Over the past 5 plus years I have found that my practice consists almost entirely of transgender, nonbinary, genderfluid, and questioning individuals who are wanting to work with a trans identified therapist. For some of my clients their identity and/or transition is our focus, and for others we are working on other mental health factors and stressors in their life but they appreciate knowing that they are working with an affirming provider.
I am able to offer letters of support for existing and new clients. I work collaboratively to find out what you already know and want, what you might have questions about, and if discussing surgery who your aftercare supports are. For new clients I ask that we meet for two sessions focused on discussing the care you are seeking at the end of which I will finalize your letter.
You will also find a list of medical centers in the Boston area that provide affirming care and are labelled by model of care they use for gender affirming hormones on my resources page (i.e. informed consent, assessment, letter, etc).
I strongly believe in the principles of neurodiversity. In my work with clients I am required by insurance to provide diagnosis, but unless discussed otherwise as a preference or when seeing someone with a desire for diagnostic assessment or accommodations requiring diagnosis, do not focus on diagnostic criteria and disorders.
I will never tell someone I am working with that continuing to take safety precautions to lower your risk of Covid 19 or other infections is irrational. I wear a KN95 or N95 mask for in person sessions and maintain a HEPA filter running in the office. (Note: the building my office is in does not require masks. I do not require clients to mask in my office but am able to coordinate scheduling so that clients who need reduced risk are seen at times that allow for me to increase air turn over in the space prior to their session.)
My background in art therapy can show up in many ways in our sessions depending on your preferences. I consider art based work part of my toolbox and that can look like using art directives to deepen your understanding of a particular theme, using art as a way to warm up and ground at the start of session, strengthening your own identity and practice as an artist, using art as a way to access non-verbal needs, or something you do during session while we talk to help you stay focused. I also often integrate other areas of creativity and expression such as writing, video games, and role playing.
In practice I integrate my learning from multiple trauma treatment modalities into work with all clients. I also strongly integrate building gentleness and compassion with self and parts that have developed to survive trauma that may be impacting you in uncomfortable and painful ways.
HRP Counseling and Art Therapy 