Transgender Therapists in Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA

My ideal client is looking to become authentically themself. They would be motivated to change and curious about what has brought them to where they are. They want to process their trauma so that it is no longer upsetting but is simply part of their story. I don't want to specify too much here, as I don't want anyone to feel excluded. If you are curious and want help, I am here for you!

You just want to know that you can walk into a room and don't have to play the "pronoun game", pretend you only have one partner, or have to listen to someone minimize your relationship, sexuality, or gender dysphoria. I am here, above all, to be your biggest advocate. I aim to create a radically accepting space to confront, question, and explore what makes you who you are. I’m not afraid to talk about the hard things. Sex, intimacy, relationships, trauma… This is your space to let it all out. Everyone is welcome here. Judgement isn't tolerated. Arriving with your real, raw, and heavy baggage is celebrated.

Hi! I'm Anne Forrest, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Self-Esteem Coach. I believe that feeling good about ourselves is our birthright, and I help clients to love themselves through individual counseling and self-esteem workshops. I use Gestalt therapy and other approaches which are experiential, feelings-focused, and include the body. I love to work with people who struggle with trauma issues, addictions, and LGBTQIA issues, as well as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, grief, and codependency. I like people who are unconventional, whether that is in their spirituality, gender identity, or any other area.

Currently accepting new clients! Being able to connect with a therapist is hard. Really hard. Especially if you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Am I right? Feeling "other" has become so normal that we often don't even realize we are merely surviving because we don't know there's another way to exist. Stress, shame, and all of the other emotions swirling around create a tornado that is hard to get out of. That's where I come in. I'm a LGBTQIA+, relationship (i.e. CNM), and culturally affirming therapist with lived experience as a queer woman with a trans partner, as well as assisted reproduction and gender-expansive parenting.

Open Space CCW is a LGBTQIA+ competent, relationship minority affirming, and social justice-oriented practice. Our goal is to eliminate fear of judgement as a barrier to personal growth and wellness. We help people move from merely surviving their lives—to truly thriving. FINALLY. We want people to walk in and feel—in their gut—genuinely welcomed with open arms and open minds. We want people to finally LET GO of the things that have been weighing them down—unabashedly and without hesitation. Our clinicians show up authentically, so that you feel like you can, too. NOTHING is off limits around here. We are holding this space for you.

Currently accepting new clients! You don't remember a time when you didn't feel "other". You have spent a lifetime navigating a world that doesn't seem to have a place for you, and it has made it immensely difficult to show up as your authentic self. You've never had a safe space to explore your identity in a way that allows you to bring ALL of your "stuff" to the table. Constantly analyzing your physical and emotional safety to do so has made it too exhausting to get to that next level even when you're finally able to determine it's safe. I want you to bring ALL of you in here. I want THIS to be that space for you, finally.

Currently accepting new clients! As a queer, trans, non-binary human I will offer my lived experience and clinical expertise where appropriate to provide a safe and affirming space. Not only for queer people, but anyone who has ever felt alone or ‘other’. I became a therapist because I know how hard it was for me to find a queer-competent and affirming mental healthcare provider when I needed it the most. I specialize working with people who struggle with complicated thoughts and feelings surrounding sexual health & wellness, intimacy, desire, sexuality, gender identity, trauma, and non-monogamous relationships.

Seeking counseling is a courageous step in your healing journey. As a therapist, I work to create a safe and affirming space for you to work towards your personal goals and growth. I am trained in art therapy and utilize art to help individuals authentically process and connect to themselves. I am here to work collaboratively with you, providing a non-judgmental space that is both safe and affirming. I believe in the transformative power of art and its ability to help individuals process emotions, connect with their true selves, and foster healing.

Currently accepting new clients! You are feeling misunderstood and overwhelmed. You feel "other". And our current social and political climate is exacerbating it. You feel like no one gets it. You have such a hard time trusting people, so the idea of taking the first step to start therapy is terrifying. You don't feel like yourself anymore, and sometimes you wonder what that even means. You feel shame. You feel like you simply "don't have time for therapy", but also know you can't continue like you have been. You want to feel more grounded, balanced, and resilient. But you have no idea how to get there.

Accepting new clients! The world is just... really hard right now. It's difficult to imagine how therapy would even help when the world is on fire. You constantly feel "other", in so many ways, which makes maintaining social and romantic relationships nearly impossible. You know you have a long list of things to process, but have never felt like you've had a truly safe, nonjudgmental space to do that. In order to heal, you know on a visceral level that you need to feel fully accepted, not just tolerated. You are starting to drown from the overwhelming stress, anxiety, neurodiversity, perfectionism, low self-worth, and isolation.

You are so tired of merely existing. You want to find self-acceptance, but sometimes you struggle with knowing what that "self" even is. You feel like you don't belong anywhere and that everyone around you has abandoned you. You feel like you are doing all of this alone. You are in pain and no one around you even knows, because you refuse to let them see it. Or you don't want to be a burden. But you know deep down you can't keep going like this, because you're a pressure cooker and you just need some relief. Or some guidance. Or SOMEthing. You may feel like you face rejection everywhere... but not here.

I'm passionate about working with folks of marginalized identities who seek a therapist with similar lived experience. My main areas of interest include gender identity, disability/illness, neuroemergence, perfectionism, dissociation, trauma, and sexuality and relationships (including non-monogamy, kink, and sex work). I enjoy supporting other therapists, caregivers, and academics/scholars. I'm also invested in serving other folks living with Septad Super Syndrome. Those who are drawn to working with me often identify as radicals, misfits, outsiders, and cycle breakers.

As a counselor, my goal is to create a respectful and affirming environment with my clients. I believe the therapeutic relationship is central to the counseling process and hope to encourage empowerment through respect, kindness, and equity. I value authenticity and encourage open and honest communication with my clients. I try to show up authentically each session to show that I am a person, just like you. I don’t pretend to be an expert, because YOU are the expert on your life. My therapeutic environment is based on equality between me and my clients.

Hello & Welcome! With over 25 years of experience in counseling with folks of varying backgrounds, I am honored to walk the path of the Counseling Journey with you. Our work & play together will allow you to further discover the strengths & resources you already have, while using these innate abilities to work with the growing edges you may wish to explore. I work in tandem with clients, parents & families as a guide, helping you to understand the ways you are the expert on your own life. Together, we will engage in an authentic therapeutic relationship to enhance your life & well-being. Helpful info: EMDRIA.org & dnmsinstitute.com

Your life is a garden; it needs attention and care! Therapy with me is a supportive, dedicated space where you develop into a skilled gardener who can cultivate the life you want. We will work together to figure out what are weeds that need to be thinned, and what flowers and crops you want to nurture. We will identify what tools, knowledge, and skills you need to grow your garden. We will navigate the barriers, internal and external, that have hindered your gardening efforts. Therapy can be hard work, but it can also be quite enjoyable, and you may be surprised by how much laughter can be involved!

Mental health can be a difficult and challenging experience. The hardest step is reaching out for help. If you have made it this far keep going. If you struggle with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, you are not alone. I work with a variety of people, from all backgrounds and all walks of life. I am interested in the human existence, and how everyone has a unique experience. I am interested in stories people tell themselves and others.

As a transpersonal, body and gestalt psychotherapist, EMDR and Comprehensive Energy Psychology practitioner, meditation teacher and hypnotherapist, I offer an embodied and integrated approach to therapy, coaching, consultation, and teaching. Our problems and difficulties are opportunities for growth and wisdom, our innate intelligence always knows exactly what we need to transform or heal. Often, we need to undergo a process of compassionately encountering what it is that we find unacceptable, terrifying, or seemingly impossible for us to bear or let go. Paradoxically, these are the things that can lead us into deeper relationship with our true self.

My approach to therapy is an integrative one that focuses on a person-centered approach. I view the therapeutic relationship as a significant element of change and will collaborate with you in a respectful, nonjudgmental, empathetic, and supportive manner. I believe that our past and current experiences effect our lives in impactful ways and influence our relationship with ourselves and those around us. I aim to empower you by uncovering your strengths and resilience on which we will build a more confident and vivid individual. I am here to help you find your place, feel connected, and reclaim control of your mind and body.

Hi! I’m marcus. I am a pre-licensed counselor who practices on the unceded land of the Lenape people, based in the city of Philadelphia. I am a queer, nonbinary, neurodistinct, Black, African American, Dominican, person. I am a recent graduate of the Counseling and Mental Health Services (M.S.Ed.) and Professional Counseling (M.Phil.Ed.) programs at the University of Pennsylvania; I also hold a BA in Psychology with a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.