lgbtq-affirming therapy services in philadelphia, pa
You deserve to feel at home in your body.
Therapy for LGBTQ professionals, teens, transgender individuals and their partners. Compassionate mental health support for your authentic journey.
Does this sound like you?
You want to feel comfortable in your own skin.
But instead, you’re exhausted from second-guessing yourself and never feeling good enough. You feel lonely and that you don’t fit in no matter who you’re with. You’re burned out by taking care of everyone, and resentful because no one is there for you. You want to relax and enjoy your life, but you feel crushed by the weight of it all. You’re good at your job, but your relationships are a mess. On the outside you seem put together, but deep down you just feel broken.
Maybe you are…
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You’re feeling depleted after years of counting calories and skipping meals, only to realize that no number on the scale will ever feel good enough. You keep turning down dinner invitations, only to spend the night scrolling your phone, feeling left out and sidelined in your own life.
You’re at happy hour and instead of joining in on the conversation, you’re stuck in your head because you can’t stop thinking about food.
You rip through outfit after outfit, and pick yourself apart before you walk out the door. You find yourself staring at the mirror while gripping your stomach and thighs, wishing your body was different.
Or maybe you avoid mirrors altogether because you’d rather pretend that your body doesn’t exist.
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When you go about your day, something feels off.
It feels like you’re going through the motions and that you’re a stranger in your own life.
The only thing that brings you comfort is fantasizing about being a different gender. But the late-night google searches about whether or not you’re trans leave you feeling confused and anxious.
Perhaps you’re ready to come out at work and are fearful that it will make you a target, or worse, you’ll get fired.
Maybe you’re just tired.
No matter where you go,you constantly have to look over your shoulder because the world is getting more and more unsafe for queer and trans people. You just want to exist in peace.
LGBTQ & Gender-Affirming Care
I provide specialized counseling for individuals across the gender spectrum, including those questioning their identity, actively transitioning, or supporting loved ones through gender journeys. My practice offers:
Individual support for gender exploration without pressure to make immediate decisions
Transition navigation addressing emotional, social, and relational aspects beyond medical interventions
Partner support for those whose loved ones are transitioning, providing space to process your own emotions and needs
Parent guidance for families with trans teens, helping you balance support with your own complex feelings
This therapeutic approach recognizes that gender journeys are deeply personal and unique, requiring mental health care that honors your individual pace and path.
Learn More -
Maybe you overthink every interaction and constantly worry about what other people think of you. Maybe you walk on eggshells around people out of fear of upsetting them.
So you stuff your feelings down to keep the peace.
You might be the go-to friend for support, but it feels like no one is there for you. You keep saying ‘yes’ to everyone, but feel resentful and angry afterwards.
Perhaps you downplay your needs because you don’t want to be a burden to others.
You find yourself drinking more at night to take the edge off and numb the pain. No matter how much you try to feel better, you wind up feeling worse.
Even when you’re surrounded by friends, you walk away feeling empty and alone.
Through integrated treatment combining IFS, somatic approaches, and art therapy, we work to heal past wounds while building resilience for future challenges.
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Evidenced based therapy that helps you break the cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsions so you can feel more like yourself again.
I help people overcome intrusive thoughts and compulsive actions using the research backed method, Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP). Treatment will involve completing exposure exercises while also practicing resisting your compulsions. We’ll help you face your fears and learn how to handle your emotions so you can feel more in control of your life and less afraid of the future.
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As a queer woman married to a trans woman, I understand the joys and challenges of being in a relationship with a transitioning partner. It’s your journey too, and you deserve to be seen and supported. Whether you got together after your partner transitioned, or your partner just came out, I’m here for you.
hi I’m christine (she/her)
I help LGBTQ folks build the confidence to live life on their own terms.
As a queer licensed therapist in Philadelphia, I love working with geeky career-driven professionals, creatives and teens who want to stop just existing in survival-mode and start living life with more freedom and clarity.
Whether you're a queer, non-binary person in tech struggling with disordered eating, an entrepreneur dealing with imposter syndrome, or a trans person navigating medical systems, I get you. I’m here to help.
YOU BELONG HERE.
YOU BELONG HERE.
Together, we'll work on healing old emotional wounds so you can feel like yourself again.
My approach to therapy is rooted in helping you understand how past experiences and current societal expectations impact how you feel in your body, in your relationships and with yourself.
Instead of just talking about change, we’ll use creative and holistic approaches to explore the patterns that keep you stuck, and find healthier ways to move forward.
The goal isn’t to dwell in the past, but to understand it so you can have more freedom in the present.
Over time, anxiety and food issues won’t run the show anymore, and you’ll have the confidence to advocate for your needs and the courage to define what you want out of life.
Specialized therapy in society hill, philadelphia and pa
Support for Queer and Trans Teens
Is your teen questioning their gender, trying new pronouns or recently came out as trans? Maybe your teen is navigating coming out at school and you’re thinking about how to tell their grandparents. Perhaps your teen wants to pursue HRT and your hesitant to move forward out of fear your kid will be targeted. Transitioning is a journey for everyone. I’m here to support your teen, and you.
specialized therapy services i offer
Individual Therapy for Personal Growh
You’ve been trying to keep it together, but underneath it all, you’re exhausted. Therapy is a chance to stop pretending you’re fine and finally talk about what’s really going on—whether that’s anxiety that never lets up, a relationship that drains you, or old wounds you’ve tried to ignore. Together, we’ll unpack what’s really going on underneath and find new ways to move through it that feel more grounded, authentic, and sustainable. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
You’ve probably worked with therapists before who didn’t quite get it—or who made assumptions about your identity. Finding someone who really understands the layers of queerness, gender, and mental health can feel exhausting.
As a queer woman married to a trans partner, I bring both professional training and lived experience to this work. I know what it’s like to navigate systems that weren’t built for us, and I’m here to offer real understanding—not textbook advice. This is a space where every part of you is welcome, no explanations needed
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IFS helps you understand and heal the different parts of yourself that may be carrying old emotional wounds from the past. IFS teaches you to see view every part of you with curiosity and compassion, even the parts that may carry shame.
IFS is especially helpful when addressing perfectionism, people-pleasing tendencies, disordered eating and self-esteem concerns.
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You’ve talked this stuff to death, but you don’t feel better. Art therapy gives you a different way in—a way to actually feel and release what’s been building up.
We’ll use color, texture, and movement to help you connect with emotions that words can’t quite reach. You don’t have to be an artist to do this. Most people are surprised by how much clarity and relief they feel when their emotions finally have a place to land outside their head.
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Explores how past experiences shape current patterns in relationships and life, helping you understand the roots of mental health struggles while developing healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.
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ERP offers proven OCD treatment, providing concrete tools for managing obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors through structured exposure therapy exercises.
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While individual therapy provides personalized support, group therapy offers unique opportunities for peer connection and shared healing.
My groups create safe environments where LGBTQ individuals facing similar challenges can support each other's growth, practice interpersonal skills, and discover they're not alone in their mental health journey.
Learn More About Group Offerings
The journey
Reach out
You can schedule a free phone consultation by clicking here to book online.
Phone calls are around 20-30 minutes. I’ll answer any questions you have and you can be sure we’re a good fit.
Get Support
Join me each week to explore your relationship with food, and define what recovery and healing means to you.
We’ll use creative and experiential approaches to understand the root of your issues and bring unconscious patterns into awareness.
Together, we’ll develop the tools you need to learn compassion and acceptance towards your body and yourself.
Take Back Your Life
You'll have healthier, more fulfilling relationships and you'll be ready to face life’s challenges without relying on your eating disorder. You’ll understand yourself better and feel more in control of your life.
You don’t have to keep hating your body.
I can help you accept your body as it is.
My Therapeutic Approach
If you’ve ever felt like therapy was all talk and no real change, you’re not alone. My approach goes deeper. Instead of just analyzing your thoughts, we’ll use creativity, connection, and awareness of your body to explore what’s really happening underneath. I believe you already have the wisdom you need—I’m here to help you access it. Together, we’ll make sense of your story and find ways to move forward that feel real and true to you.
You’ve spent enough time trying to fit into spaces that weren’t built for you. Here, you don’t have to explain, justify, or shrink yourself to be understood. Maybe you’re a queer, non-binary professional feeling the pressure to hold it all together, a trans person navigating medical systems, or someone trying to support your partner through their own transition. I bring both personal and professional understanding to this work so you can finally exhale, drop the mask, and start feeling more like yourself again.
What to Expect When Starting Therapy
Initial Consultation
Your journey begins with a free 20-minute phone consultation, easily scheduled through my website. This conversation helps us determine if we're the right therapeutic match—a crucial factor for successful treatment. We'll briefly discuss what brings you to therapy and how my approach might support your goals.
First Session Experience
If we decide to proceed, I'll send information for setting up your client portal and completing intake paperwork. During our first session, we'll explore:
What's bringing you to therapy now and your motivation for change
Your mental health history and previous therapy experiences
Specific concerns requiring attention, including screening for eating disorders or OCD
Your hopes for our work together and initial treatment goals
My therapeutic approach and what to expect in upcoming sessions
Ongoing Treatment Structure
Once established, we'll meet weekly for one-hour sessions at a consistent day and time—your dedicated space for healing and growth.
Some people benefit from more frequent meetings or extended 90-minute sessions during intensive treatment phases.
Between sessions, I may provide journal prompts for reflection, and those engaged in ERP for OCD will complete specific homework exercises to reinforce progress.
I believe the first few therapy sessions serve as a way to see if we’re a good fit, ensuring you feel comfortable and confident in our work together.
Supporting your mental health journey.
Success in therapy requires active participation and commitment to the process. Research shows that clients who consistently attend sessions, complete homework, and practice coping skills between appointments achieve better outcomes. I'll support your journey by:
Tailoring treatment plans to your unique needs and goals
Providing consistent, reliable support through life transitions
Offering practical tools for managing symptoms and improving well-being
Adjusting our approach based on your feedback and evolving needs
Helping you build broader support networks within Philadelphia's LGBTQ community
Whether you're addressing depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, or navigating complex life transitions, therapy provides structured support for creating meaningful change. Together, we'll work toward building a fulfilling life that aligns with your authentic self while developing resilience for future challenges.
Why Choose My Practice for Mental Health Support
Philadelphia offers many therapists, but few combine specialized expertise in LGBTQ mental health, eating disorders, and trauma with a genuinely caring, relational approach. My unique qualifications include:
Advanced training in eating disorder treatment and gender-affirming care
Personal investment in the LGBTQ community through lived experience
Integration of creative and experiential modalities beyond traditional talk therapy
Understanding of how multiple identities and mental health challenges intersect
Commitment to providing culturally competent, affirming care
My Society Hill location provides convenient access for clients throughout Philadelphia, PA, with both in-person therapy and online therapy options ensuring consistent support regardless of your circumstances. Virtual counseling maintains the same quality of care as in-person sessions, offering flexibility for busy schedules or when physical presence isn't possible.
Begin Your Healing Journey Today
Taking the first step toward mental health support requires courage, especially when past experiences may have left you feeling misunderstood or marginalized. My practice offers a different experience—one where your full identity is welcomed, your struggles are validated, and your capacity for growth is honored.
You deserve support from a therapist who genuinely cares about your well-being and provides professional expertise tailored to your unique needs. Whether you're ready to address long-standing mental health issues, navigate current life transitions, or simply need someone who understands the complexity of your experience, I'm here to support your journey.
Your story matters. Your mental health deserves attention. Your authentic self is worth celebrating. Through compassionate, professional counseling that honors all aspects of who you are, you can find healing, develop effective strategies for managing life's challenges, and create the meaningful, fulfilling life you deserve.
Contact me today to schedule your free 20-minute consultation and take the first step toward comprehensive mental health care in Philadelphia, PA. Visit my website to learn more about my therapeutic approach and how we might work together toward your healing and growth