You Shouldn’t Have To Explain Yourself
Finding a therapist who truly understands LGBTQ+ experiences shouldn’t feel impossible, but it often does. You’ve probably googled “LGBTQ friendly therapist” only to find practices that claim to be inclusive but make you wonder if you’ll spend your first three sessions educating them about basic terminology.
At The Therapy Gal, we believe you deserve better than that. You’re dealing with real challenges that need real solutions. You need therapy that feels authentic and informed, not performative. You are welcome here, exactly as you are.
You could be sitting in your apartment in Fishtown after another exhausting conversation with relatives who “love you but don’t understand.” Or maybe you’re walking through Center City wondering how to handle yet another microaggression at work. Whatever brought you here, you need support from someone who gets what it’s like to navigate the world as a queer person.
What Makes Good LGBTQ Therapist in Philadelphia
LGBTQ+ therapy works best when you don’t have to spend sessions explaining basic concepts about your identity. You need therapists who already understand the challenges of coming out to family, workplace dynamics as the only gay person on your team, and finding community as a transgender person in Philadelphia.
We get the societal pressures you face every day. Our team includes queer-identified therapists who understand these experiences from the inside. Whether you identify outside the box with queerness, polyamory, or non-monogamy, we respect your pronouns from day one and understand that queerness often goes hand in hand with trauma.
We work on building confidence in your identity, developing coping skills for external stressors, and creating authentic relationships that support your wellbeing.
Easily Find The Support You’re Looking For
Coming Out Therapy
Your stomach drops every time the family group chat mentions holiday plans. More careful word choices, more avoiding pronouns, more pretending. Coming out isn't a single conversation but hundreds of small and large moments. We help you build your internal compass for when to share and how to handle reactions.
LGBTQ Trauma Therapy
Growing up LGBTQ+ means experiencing trauma that straight, cisgender people never face. Maybe you were bullied or heard family make jokes about "people like you." Your nervous system learned early that being authentic wasn't safe. We help you process these experiences.
Gender Affirming Therapy
You know who you are, but living authentically can be exhausting. Maybe you're navigating social transition at work or dealing with family who struggle to use your correct pronouns. We support you in living fully as yourself without judgment.
Religious Trauma Therapy
You grew up in a religion that preached unconditional love while excluding LGBTQ+ people. Even after rejecting harmful teachings, your body might still react with shame. We help you sort through what feels sacred versus what was used to control you.
LGBTQ Couples Therapy
You're stuck in the same fight again. As an LGBTQ+ couple, you face unique pressures like different comfort levels being out publicly or family not recognizing your partnership. We help you navigate these external pressures and rebuild connection.
LGBTQ Sex Therapy
Mainstream sex education failed to address your actual experiences. Maybe you're navigating intimacy with body dysphoria, or traditional advice doesn't fit your relationship. We provide support without making assumptions about your body or desires.
LGBTQ Family Therapy
Family dinners have become tense. Your parents say they love you but still slip up with your pronouns months later. We work with families who want to rebuild connection or help you decide how much energy to invest in these relationships.
Coming Out Therapy
Your phone buzzes with another family group chat about holiday plans. Your stomach drops. You know this means more careful word choices. More avoiding pronouns. More pretending to be someone you’re not. Coming out therapy recognizes that disclosure isn’t a single conversation. It’s hundreds of small and large moments throughout your life.
Each new situation brings questions. Do you mention your partner to your new coworkers? How do you handle invasive questions from extended family? These daily decisions can feel exhausting when you’re constantly calculating safety and acceptance.
We work on building your internal compass for these moments. Some conversations will go better than expected. Others might temporarily damage relationships you care about. Coming out therapy helps you prepare for both outcomes while staying connected to your own truth.
LGBTQ Trauma Therapy
Growing up LGBTQ+ means experiencing trauma that straight, cisgender people never face. Maybe you were bullied at school for being different, heard family make jokes about “people like you,” or experienced rejection from people who were supposed to love you. Sometimes it’s the accumulation of thousands of small moments of rejection and having to hide who you are.
Your nervous system learned early that being authentic wasn’t safe, and now you might find yourself hypervigilant, anxious, or disconnected even in secure situations. Your anxiety might stem from years of calculating safety in every social situation.
Our queer-identified therapists understand that trauma is woven into the LGBTQ+ experience in ways that inexperienced therapists often miss. It’s safer to process these experiences with someone who gets what it’s like to carry this kind of trauma.
Gender Affirming Therapy
You know who you are, but living authentically in a world that doesn’t always understand can be exhausting. Maybe you’re navigating social transition at work or dealing with family who struggle to use your correct pronouns. Maybe you’re considering medical transition or already started hormone therapy and need support managing the changes.
Gender affirming therapy supports you in living fully as yourself. We help you cope with gender dysphoria, navigate transition decisions, and build resilience against discrimination. Whether you need support with coming out, accessing gender-affirming medical care, or just processing the daily challenges of being transgender in Philadelphia.
Our therapists understand the unique mental health challenges that transgender and non-binary people face. We provide a space where your gender identity is respected and affirmed while we work together on whatever goals matter most to you.
Religious Trauma Therapy
Growing up in a religious community shaped your understanding of love and belonging, but it also taught you that certain parts of yourself were fundamentally wrong. Maybe your church preached about unconditional love while excluding LGBTQ+ people. Maybe you spent years trying to pray away feelings that never went away.
Religious trauma affects both your relationship with faith and your relationship with yourself. Even after you’ve intellectually rejected harmful teachings, your body might still react with shame when you experience attraction. You might feel panic about divine punishment or struggle with worthlessness.
Our queer-identified therapists understand the specific trauma that religious rejection creates for LGBTQ+ individuals. Many queer people discover ways to maintain meaningful spiritual connections while rejecting harmful religious teaching. We help you sort through what feels sacred versus what was used to control you.
LGBTQ Couples Therapy
You’re stuck in the same fight again. One of you shuts down. The other gets louder. Nothing ever gets resolved. As an LGBTQ+ couple, you’re dealing with pressures that straight couples never consider. Maybe you have different comfort levels being out publicly. Maybe extended family doesn’t recognize your partnership.
These external pressures create internal tension even when you’re committed to each other. You might argue about surface issues when the real problem is feeling unsupported at work or misunderstood by your community. The stress of isolation affects your connection to each other.
We work with all types of relationships, including polyamory, non-monogamy, and other structures that identify outside the box. Our therapists don’t make assumptions about relationship roles or goals. We work with whatever relationship model fits your values while helping you develop communication skills that bring you closer.
LGBTQ Sex Therapy
Mainstream sex education failed to address your actual experiences, leaving you to figure out intimacy without a roadmap. Maybe you’re navigating physical intimacy as a transgender person dealing with body dysphoria. Maybe you’re in a same-sex relationship and traditional advice doesn’t fit your situation.
LGBTQ+ sex therapy provides a space where you don’t have to explain your identity or educate your therapist. Our therapists work with you to address whatever concerns you have without making assumptions about your body, relationships, or desires. This might include addressing pain during sex, mismatched libidos, or difficulties with arousal.
Living with discrimination or internalized shame impacts your ability to enjoy physical closeness. It’s safer to explore these intimate topics with someone who gets what it’s like to navigate sexuality as a queer person. We help you build intimacy that actually feels good to you.
LGBTQ Family Therapy
Family dinners have become tense affairs where everyone walks on eggshells. Your parents say they love you but still slip up with your pronouns months after you came out. Your siblings make awkward jokes that sting more than they realize. LGBTQ+ family therapy helps when your identity has created distance in relationships that used to feel safe.
Some families genuinely want to understand and support you but don’t know how. They might ask invasive questions, use outdated language, or make assumptions that feel hurtful. Other families might be openly resistant to accepting your identity or refuse to acknowledge important relationships in your life.
We work with families who want to rebuild connection and understanding. Sometimes this means helping parents learn how to truly support their LGBTQ+ child. Sometimes it means working with you individually to decide how much emotional energy to invest in family relationships. The goal isn’t always reconciliation, and sometimes the healthiest choice is setting clear boundaries.
LGBTQ Therapy FAQs
How much does LGBTQ therapy cost?
Our therapy sessions range from $140-$175 for individual sessions and $165-$200 for couples sessions, depending on the therapist.
Do you accept insurance for LGBTQ therapy?
We are Out-of-Network with all insurance companies. We provide you with a monthly statement (called a Superbill) which you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. We have found that many insurance plans will reimburse 40%-80% of the cost of Out-of-Network counseling after meeting your deductible.
Do you have LGBTQ+ therapists available?
Yes, we have LGBTQ+ therapists on our team, and all of our therapists are trained in LGBTQ+ affirming care. Whether you prefer to work with someone who shares your identity or you're comfortable with any of our affirming therapists, we can match you with someone who truly understands your experience.
Will my therapy sessions be confidential if I'm not out?
Your therapy sessions are completely confidential, and you're never under any pressure to come out or disclose your identity to anyone. Many of our clients use therapy as a safe space to explore questions about their sexuality or gender identity while maintaining privacy in the rest of their life. We understand the importance of moving at your own pace.
Do you work with couples in non-traditional relationships?
Yes, we work with couples in polyamorous relationships, open marriages, and other consensual non-monogamous arrangements. We understand that healthy relationships come in many different forms, and we provide support without judgment about your relationship structure or agreements.
What ages do you work with?
We work with all ages, but we specialize in teens to young adults, typically those in their teens through their 30s. Our LGBTQ+ affirming therapy is available for individuals, couples, and families who want support navigating identity, relationships, and acceptance issues.
Philadelphia Therapy Office
In the heart of Center City Philadelphia, our office offers you convenient access to expert care. With flexible appointment times to accommodate your busy schedule, we’re committed to making your therapy journey as seamless as possible. Also offering online therapy in PA and NJ.
Offering Online Counseling In
Ready to get started?
Ready to work with therapists who actually get it? You are welcome here, and you deserve support that understands your experience from day one. Schedule your FREE 15-minute phone consultation today.