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Queer Counselor

A queer, gender affirmative blog for LGBTQ+ clients and clinicians.

Gender
Thinking About Gender

Alex Stitt on June 29, 2024

Let's stop framing gender diversity as a problem, and call out the real issue: Dehumanization and rigid thinking.

Let's stop framing gender diversity as a problem, and call out the real issue: Dehumanization and rigid thinking.

Transgender
International Transgender Day of Visibility

Alex Stitt on March 29, 2024

A Personal Perspective: With so much conflict facing trans and nonbinary people, International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is important now more than ever.

A Personal Perspective: With so much conflict facing trans and nonbinary people, International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is important now more than ever.

Transgender
How Do I Come Out as Trans or Nonbinary?

Alex Stitt on November 14, 2023

When you're trans or nonbinary, it's hard enough to figure out who to come out to and when, but what about how? Face-to-face? Online? Alone? With a friend? What's right for you?

When you're trans or nonbinary, it's hard enough to figure out who to come out to and when, but what about how? Face-to-face? Online? Alone? With a friend? What's right for you?

Stress
Art and Pride: Affirmative Art Therapy During Pride Month

Alex Stitt on June 15, 2022

Pride events can be a lot of fun, and kind of stressful too. This makes art therapy a perfect choice for self-expression, self-affirmation, and emotional catharsis.

Pride events can be a lot of fun, and kind of stressful too. This makes art therapy a perfect choice for self-expression, self-affirmation, and emotional catharsis.

Grief
Transgender Grief Therapy

Alex Stitt on November 18, 2021

As we light a candle for Transgender Day of Remembrance, it's important to recognize how grief is complicated by transphobia, and how vital it is to honor our emotions.

As we light a candle for Transgender Day of Remembrance, it's important to recognize how grief is complicated by transphobia, and how vital it is to honor our emotions.

Gender
Why the Internet Is So Important for the LGBTQ+ Community

Alex Stitt on August 25, 2021

Navigating our personal relationship with the internet can be tricky, yet for the LGBTQ+ community it can be an affirmative coping mechanism.

Navigating our personal relationship with the internet can be tricky, yet for the LGBTQ+ community it can be an affirmative coping mechanism.

Coronavirus Disease 2019
LGBTQ+ Pride in the Midst of COVID-19

Alex Stitt on June 1, 2021

Fatigued behind our masks, we're all looking forward to a healthy future, but it can be hard to find the energy. So let's review 2020, and remember what Pride is all about.

Fatigued behind our masks, we're all looking forward to a healthy future, but it can be hard to find the energy. So let's review 2020, and remember what Pride is all about.

Environment
LGBTQ+ Horticultural Therapy

Alex Stitt on March 27, 2021

Nature accepts diversity, one of the many affirming reasons Horticultural Therapy is so healing for LGBTQ+ clients, so let's get our hands dirty and find ourselves in the garden.

Nature accepts diversity, one of the many affirming reasons Horticultural Therapy is so healing for LGBTQ+ clients, so let's get our hands dirty and find ourselves in the garden.

Resilience
From Queer Failure to Queer Innocence

Alex Stitt on January 30, 2021

Even when we're out and proud, we can still be way too hard on ourselves. Maybe it's time to reclaim our innocence and make up for lost time.

Even when we're out and proud, we can still be way too hard on ourselves. Maybe it's time to reclaim our innocence and make up for lost time.

Online Therapy
"Gaymers" and Telehealth

Alex Stitt on December 11, 2020

In an age of telehealth and social distancing, LGBTQ+ video game culture may matter now more than ever. What are the best ways to play?

In an age of telehealth and social distancing, LGBTQ+ video game culture may matter now more than ever. What are the best ways to play?

Gender
How Do I Know If I'm Trans, Nonbinary?

Alex Stitt on November 16, 2020

How do we know if we're transgender or nonbinary, anyway? Let's break through doubt and analysis paralysis by affirming our felt sense of resonance and dissonance.

How do we know if we're transgender or nonbinary, anyway? Let's break through doubt and analysis paralysis by affirming our felt sense of resonance and dissonance.

Transgender
Transgender Spa Day!

Alex Stitt on September 30, 2020

When shame, gender dysphoria, and trauma history knot together under our skin, it can help to work it out on a massage table.

When shame, gender dysphoria, and trauma history knot together under our skin, it can help to work it out on a massage table.

Resilience
Protests and Resilient Self-Care

Alex Stitt on August 29, 2020

Have a client gearing up for a march or protest? Hopeful it might be empowering, yet worried it might be dangerous? Here's a few ways concerned therapists can help.

Have a client gearing up for a march or protest? Hopeful it might be empowering, yet worried it might be dangerous? Here's a few ways concerned therapists can help.

Gender
Pronoun Diversity

Alex Stitt on August 10, 2020

Studying queer literature or LGBT psychology? Getting lost on all the pronoun terms? Here's a little history to help you out.

Studying queer literature or LGBT psychology? Getting lost on all the pronoun terms? Here's a little history to help you out.

Gender
Queer Poetry Therapy

Alex Stitt on July 17, 2020

Poetry has historically been a cathartic bastion for LGBTQ+ people and is just as relevant in contemporary therapy.

Poetry has historically been a cathartic bastion for LGBTQ+ people and is just as relevant in contemporary therapy.

Empathy
LGBTQ+ Person-Centered Therapy

Alex Stitt on July 4, 2020

Why moving from emotional empathy to empathic understanding is so important for LGBTQ+ clients in person-centered therapy.

Why moving from emotional empathy to empathic understanding is so important for LGBTQ+ clients in person-centered therapy.