Counseling FAQ

Pride Counseling Solutions is a community of independent therapists who share values, resources, and a commitment to queer- and trans-affirming care. Each clinician owns their own business—meaning they set their own schedule, fees, and approach to therapy—but we collaborate to make finding affirming care easier.

Therapy can offer valuable insights, coping strategies, and tools to help you navigate through difficult emotions, relationship issues, mental health concerns, or life transitions. Working with a therapist can provide you with a supportive and compassionate ally who can help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your experiences. It can also offer a fresh perspective and guidance that may not be readily available when managing issues independently.

At Pride Counseling Solutions we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to prioritize their mental health and well-being, and our tailored approach ensures that you receive the individualized care you deserve.

Yes, many of the therapists in our collective offer brief phone consultations to discuss what you are hoping to get out of counseling, answer any questions you may have, and also to make sure you'll be able to connect with each other in a meaningful way. If none of our therapists are able to meet your needs, we're happy to provide you with names of other providers or agencies who might be a better fit.

No, you do not. Although the therapists in our collective specialize in queer affirming therapy, we serve family members and allies as well, and can help with a multitude of concerns that may or may not be related to someone's sexual or gender identity.

Whether you are LGBTQIA2S+ or not, we are here to provide personalized, culturally competent care that addresses your unique needs and concerns.

We do not prescribe medications, but your therapist is able to provide you with a list of outside providers for medication management if you decide that option is right for you.

No, you do not have to be working on LGBTQIA2S+ specific concerns to receive mental health support from us. Although the therapists at Pride Counseling Solutions can help with things like identity exploration, or supporting you through your coming out process or gender affirmation journey, we also have experience helping individuals cope with other concerns such as depression, anxiety, ADHD and trauma.

Because we're a collective of independent therapists, each clinician has their own unique approach—but generally, your first session is a chance to get to know each other and see if it feels like a good fit.

You can expect your therapist to ask questions about what brings you to therapy, your goals, and any relevant background information. You’re also welcome to ask questions of your own. We believe therapy should feel collaborative, affirming, and respectful from the start.

There’s no pressure to share everything right away. The first few sessions are about building comfort, safety, and trust.

Each of our therapists sets their own no-show policy, but generally we ask that you contact your therapist a minimum of 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Normally, multiple no-shows not related to emergencies or chronic illness may lead to termination of services, and you could be charged for a missed appointment. Please check in with your therapist to see what their specific policy is.

We do follow the Standards of Care (SOC), while also understanding and acknowledging the unbalanced power dynamics these guidelines can sometimes create. Because some of the SOC requirements can be seen as limiting patient autonomy through gatekeeping, we advocate for the informed care model whenever possible. You can read more about the standards of care here: WPATH Standards of Care.