Identity Distress
We support clients in exploring identity safely and honestly, with attention to the emotional, cultural, and relational factors that shape how people come to understand themselves. We work with teens and adults who are navigating confusion, shame, or disconnection related to identity—and we believe this work is essential to mental health.
Racial & Transracial Identity
Many of our clients are adopted, fostered, or raised in families or communities that do not share their racial or cultural background. We help clients process the grief, disorientation, or disconnection that can arise from transracial family systems, and support them in reconnecting with their cultural identity in ways that feel empowering and authentic. This work is grounded in the realities of systemic racism and the nuanced challenges of racial identity development in cross-cultural contexts.
LGBTQIA+ Identity
Exploring gender, sexuality, or queerness often includes sorting through societal pressure, safety concerns, internalized stigma, and family dynamics. We support clients at every stage—whether you’re questioning, coming out, transitioning, or seeking affirmation for who you’ve always known yourself to be. Our goal is to create a space where you don’t have to defend your identity, and where your self-understanding can deepen without fear of rejection or misunderstanding.
Adoptive Identity
Adoptees, fosterees, and donor-conceived people often grow up with complex layers of identity-related grief, secrecy, and disconnection. Questions like “Where do I come from?” or “Who am I allowed to be?” can be difficult to answer in systems where biological origins and personal history are fragmented or obscured. We create space to explore the emotional and existential impact of these experiences without oversimplifying or pathologizing the ways people cope or seek clarity.
Self-Esteem & Self-Concept
Self-esteem is not just about confidence—it’s about how you experience yourself internally and how much emotional safety you feel being who you are. Many of our clients struggle with internalized shame, self-doubt, or harsh self-criticism rooted in early relationships, trauma, or cultural messaging. We help clients shift from self-blame to self-compassion and build a more stable, respectful sense of identity.
Borderline Personality (mild)
Some clients experience intense emotions, fears of abandonment, or shifting self-image that don’t necessarily meet full criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder but still impact daily life. We approach these concerns with deep compassion, helping clients understand the roots of these patterns, build emotional regulation skills, and develop a more integrated and secure sense of self over time.
Treatment Diagnoses
We diagnose and treat a range of identity-related disorders, including:
​
-
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
-
Complex PTSD
-
Adjustment Disorders
-
Gender Dysphoria
-
Mild Borderline Personality Disorder
-
Major Depressive Disorder
We also support clients with co-occurring concerns such as anxiety, OCD, or trauma that intersect with identity stress. Many of our clients may not meet criteria for a specific diagnosis but are navigating emotional pain or internal conflict related to who they are, how they see themselves, or how they’re seen by others. Please note we are not able to treat Dissociative Identity Disorder.