perfect fit above everything else. Our practice isn't just LGBTQIA+ friendly, but we only have actively affirming therapists who are welcoming of all.

We use inclusive language that respects all gender identities and sexual orientations, which can also involve things like using terms like "partner" and avoiding heteronormative assumptions. We are committed to providing a safe, supportive space for healing and growth.

PRIDE AND PERIL: THE PARADOX OF LIVING AUTHENTICALLY IN AN UNWELCOMING WORLD

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and more) community, you may have the cognitive dissonance of feeling joy while attending Pride parades, celebrating love, and expressing yourself authentically while also fearing for your safety at those events, watching anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation being passed, and worrying about the health of those you love. 

And we don’t forget: the first Pride was a riot. How are you supposed to live your truth and be who you are meant to be when there are lawmakers in this country who want to take away all of your rights? When will you get to live with the same freedoms that everyone else has? LGBTQ therapy needs to understand all of the multitudes contained within the lived experiences of queer people.

Do any of these thoughts resonate with you?

  • "I see all these anti-LGBTQIA+ laws being passed, and it makes me feel hopeless and scared about the future."

  • “My family makes weird comments at gatherings. I love them but it makes me dread the holidays because I don’t feel like I am accepted.”

  • “I’m the only gay person at work and I feel like I have to be perfect all of the time as a representative of our entire community.”

  • "I'd feel more comfortable talking to a therapist who understands my lived experience in some way."

  • "It would be helpful to find someone who can help me manage my anxiety and depression, but also understands the specific experiences of being queer in this country."

  • “I just want the same things everyone else does: happiness, love, and success.”

  • "I want to feel a part of the LGBTQ community, live in a safe environment, and thrive in NYC."

Whatever the reasons bringing you to therapy today, you deserve to feel safe, free of judgment, and supported.

lgbtq therapy nyc

EXPERIENCES SPECIFIC TO THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY: 

We know that your community is not a monolith and your lived experience will be different from everyone else’s, even where there are similarities. We believe that every letter in the LGBTQIA+ acronym deserves to be heard for its uniqueness. Your diversity is what makes you special, and you deserve to work with a therapist who has extensive experience in your specific issues related to your identities, who is non judgmental, and who has a strong sense of their own identity in your work together.

Navigating your identity within the larger context of work, dating, friendships, and every other space you occupy can cause tension in your personal relationships, miscommunications at work, and feelings of not belonging. We understand why members of the LGBTQIA+ community may be experiencing increased levels of depression, higher incidences of anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, disordered eating, problematic substance use, identity issues, low self esteem, or overall hopelessness. 

lgbt therapy nyc

You deserve to get the LGBTQ affirming care you deserve from specifically trained New York therapists.

Taking care of yourself is not a luxury–it’s essential in a fast-paced world like ours.

You deserve to work with a therapist who is dedicated to authentic care, knows the difference between gender and sexuality, and will never struggle to use the correct pronouns.

That’s where we come in.

Psychotherapy that is specifically tailored to the LGBTQIA+ community by both allies and members of the community will provide a supportive, safe, and inclusive space to be who you are, exactly as you are. 

Through LGBTQ therapy in NYC, new clients here can:

  • Explore your gender identity and sexual orientation

  • Address your substance abuse

  • Navigate the process and potential challenges of coming out

  • Identify and process family dynamics, including creating families of every configuration and deciding if or how you want to raise children

  • Work through feelings of resentment or shame resulting from negative social attitudes towards your community, particularly towards transgender people

  • Process the long-lasting impact on your mental and emotional well-being from intergenerational trauma

  • Create healthy and loving romantic relationships that work for you through a queer theory lens

  • Help you not just cope with challenging situations at work, but truly thrive in your career 

If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and find yourself facing increased levels of anxiety, depression, or hopelessness, know that you are not alone. If you're struggling with anxiety, depression, self-harm, family relationships, or discrimination, we are here to support you in a non judgmental environment on your path to self-love and serenity. Connect with one of our therapists today and take the first step toward healing.

As an intersectional therapy practice, and human beings living in the greater NYC area, we stand with and support our clients who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community both in our individual practices and in larger advocacy acts.


MEET OUR LGBTQIA+ THERAPISTS IN NYC

lgbt therapist nyc

1. Anjna Arun

Mental Health Counselor - Limited Permit

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  • As a therapist, Anjna works with clients who are feeling lost, overwhelmed, or unsure whether they're living for themselves or just to meet the expectations of others. Their relationships are causing stress or leaving them feeling disconnected, and they're struggling to align where they are now with where they thought they'd be. Anjna uses psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Gestalt modalities and utilize techniques from each to create a treatment plan that is individualized to your needs.

    Anjna strives to create a therapy space where you can come exactly as you are, free from judgment. As individuals, we are made up of so many intersecting pieces, and therapy should provide a safe space to explore these different components, whether it be shame, desires, or societal pressures. Anjna recognizes how incredibly brave the coming out process is, even when shared in the confidential space of therapy.

    Whether you are navigating identity, relationships, or the complexities of self-acceptance, Anjna is here to support you as you explore your truth with compassion and understanding. 

    • Credentials: Mental Health Counselor - Limited Permit (MHC-LP)

    • Education: MA, CUNY Brooklyn College

    • Specialties: Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression

    • Modalities Used: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy

    • https://newyorkcitypsychotherapists.com/anjna-arun-mhclp

gbtq therapy new york

2. JULIA LAPLAZA

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

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  • As a therapist, Julia works with college students and young adults just entering the workforce. Julia has been successful in helping clients find relief from painful past experiences and overcome barriers towards meeting their goals. In your work together, clients will be able to discover new insights about themselves and get to the root of their challenges. Julia's goal is to help clients regain control of their lives and see long term change.

    As an ally of the LGBTQIA community, Julia offers a safe and affirming space where clients can discuss and process the ways in which their identity and experiences have shaped their lived experiences. 

    • Credentials: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

    • Education: MA, Baruch College

    • Specialties: Trauma, Anxiety, Relationships, Transitions, Boundaries

    • Modalities Used: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Psychodynamic

    • https://newyorkcitypsychotherapists.com/julia-laplaza-lmhc

lgbtq mental health nyc

3. Angel Then

Mental Health Counselor - Limited Permit

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  • As a therapist, Angel works with adults in their 20s and 30s who give so much of themselves to others yet find that their relationships lack reciprocity and feelings of shame or guilt interfere with setting healthy boundaries. Many of Angel's clients come to him because they have grown so tired of the mask that they wear day in and day out when they are showing up for others and wonder when others will show up for them. Their negative thoughts have become exhausting and they wonder if they'll ever be able to integrate the side of them that other people see with the one that is most authentic but that they are afraid to show for fear of rejection or shame.

    It’s a privilege to be in a position to offer and hold a safe space while serving the LBGTQIA+ community and it’s an opportunity that Angel takes very seriously. The knowledge of the unique experiences of his clients throughout the years of this work has taught him that we are far more alike than different and that’s a beautiful thing. Angel helps clients navigate the interpersonal issues that individuals under this umbrella may often face in their everyday lives whether at work, at home, at school, and any other spaces in which they exist. As a therapist, Angel helps clients explore feelings of being marginalized, discriminated against, or invalidated, and affirms their experiences through a lens of compassion and empathy. 

    • Credentials: Mental Health Counselor - Limited Permit (MHC-LP)

    • Education: MA, Baruch College

    • Specialties: Trauma, Anxiety, Relationships, Transitions, Boundaries

    • Modalities Used: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Humanistic Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy

    • https://newyorkcitypsychotherapists.com/angel-then-mhclp

lgbtq therapist nyc

4. Maggie Mccarthy

Licensed Master Social Worker

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  • As a therapist, Maggie works with adults in their 20s and 30s dealing with a history of unresolved pain. With a keen awareness of both individual factors and the impacts of social injustice and intersectional oppression, Maggie supports her clients on their journeys of personal growth towards true healing. Maggie utilizes mindfulness practices, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), somatic therapy, and narrative therapy to help her clients understand and reimagine past experiences, challenge negative thinking, and promote holistic healing within their minds and bodies.

    Maggie is passionate about creating a nurturing and welcoming therapeutic space for every client. As a therapist, she recognizes the vital role of lived experience in the healing process, and by prioritizing safety and client autonomy, Maggie partners with clients to explore how systemic, intergenerational, and interpersonal harm can impact mental health and well-being. Her mission is to partner with clients on their healing journey, helping them restore their sense of self, uncover their personal strengths, and cultivate peace in their body. Ultimately, she aims to empower clients to enhance their overall well-being and achieve their goals.

lgbtq therapy nyc

5. Laina Mason

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Supervisor

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  • As a therapist, Laina brings over 15 years of counseling experience, specializing in helping clients navigate the challenges of both historical and recent traumas, including sexual violence, as well as major life transitions. Laina's clients are often dealing with varying levels of anxiety, sadness, and disconnection, which can hinder their ability to sustain relationships, feel successful in their endeavors, set boundaries, find joy, or revel in the fullness of a life that integrates their whole self. Laina's approach focuses on helping clients understand and process their experiences, empowering them to regain control over their lives.

    As a queer therapist who grew up in a queer household, Laina has both lived experience and professional expertise in understanding the unique relational challenges and discrimination faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals. Laina has worked with clients navigating gender exploration, transitioning, and living as their authentic selves, as well as those traversing relationship structures such as ethical non-monogamy and polyamory. Additionally, she has experience supporting people exploring kink and different sexual identities with their partners. Laina also recognizes that while all of these identities shape our stories, they aren’t the only stories we want to tell in therapy, nor are they the only focus of our work together.

    • Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

    • Education: MSW, University of Albany

    • Specialties: Sexual Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression

    • Modalities Used: Internal Family Systems (IFS), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Polyvagal and Somatic Experiencing

    • https://newyorkcitypsychotherapists.com/laina-mason-lcsw

lgbt therapy nyc

6. Gabriella Giachin

Licensed Master Social Worker

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  • As a therapist, Gabby works with young adults to navigate life transitions, improve their relationship with their body and improve their body confidence, and support them in finding solace and peace of mind. In particular, Gabby works with young adults navigating life transitions, improving their relationship with themselves, and decreasing their relationship anxieties. Gabby's clients often come to her with traumatic friendships earlier in life that are impacting the way they perceive themselves and their relationships with romantic partners, colleagues, friends, and family. Gabby helps her clients break down the nuances of their adult relationships and tease out the contributing factors so that they can figure out the role they play in their own lives and decision-making, and begin to enact change in a way that brings them peace, joy, and self-assuredness.

    As a therapist, Gabby prides herself on being a non-judgmental, safe space for clients to explore the many facets of their identity including race, sex, and gender. Gabby works with her clients to explore the ways oppression and systemic injustice may contribute to the mental health challenges her clients may be facing, and uses that knowledge in their work toward growth, self-esteem, and self-love.

    • Credentials: Licensed Master Social Work (LMSW)

    • Education: MA, Columbia University

    • Specialties: Trauma, Anxiety, Self-Esteem

    • Modalities Used: Somatic Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic, Motivational Interviewing

    • https://newyorkcitypsychotherapists.com/gabriella-giachin-lmsw

lgbt therapist nyc

7. Allison Soss

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

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  • As a therapist, Allie helps clients overcome negative self-talk, life transitions, relationship issues, and imposter syndrome and achieve an increased understanding of feelings, emotions, relationships, communication, and self-worth. Allie works primarily with adults having difficulty managing the stress of their relationships, career, life transitions, self-esteem, communication, and boundaries. Allie works with her clients to create a safe space, empathetic self-perception, and an inviting environment to help clients achieve their goals and build long-lasting skills.

    Allie creates a nonjudgmental and affirming space where individuals feel seen and validated. This emphasizes a collaborative approach that fosters self-trust and personal empowerment, which is crucial when navigating identity struggles and societal pressures. Allie helps her LGBTQ+ clients address and reframe internalized negative beliefs, which leads to improving their self-concept. Additionally, Allie’s approach supports managing the complexities of relationships and communication, aiding clients in navigating a world that may not always be accepting.

    • Credentials: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

    • Education: MA, Baruch College

    • Specialties: Trauma, Anxiety, Relationships, Transitions, Boundaries

    • Modalities Used: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Psychodynamic

    • https://newyorkcitypsychotherapists.com/allie-soss-lmhc

gbtq therapy new york

8. Marnie Tetzlaff

Licensed Master Social Worker

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  • As a therapist, Marnie's approach to therapy is deeply rooted in a belief that every individual has the potential for personal growth and transformation. She creates a therapeutic environment that is both safe and supportive, providing clients with a space to explore their unique identities and address any cultural conflicts they may be experiencing. Marnie recognizes the significant impact that cultural background can have on an individual's well-being. She is skilled in helping clients understand how their cultural heritage shapes their beliefs, values, and behaviors. By exploring these influences, clients can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences.

    As an ally, Marnie is committed to assisting clients in navigating issues related to belonging and self-acceptance. She helps clients develop a sense of self-worth, regardless of the challenges they may face. Whether it's dealing with family dynamics, identity conflicts, or the pressures of societal expectations, Marnie's goal is to ensure that clients feel seen, understood, and supported on their journey of self-discovery. By providing a compassionate and non-judgmental space, Marnie empowers clients to embrace their authentic selves and build resilience in the face of external challenges. Her approach to therapy is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to live authentically and reach their full potential.

    • Credentials: Licensed Master Social Work (LMSW)

    • Education: MSW, Fordham University

    • Specialties: High-Conflict Divorce, Family Systems, Trauma, Anxiety, Relationships, Transitions, Boundaries

    • Modalities Used: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Psychodynamic

    • https://newyorkcitypsychotherapists.com/marnie-tetzlaff-lmsw


lgbtq mental health nyc

We believe in matching the right therapist with the right client, which is why we prioritize the perfect fit above everything else. When you work with us, you will begin to feel more understood, learn to communicate your needs more clearly, and create happier, healthier connections with the people you care about. You'll gain tools to manage conflict, express yourself openly, and build stronger bonds, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life. We approach our work through a culturally competent, culturally responsive, and anti-racist lens. We are an intersectional and feminist practice.

Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American law professor who coined the term in 1989, defines intersectionality as “a prism for seeing the way in which various forms of inequality often operate together and exacerbate each other.” In other words, our gender, race, culture, ethnicity, religion, able-bodiedness, and various other factors interplay within the systems in which we operate, and we must address all of them as they interact. We must consider all factors that impact the systems in which we operate.

WE ARE ALWAYS STRIVING TO LEARN AND PROVIDE THE BEST AFFIRMING CARE POSSIBLE.

We are always learning as both practitioners and supervisors, and we encourage our clients to pursue frank and open discussions with their therapist about how race, culture, gender, sexuality, and any other identity markers will show up in the room during your work together.


Here’s what’s next.

  1. Fill out our contact form. Share some information about you so that we can match you with the perfect therapist for your needs. You can submit your insurance information prior to the call so we can verify your benefits and copay.

  2. Book a free consultation. After you fill out our form, have a low-pressure, 20-minute call with your therapist to make sure they are the right fit.

  3. Get the care you deserve. Schedule your first session and start on your journey to feeling better right away.


FAQs about LGBTQIA+ mental health care

  • A: Absolutely. We believe in matching the right therapist with the right client, which is why we prioritize the perfect fit above everything else. When you work with us, you will begin to feel more understood, learn to communicate your needs more clearly, and create happier, healthier connections with the people you care about. You'll gain tools to manage conflict, express yourself openly, and build stronger bonds, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life. We approach our work through a culturally competent, culturally responsive, and anti-racist lens.

  • A: Our work differs from LGBTQIA+ friendly therapy in the sense that it goes beyond tolerance and actively promotes understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ experiences. 

  • A: We acknowledge the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals, such as discrimination, social isolation, and mental health concerns. We pursue ongoing continuing education and training in LGBTQIA+ mental health issues to demonstrate our commitment to staying up-to-date on best practices and clinical experience for serving this community.

    We use inclusive language that respects all gender identities and sexual orientations, which can also involve things like using terms like "partner" and avoiding heteronormative assumptions. We are committed to providing a safe, supportive space for healing and growth.

  • A: Every couple is unique, so we tailor our approach to your specific situation. Your therapist will work collaboratively with you both to identify your goals and develop strategies for a healthier relationship. All of our therapists are familiar with the unique challenges that LGBTQIA+ couples can face, such as minority stress, coming out within relationships, navigating legal and social barriers, and exploring non-traditional family structures.

  • If you're ready to feel more understood, learn to communicate your needs more clearly, and create happier, healthier connections with the people you care about, you're ready for therapy. You'll gain tools to manage conflict, express yourself openly, and build stronger bonds, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life. Therapy can help you feel more like yourself - the self you want to be and know you could be, if only you could get out of your own head.