NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. IN PERSON & ONLINE. EVENINGS & WEEKENDS AVAILABLE.
11500 29 St SE Unit 105, Calgary, AB T2Z 3W9 - Call 403 713 0163 today!
You want to show up and feel good about yourself.
You deserve a space where you just be. No fear, no judgment, no explanations needed.
Maybe you've been made to feel like an outsider - pushed aside or erased because of who you are, who you love or how you express yourself.
Sometimes you feel ashamed, unheard, afraid, rejected, or misunderstood.
You might have felt like you had to justify yourself to friends, family or the system that claims to support you.
You may be navigating:
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questioning or exploring your gender or sexuality
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violence, inequality, bias or judgment
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gender dysphoria or disconnection
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rejection, discrimination or safety concerns
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alternative relationship dynamics
You are not alone. Whatever's going on, you belong. This is your space to breath, process and show up fully - no pressure, no conditions, and no apologies necessary.
You and your identity are not a problem.
LGBTQIA+ folks face challenges that impact their mental health, but that doesn't mean anything is wrong with you.
Feeling different or being attacked can increase anxiety, depression, stress or substance use.
Many people in the LGTBQIA+ community have faced:
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micro-aggressions or invalidation
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misgendering or wrong pronouns
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other's assumptions of 'normal'
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transphobia or homophobia
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healthcare that tries to fix you
Whether your concerns are related to your identity or something else entirely, you deserve support that meets you where you are.
Therapy with an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist allows you to be celebrated instead of questioned.
LGBTQIA+ therapy can help you live authentically and be true to yourself.
You can find safe, equitable spaces to share all parts of you.
You deserve to be welcomed, included and embraced exactly as you are.
Your emotions, expressions, and identities can be witnessed and accepted, so you can show up as uniquely yourself.
When you are supported to navigate the world and meet your needs in healthy ways, you can enjoy feelings of happiness and euphoria.
You can build meaningful connections where you feel a sense of belonging with people who love and care for you.
What if you could feel...
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seen
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heard
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understood
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believed
- accepted
In LGBTQ+ therapy, your therapist will honor you and your preferences.
You can work with a therapist who genuinely cares for you without worrying about being judged.
You can find a place where your experiences are honored, your voice is heard, and you are truly seen.
Affirming therapy gives you an opportunity to better trust yourself and your body.
LGBTQ+ therapy can help you:
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increase safety
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explore beliefs
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identify barriers
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navigate conflict
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improve relationships
At Therapy Alberta, we acknowledge the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community without pathologizing the individual.
You can expect your therapist meet you where you're at.
We approach therapy with respect, humility and belief in the client as the expert.
Our LGBTQ+ therapists will create a relationship guided by your unique preferences.
We come alongside you with compassion to allow you the time and space to discover and heal.
Some approaches to LGBTQ+ therapy include:
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
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Sex-positive, Kink-aware, and Poly(am) aware
We can support folx in individual, relationship, and family therapy. We work with people in alternate relationships and dynamics including polyamory, non-monogamy and kink.
We offer exclusively online therapy so you can connect to an LGBTQ+ therapist anywhere in Calgary or across Alberta.
Sometimes you need to access care in a different location to find truly affirming and inclusive care.
Maybe you've had a negative experience with a past healthcare provider. We love online therapy because it's accessible, private, convenient and flexible.
You'll love online therapy if you are:
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nervous about going to a new or public place
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prefer privacy and being in your own space
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more comfortable with phone or video calls
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okay skipping the waiting room and office
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not located close to an affirming therapist
We build great relationships online and the distance can make it easier to connect and be vulnerable.
Our therapists offer evening and weekend appointments to fit your lifestyle.
Meet our Featured Therapists for LGBTQ+ Communities:
REGISTERED PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
I specialize in helping neurodiverse, gender diverse, transgender and LGBTQIA+ adults and teens to find their strengths, connect, and thrive. I am committed to providing safe, affirming care that is tailored to your unique individuality.
REGISTERED
SOCIAL WORKER
I specialize in helping 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals with relational and inclusive support in areas of sexuality and alternative structured relationships. I offer a safe and non-judgmental environment where you can feel heard and understood.
You might still have some questions or concerns about LGBTQ+ therapy...
What is a microaggression?
Microaggressions are intentional or unintentional interactions that discriminate, insult, invalidate, exclude, deny or negate a minority person or group. Interactions can include verbal, behavioral, environmental, personal or societal messages, policies, norms, language, assumptions, or questions. For queer folx and those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, experiences can include slurs, snubs, disapproval, minimizing, dismissing, dodging topics, disrespect, invasive questions, stereotypes, and generalizations.
What is affirming therapy?
Affirming therapy or affirmative therapy is a therapeutic approach that affirms and validates a person's gender identity and sexual identity and does not view them as needing to be fixed. Affirming therapists understand gender and sexuality can present in many evolving ways and advocate for their clients. Affirming therapy prioritizes a safe and individualized space for processing, increasing support, embracing diversity, and encouraging empathy and reflection.
Can you guarantee I will have a safe experience in therapy?
We want you to feel good about therapy and offer client-centered therapy geared to your unique needs and preferences. However, we are human too, and we make mistakes. Our therapists are open to your feedback because we want to help in a way that works for you. Please share with one of our therapists if you had a past therapy experience that was not good or helpful. Please contact our owner if your experience with Therapy Alberta was not good or not helpful.
What will happen if I point out something hurtful my therapist said or did?
We all make mistakes, and sometimes your therapist might say or do something that is harmful to you. We welcome feedback and hope you feel comfortable addressing it in the moment, or later when you are ready. Your therapist should acknowledge their action caused harm, apologize, seek repair, and identify any action they will take to avoid future harm.
Do I have to identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ to access LGBTQ+ therapy?
No, many people seek affirming therapy to better understand or support a partner, family member, loved one, or friend in the LGBTQ+ community. Therapy offers a space to explore and challenge your beliefs, biases, and behaviors so you can show up as an ally or advocate for others.
How much does LGBTQ+ therapy cost?
Our LGBTQ+ therapy sessions are $220 with a Psychologist or Social Worker with direct billing for most insurance companies, or a receipt to claim for re-imbursement or as a medical expense on your taxes. Therapy sessions with a Certified Canadian Counsellor are $180; check with your insurance to confirm coverage for mental health therapy. Sliding scale fees are available.