LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in New York City, New York NY
We are proud to feature top rated LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in New York City. We encourage you to review each profile to find your best match.
LGBTQ+ Issues
Kate E. Stephenson
Life Coach, ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Holistic Life, Career & Executive
My personal belief and my coaching ethos is that you are a whole, creative, resourceful person as you are, right now. That is a belief that is being challenged ad nauseam in the current climate. Assuming nothing, as a Holistic Life Coach, I offer a safe, nonjudgmental space to speak your truth, be who you are, and figure out what you want from life without anyone else's input, influence, or expectations. While this is true for everyone, it can be an even more powerful experience for those of us who feel silenced and rendered invisible in any aspect of our lives. I am NOT offering therapy, but coaching can absolutely complement and supplement your therapy work. Instead, I offer a toolbox of methods, approaches, and experiments that most therapists do not. Tools designed to help you embrace your success without apology; create ease in a world of hardship; center yourself and ground in your own wisdom; and come into agreement with yourself regardless of the dissonance of others.
7 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Dr. Lois Horowitz
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Ph.D., LCSW
As an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist, I provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space for individuals of all identities and orientations. I understand how personal and sometimes complicated the journey of self-discovery can be—especially when it comes to navigating gender identity, sexual orientation, and the coming out process.
Many LGBTQ+ individuals grow up in environments where their identities may not have been fully accepted, understood, or affirmed. This can lead to feelings of shame, anxiety, isolation, or internal conflict. It can also make typical developmental milestones—like forming relationships, building self-esteem, or setting boundaries—feel even more challenging.
In our work together, I honor the unique experiences that shape you. Whether you’re exploring your identity, facing challenges related to coming out, navigating family dynamics, or simply wanting to feel more at home in yourself, therapy can offer a meaningful path forward.
We’ll move at your pace, uncover the patterns that may be holding you back, and build tools for resilience, connection, and self-acceptance. You deserve to live a life where you feel seen, understood, and supported just as you are.
Please visit my website lhorowitz.com to learn more about me.
37 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Dr. Ingrid Solano
Psychologist, PhD
I am a member of, and advocate for, the LGBTQIA+ community. I am proud to provide affirming therapy and I have expertise in working with the experiences of sexual and gender minority individuals, and couples using CBT, DBT, and the Unified Protocol for emotional disorders. Together we can explore the impacts of coming out, internalized stigma, minority stress, intersectionality, discriminations, difficult family-of-origin relationships, giving and receiving support, families of choice, intimacy, sex, gender/sexual fluidity, identity, transitioning, and so much more. Together we can navigate the challenges of living in an oppressingly heteronormative world in order to form a healthy and affirming queer identity. Or, we don’t explore it at all - but we remain aware that they are out there and remain mindful. I am also proud to consider and provide capacity evaluations and letters of support for my transgender clients seeking gender affirming surgery.
I practice from an affirming, feminist, and anti-racist philosophy. This means that I unconditionally accept and value my clients’ gender, sexual, racial, cultural, and other identities. My practice takes into account each person’s unique experiences within contexts of social and systemic oppression, and the impact on your relationships. I practice from a place off cultural humility and allyship to black, indigenous, and other people of colour.
I have expertise in treating relationships and individuals navigating the impact of minority stress and discrimination. I practice affirming therapy that explores greater awareness and understanding of the ways in which emotional experiences and responses to experiences contribute to what is going on for you and your relationships. Navigating these challenges in your life has promoted strength and resilience in coping, paving the way for creative and successful approaches for managing future challenges. I help clients see these strengths in themselves, and create harmony and balance in their lives. I bring a stance of genuine curiosity and cultural competence that includes your different identities and their intersectionality.
15 Years Experience
In-Person in New York City, NY
Online in New York City, NY New York
LGBTQ+ Issues
Steven Merino
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC
I provide a safe, affirming, and compassionate space for LGBTQ+ individuals to explore identity, relationships, and life challenges without judgment. Whether you're navigating coming out, family dynamics, or simply seeking support in being your authentic self, I tailor our work to your unique journey. My approach is rooted in respect, empathy, and empowerment—honoring who you are and walking alongside you every step of the way.
2 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Avena Psychological Services
Psychologist, PsyD, PhD, LCSW, LMHC, LMSW, MHC-LP
At Avena Psychological Services, we celebrate individuality and understand the unique challenges that can come with being a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Our approach is rooted in respect, inclusivity, and a deep commitment to our clients' well-being. Whether you’re navigating issues related to identity, coming out, relationships, or societal pressures, we provide a supportive space where you can explore your experiences openly and without judgment. We understand that navigating identity, relationships, and societal expectations can present distinct challenges, which is why our approach is both inclusive and deeply personal. By blending compassionate, affirming care with evidence-based practices, our therapists provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can freely explore your experiences and emotions. Together, we’ll work on embracing your authentic self, developing effective coping strategies, and fostering a sense of empowerment and belonging.
11 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Christie Roe
Therapist, LMSW
Whatever your experience as a member of LGBTQ+ communities, I offer affirming, tailored, and liberation-focused support to center yourself as you are and develop healing inquiries and resources on your own terms in body, mind, and relationships.
2 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Ren Lee
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
As a queer and trans clinician, I know how important it is to work with someone who understand what it's like, without needing to explain your lived experiences. I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ clients and offer letters of support for trans clients seeking gender-affirming healthcare.
6 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Dr. Stéphanie Gamache, PhD
Hypnotherapist, PhD
LGBTQ issues often involve navigating identity, desire, intimacy, and belonging within a complex social and relational context. My work offers an affirming, non-pathologizing space for exploration grounded in psychoanalytic and relational understanding. Together, we explore the emotional meanings that shape sexuality, relationships, and self-expression.
7 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Dr. TarraBates-Duford
Marriage and Family Therapist, PhD, LMFT, MPhiL
Specializing in LGBTQ+ mental health, services focus on supporting individuals across the spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities. Through affirming, evidence-based, and culturally competent approaches, clients are guided in addressing challenges such as identity exploration, coming out, discrimination, relationship dynamics, and mental health concerns, while fostering self-acceptance, resilience, and emotional well-being.
21 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Robert dos Santos Teixeira
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, SMF, MPIA, MA, MSW, LCSW
Most sexual minorities have been deeply traumatized, and for many if not most, healing from that trauma is a life-long process.
22 Years Experience
In-Person in New York City, NY
Online in New York City, NY New York
LGBTQ+ Issues
Lenny Gallo
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
Being part of the LGBTQIA+ community can bring incredible strength and resilience—but it can also come with unique challenges. Even as acceptance grows, discrimination, judgment, and pressure to conform still impact daily life and mental health.
Whether you’re coming out, exploring your gender or sexual identity, navigating family dynamics, considering non-monogamy, raising children, or aging in a world that doesn’t always understand—you're not alone. These experiences can bring up anxiety, depression, shame, or isolation, and you don’t have to carry that alone.
Therapy offers a space to talk openly about identity, sex, relationships, and health—including informed sexual decision-making and options like PrEP—without fear of judgment.
You deserve affirming care that respects who you are and supports where you want to go. Together, we can help you feel more grounded, empowered, and aligned with your values.
13 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Janet LeMoal
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, CASAC (NYS)
Our country is rolling back equal rights for the Queer community, and dealing with the emotions that come with that can be scary and overwhelming. In therapy with me, we can talk through the challenges of living in a world that often feels unsafe or unaccepting. You don’t have to face it alone. Together, we’ll create a space where you can explore your identity, feel seen and validated, and build the resilience you need to navigate external pressures. My goal is to help you feel empowered, affirmed, and grounded—no matter what’s happening around you.
18 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Alignment Psychotherapy, PLLC
Psychologist, LP, PhD
We are committed to providing affirming, inclusive, and culturally responsive care for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a queer-founded practice, we bring both professional expertise and lived understanding to the therapeutic relationship, allowing us to approach this work with authenticity, respect, and deep sensitivity. We recognize that LGBTQIA+ individuals often navigate unique challenges, including stigma, discrimination, identity exploration, family dynamics, and the impact of systemic inequities. At the same time, we honor the resilience, creativity, and strength within queer communities. Our work is grounded in creating a space where clients feel seen, supported, and free to explore their identities without fear of judgment. Our approach is collaborative and tailored to each individual, integrating evidence-based practices with an awareness of the social and cultural contexts that shape our clients’ experiences. Whether clients are seeking support around identity, relationships, mental health concerns, or life transitions, we aim to provide care that is not only clinically effective, but also affirming of who they are. We are dedicated to fostering a therapeutic environment where LGBTQIA+ clients can build insight, develop coping tools, and move toward lives that feel more aligned, empowered, and meaningful.
3 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Day by Day Psychotherapy LCSW PLLC
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
Exploring or living your identity can come with both meaningful growth and real challenges. You may be navigating questions around identity, relationships, family dynamics, or feeling fully seen and accepted. I work with folks to process these experiences in a space that is affirming, respectful, and grounded in trust.
Our work focuses on building self-understanding, strengthening coping strategies, and supporting you in showing up as your authentic self.
4 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Zaray Dratch
Pre-Licensed Professional, MFT-LP
Finding a therapist who doesn't need you to explain yourself from the beginning makes a difference. For LGBTQ+ clients, too many therapy experiences start with education, having to define terms, justify your relationship structure, or convince your therapist that your life is valid. That's not what happens here.
Whether you're navigating coming out, relationship dynamics that don't fit a traditional mold, family rejection, identity, or the particular kind of stress that comes from living in a world that still requires you to fight for basic dignity, this is a space that starts from affirmation and moves forward from there. No explaining, no justifying, no shrinking.
Relationship issues within LGBTQ+ partnerships carry their own specific weight. Communication, intimacy, trust, and commitment look different when you're also managing external pressure, internalized stigma, or the absence of relationship models that actually reflect your life. All of that is welcome here.
1 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Paula Kirsch
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, CST
Affirming care means more than hanging a flag. It means you will not spend your session explaining yourself, educating your therapist, or wondering whether it is safe to say the real thing. I work with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples navigating identity, relationships, sexuality, and everything that comes with living authentically in a world that does not always make that easy. You can just be yourself here. That is the whole point.
12 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Emily Brenner
Art Therapist, LCAT, ATR-BC
You may be navigating questions around identity, relationships, or feeling fully seen and accepted in your life. Experiences of stress, misunderstanding, or not feeling safe to be yourself can take a real emotional toll. With our work, you’ll have a space where you don’t have to explain or justify who you are. We can explore what you’re going through, process difficult experiences, and support you in feeling more confident, affirmed, and connected to yourself.
17 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Forest Williams
Life Coach, ICF
I'm a pansexual trans man who supports lesbian couples, gay couples, ENM couples, and anyone in the LGBTQ community.
7 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Maggie McCarthy
Counselor/Therapist, LMSW
I work with LGBTQIA+ clients and utilize a culturally sensitive, strengths-based approach to partner with you and meet your goals of healing, whatever they might be. Your identity impacts how you interact with the world and how the world interacts with you, and you deserve a safe affirming space to process and explore that considers how societal structures, stigma, and shame play a role in your well-being.
3 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
LGBTQ+ Issues
Joseph W. LaFleur
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MSW, LICSW, DWTF, SEP, C-PATP
As an LGBTQ+ affirming practice, we don't just accept queer and trans identities—we understand the specific challenges that come with them. Coming out, navigating family rejection, building chosen family, managing minority stress, exploring gender identity, and finding authentic relationships all require space to process without having to educate your therapist. Our clinicians bring both professional training and lived experience to this work, creating a space where you can explore who you are without justification or explanation.
26 Years Experience
Online in New York City, NY New York (Online Only)
New York City has the largest and most diverse therapy community in the world, with practitioners representing virtually every therapeutic modality, cultural background, and specialty area. The city's pace, density, and cost of living generate pervasive anxiety and burnout, while its diverse boroughs mean therapists fluent in dozens of languages serve communities from every corner of the globe. Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NYU Langone Health, and Weill Cornell Medicine anchor an extensive academic mental health infrastructure, supplemented by thousands of independent practitioners across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. New York's therapy culture is deeply embedded — many residents maintain years-long therapeutic relationships and consider finding the right therapist one of the more important decisions they make.
LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in New York City, New York Statistics
LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in New York City, New York average 15 years of experience and charge around $196 per session. 96% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (62%), Psychodynamic Therapy (46%), and Relational Psychotherapy (37%).
Average years in practice
15 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$196
Accept insurance
43%
Offer sliding scale
65%
Gender ID
| 52% |
Female |
|
| 33% |
Male |
|
| 9% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 6% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 62% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 34% |
Online Only |
|
| 4% |
In Person Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 62% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 46% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 37% | Relational Psychotherapy |
| 36% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 36% | Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) |
| 34% | Family Systems Therapy |
| 32% | Behavioral Therapy |
Ages Served
| 97% | Adult |
| 63% | Young Adult |
| 53% | Senior |
| 41% | Teen |
| 22% | Children |
Client Focus
| 77% | LGBTQ+ |
| 63% | Women |
| 47% | Men |
| 35% | Hispanic / Latino |
| 34% | Persons with Disabilities |