Collaborative and affirming care that is personal, political, and communal.
About Me
CJ (they/them/?)
I am a clinical social worker and therapist grounded in anti-oppressive, mutual liberation work. I believe trauma and healing are individual as well as collective and that it is important to explore not only our own beliefs, values, and experiences, but also the ways these are shaped and impacted by living under white supremacy, heteropatriarchy, and capitalism. By better understanding the effects of collective trauma and oppression, we might invite in more kindness and compassion for ourselves and others as we seek to make changes in our day-to-day lives.
My clinical background has focused on work with queer and/or neurodivergent individuals and on making embodiment more approachable for those of us who have been taught not to listen to or trust our bodies. I also draw from experiences working in mutual aid, community organizing, harm reduction, crisis support, and nightlife. My therapeutic approach pulls from polyvagal theory, parts work and internal family systems, relational-cultural theory, and attachment theory. I feel strongly that healing must take place both in the mind and the body, and seek to find accessible ways of integrating somatic approaches across my work, including EMDR and mindfulness
Outside of care work, I can be found listening to music, dancing, swimming, and playing with my italian greyhound Pickle.
“History matters, and an awareness of it puts our lives into a context. A disdain for history sets us adrift, and makes us victims of ignorance and denial. History lives in and through our bodies right now, and in every moment.”
― Resmaa Menakem
How I Work
My approach is collaborative and person-centered, within a social rather than a medical model. In other words, I seek to empower each individual to create a therapeutic space that works for them and their unique needs, while also exploring the broader ways our culture and society impact how we view ourselves and our mental health. I am here to offer curiosity, structure, and directness, all in response to what your individual needs in the space might be.
I start from a place of trusting that even the behaviors we most hope to change about ourselves are just seeking to protect us. Rather than condemning parts of ourselves, I invite in compassionate curiosity so we might better understand what these protective responses need in order to shift and evolve.
Within my practice, there is no right or wrong way to "do therapy" — humor, movement, play, uncertainty, discomfort, tension, and joy are all potential tools for exploration, and I am here to follow your lead as well as offer ideas when you feel stuck. Just like any other relationship, we'll collaborate to build trust and set boundaries and expectations together. Shoot me a message to learn more about how I work!
Rates
50-minute session
Base Rate: $150
Pay-it-Forward: $200
Reach out to inquire about pay-what-you-can availability.
You have the right to request a non-binding written estimate of the total cost of your therapy. This can be provided upon scheduling or upon request.
Services and Focus Areas
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Focus Areas Include:
Gender and Sexuality
Attachment
Polyamory and Non-Monogamy
Kink
Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety
Depression
Identity Formation
Neurodivergence and Masking
Self Esteem
Relational Issues
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Focus Areas Include:
Gender and Sexuality
Attachment
Polyamory and Non-Monogamy
Kink
Communication
Trust Building and Rupture Repair
Life Transitions
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a modality typically used to work with trauma. I apply EMDR to both “capital-T” Trauma as well as to healing from more insidious, socially constructed traumas. EMDR is especially effective at helping reprocess deeply held negative beliefs that might be limiting us in our day-to-day lives. I often pair EMDR with parts work and also find it a great entry point for working more somatically. In addition to offering EMDR as a part of individual therapy work with clients, I also often work with individuals who have other therapeutic support and are looking to supplement that work with EMDR. My approach to EMDR is mindfulness based and tailored to the needs of each individual. I also have experience adapting EMDR protocols to neurodivergent individuals, including those with aphantasia.
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I offer free and sliding scale appointments for individuals seeking gender-affirming medical care who need letters of support from mental health providers in order to access medical intervention. I practice an informed consent model of care, believing individuals can and should be empowered to make their own decisions regarding their body. Please reach out if you would like more information on this process or have questions about how I can support your medical needs.
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Ketamine therapy comes in a variety of forms and can be incredibly supportive in working through difficult or stuck emotions within psychotherapy. Ketamine can increase neuroplasticity, allowing us to more easily form adaptive modes of thinking, being, and relating. As a result, many individuals experience increased access to insight, mindfulness, and self-compassion through ketamine treatment. By pairing psychotherapy with ketamine treatment, these skills can then be strengthened, leveraged, and cemented as supports within our broader systems and neural networks. Ketamine can also support reprocessing traumatic memories or experiences in therapy, by making difficult material feel more approachable and less overwhelming or scary.
I partner with local medical providers who directly prescribe and manage the ketamine treatment process and am there to support you before, during, and after your experiences with the medicine. Sublingual ketamine lozenges can be prescribed to take at home or in my office, with strength and dosage varying depending on the type of therapeutic support you are looking for within these experiences. Ketamine can also be administered as an IV infusions at a prescriber's office, in which case I will not be present during administration but will support with preparation and integration sessions before and after each infusion. For more information on the ketamine therapy process, reach out for a free consultation.
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With a background in psychedelic harm reduction and integration, I offer one-on-one preparation and/or integration sessions for those planning to work with altered states of consciousness.
Preparation occurs before an intended experience and may include:
Exploring what you are bringing into this experience, what might influence your experience, what you hope to surface or engage with, and generally taking stock of your physical and emotional embodiment
Discussing and mapping you hope to get out of this experience – working towards intention setting
Exploring the use of ritual, discussing boundaries, and safety planning
Integration occurs after a psychedelic experience and is an integral part in working with and sustaining the insights gained from altered states. In this phase, you are able to align new insights from your experience within your normal consciousness, cementing new neural pathways and ways of thinking that may have been uncovered during a psychedelic experience. You may also use this time to work through any big and/or difficult feelings that were uncovered or released in an altered state. Integration is a collaborative process in which we discover together how best to fully honor, process, and build on whatever may have arisen in a psychedelic experience.
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I offer free consultation calls to get to know one another and determine if we are a good fit to work together. After you reach out via my contact form, I will get in touch to update you on my availability and to schedule this initial chat.
After a consult call, we’ll determine together how best to move forward. If we decide to work together, I see clients Monday-Thursday, both online and in person.
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I specialize in working with folks who tend not to live within the norms set out by dominant culture and society. If you have ever felt othered or misunderstood, I encourage you to reach out. I recognize that medical providers, including therapists, can often do more harm than good in making individuals feel "wrong" or "broken" for the things that make them stand out. Through a non-pathological, client-led approach, I aim to strengthen what makes each of us unique, while working to increase agency and comfort in how we move through the world.
I work with folks of all genders and identities, aged 13 and older.
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I am interested in networks of care that recognize what we all have to offer one another in service of our communal wellbeing. Offering a pay-it-forward tier for services allows those who may have an easier time accessing services to support those who might otherwise be unable to access therapy. All fees collected above the base rate go directly towards subsiding free or low cost services for others. I believe healing must be collective as well as individual -- economic justice is a key step in this healing. By encouraging individuals to consider their privileges and access when determining a rate for therapy, I hope to strengthen our abilities to offer and receive care. Access to generational wealth, home ownership, disposable income, and/or vacations are all privileges one might considering when determining their ability to pay-it-forward.
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I reserve several spots on my schedule for free or lower cost appointments. The more individuals who select pay-it-forward rates, the more subsidized services I am able to provide. To join the waitlist for one of these spots, fill out my inquiry form and indicate your financial needs.
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I’m a private pay, out-of-network provider and do not bill through insurance. Payment is due upfront at the time of each session, although many plans may qualify you to get partially reimbursed for your therapy costs.
The choice to not accept insurance is not one I take lightly. It is informed largely by my desire to maintain as much collaboration and privacy as possible within the therapeutic space. It is also influenced by the outdated payment structures and limitations put on providers by insurance companies and by the pathologizing medical model put forth by insurance companies.
Working out-of-network also allows me to focus on subsidizing services for those with the greatest financial need, who are most often shut out from accessing care.
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If you have out-of-network benefits, you may be eligible to be reimbursed for therapy costs. However, not all insurance companies will cover services from an LSWAIC. I recommend calling your insurance company to verify your benefits. We can also do this together during our first session together. Here are some questions to ask your insurance provider:
Do I have out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits?
(If yes) What percentage or dollar amount will I be reimbursed for out-of-network psychotherapy?
Do I have an annual deductible that needs to be met before I can be reimbursed for out-of-network psychotherapy? If so, how much is it, and has my deductible been met for this year?
Do my out-of-network benefits cover services from an LSWAIC working under the supervision of an LICSW?
Do my out-of-network benefits cover online therapy (telehealth)?
Do I need a referral from an in-network provider to see an out-of-network provider?
If it’s helpful, you can provide the following CPT code to your insurance company: 90837 (53-minute psychotherapy session)
FAQ
Interested In Working Together?
Fill out the interest form below and I will reach out with more info regarding availability. I offer free consult calls to determine whether we are a good fit to work together. For all other questions, please contact me via email at cj@neuroqueersomatics.com.