First sessions are often mixed bags in terms of emotions, from apprehension to relief. My goal for this initial meeting is to ensure that clients leave with a sense of having been heard and feeling safe. I want them to feel that their concerns are taken seriously and that they are entering a supportive environment. Additionally, I aim to provide clients with a clear sense of what to expect in future sessions. This includes offering insight into the structure of the therapy process, my approach, and how we will work together. It’s important for clients to understand how therapy will unfold, what methods or techniques we might use, and how we’ll address their specific needs.

I also strive to address any reservations or questions they might have about therapy or my approach. By clarifying these aspects early on, I hope to build a foundation of trust and transparency, setting the stage for a productive and collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Therapy often ends up at the bottom of our to-do lists, and I understand that it can be daunting to open up emotionally to someone new. It takes real courage to engage in this process, and acknowledging that is crucial. To start, I would try to understand their perspective on therapy and what they hope to gain from it. I would recommend seeking out a qualified therapist, as professional credentials are important for ensuring a high standard of care. However, I’d also emphasize that finding the right therapist-client fit is equally crucial. It’s important to work with someone you feel comfortable with and who aligns with your personal needs and values.

I’d also want to reassure them that therapy is a journey—one that is often slow and gradual. It’s essential to approach the process with patience, understanding that meaningful progress takes time. Moreover, therapy is fundamentally a collaborative space. I encourage clients to give feedback, set boundaries, and ask questions. If at any point you feel that therapy isn’t meeting your needs, you are completely within your rights to discontinue. And remember, you can always return to therapy when you’re ready. This flexibility is a key part of making the therapeutic process work for you.

My goal is to build a therapeutic relationship that is safe, trusting, mutually respectful, and deeply empathetic. I believe that the foundation of effective therapy lies in the co-creation of a space where both the client and I feel secure and comfortable. This isn’t just about applying therapeutic modalities—it’s about crafting an environment where the client can be their authentic self.

In this collaborative space, I’m open to integrating various forms of expression that resonate with the client. Whether it’s humor, dark jokes, memes, songs, reels, or other creative outlets, I encourage clients to bring whatever helps them express their thoughts and emotions. Of course, this is always done within the ethical boundaries of our therapeutic relationship, ensuring that our interactions remain respectful and appropriate.

The relationship I strive to build is one where the client feels genuinely safe—safe to explore their feelings, to share their stories, and to be vulnerable. Authenticity is key; I want my clients to feel they can show up as their true selves, without fear of judgment. Feedback is an integral part of this process, and I actively welcome it. I encourage clients to share their thoughts on how the therapy is going, what’s working for them, and what might need adjustment. By fostering this kind of relationship, I aim to create a therapeutic journey that is not only effective but also deeply meaningful for the client, allowing them to feel empowered and supported as they navigate their path to healing and growth.

I genuinely believe that while I may be a mental health professional, my clients are the true experts of their own lives. Each person has their own unique journey, shaped by the environments they’ve navigated and the circumstances they’ve encountered. Over time, we all develop ways to cope with the challenges life throws at us, drawing on our inner resources and resilience.

Therapy, in this context, is a collaborative tool. It offers a space to explore and develop new coping mechanisms and perspectives, but it’s important to remember that life is constantly unfolding around us. As we engage in therapy, we’re simultaneously responding to the ever-changing dynamics of our personal worlds, making therapy not just a process of learning but also one of adapting and growing in real-time.

Through my work, I’ve also learned the profound value of showing up for myself. I’ve been deeply inspired by the courage and resilience of my clients and the communities I work with. Their strength has taught me the importance of self-care and self-compassion, reminding me that the process of healing and growth is ongoing—for both the client and the therapist.

My strengths as a therapist lie in the authenticity and humanness I bring to my sessions. I’m open to exploring various methods within ethical bounds that might support my clients’ journeys. In the past, this has included using humor—sometimes even dark humor—along with movie and song references, or watching relevant clips from movies, reels, or videos during sessions.

Beyond these approaches, my genuine care for my clients is at the heart of my practice. I deeply understand the privilege and responsibility I hold in creating a safe space for my clients’ emotions and narratives, and I honor that responsibility to the best of my abilities.

I am committed to continually revising and expanding my knowledge to better serve my clients. I also prioritize self-reflection and regularly seek feedback to identify and address my own biases and blind spots, ensuring that I am always growing in my role as a therapist

• I use an eclectic approach, which essentially means that I borrow from several schools of thought. I use thought based approaches like cognitive behaviour therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy and transactional analysis which is understanding the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and how the association between these might be affecting our day to day. It includes recognising patterns which might not be serving us by challenging any biases we might hold. This helps us being grounded in the present, in the here and now.
• I am also trained in Narrative therapy which explores the idea of how we all hold certain narratives/stories about ourselves which often make us feel disempowered. Narrative therapy explores where these narratives might have originated from and discovering alternative narratives that might exist to the dominant ones that we might have internalised. It helps identifying skills, strengths and values we might hold close and helps get a better understanding of what our hopes might be. This also helps in taking control of the narrative of your own life and having a greater sense of agency and autonomy by reshaping the narrative of one’s life.
• Through this, I also bring in a systemic lens in therapy by locating the “problems” in the larger system context, instead of the client being the problem. For example, cast, gender, race, socio-economic situations, etc.
• My approach is also relational, meaning I believe that relationships are at the core of our well being. Through this I explore the relationship between me and my client and our dynamic.
• Finally, I also bring in Internal family systems, which underlines that everyone has different parts to who they are and all of them are equally important. These parts exist for a reason and they are constantly trying to tell us something and coexist. IFS parts work helps in understanding, with curiosity, and without judgment, what these parts might be trying to tell us, and what purpose might they hold. And as we are able to hold space for these parts, including the ones we don’t like, we can build compassion and acceptance for our whole self.

In the end, I don’t offer band aid solutions and look for sustainability through my sessions. My idea of therapy is to empower clients by grounding in present and exploring the layers of the past and through that make sense of patterns which might feel dissonant to what we are today.

Being queer affirmative goes beyond acceptance; it’s about actively practicing allyship and advocacy within the therapeutic space. This means not only creating an environment where queer and trans clients feel safe and understood but also making a conscious effort to deeply engage with and support their unique identities and experiences.

One key aspect of this is dedicating time to continuously educate myself. I regularly read books, articles, and other resources that explore queer and trans issues, ensuring that my knowledge is both current and comprehensive. However, learning doesn’t stop with reading. I also make it a priority to engage in conversations within my community and with fellow therapists, allowing me to gain diverse perspectives and insights. Listening to the lived experiences of queer individuals is particularly important to me, as it provides a more nuanced understanding of the realities my clients may face.

Beyond these broader efforts, I’m also attentive to the smaller, yet significant, aspects of being an ally. This includes being mindful of the pronouns and language I use—something as simple as this can make a world of difference in helping clients feel respected and seen.

To further enhance my understanding and approach, I actively seek supervision from someone who identifies as queer. This supervision is invaluable; it provides me with insights that are rooted in lived experience, which in turn helps me reflect on and address my own privileges and biases. This reflective practice ensures that I am not only informed but also accountable in my role as a therapist.

In addition to these ongoing practices, I make it a point to regularly attend seminars, workshops, and conferences focused on queer and trans issues. These events are crucial for keeping up with the latest research, trends, and discussions in the field, allowing me to continually evolve and improve my practice. By engaging in these multiple layers of learning and reflection, I strive to create a therapeutic environment that is not only safe but also deeply affirming and supportive for queer and trans clients.