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LGBTQ Therapy Near Me – Affirming Therapy in West Hollywood
If you're searching for LGBTQ therapy near me - I would be you're looking for an affirmative therapist who understands your experiences, challenges, goals... and someone who gets it.
Therapy and counseling sessions should be a place where you feel safe, heard, and respected—without having to educate your therapist on your identity or experiences, and that's exactly what I aim to provide.
At Oliver Drakeford Therapy, we specialize in LGBTQ affirming therapy, offering compassionate support for individuals, couples, and families navigating identity, relationships, mental health, and more.
Located in the heart of West Hollywood CA, Serving the community, helping the community, because we are part of the community.
📍 LGBTQ Therapy West Hollywood, CA | In-Person & Online Sessions Available 📍
Why Choose LGBTQ Affirming Therapy?
Finding a therapist who truly understands LGBTQ+ experiences can make all the difference in your therapeutic journey.
At Oliver Drakeford Therapy, we:
✔ Meet You Where You Are – No assumptions.
We recognize that not every LGBTQ+ individual comes to therapy for gender or sexuality-related concerns.
✔ Understand Intersectionality –
Your race, religion, culture, and personal identity shape your experiences, and we honor all aspects of who you are.
✔ Check Biases –
We avoid both negative and positive assumptions, ensuring therapy is centered on your unique needs and goals.
Whether you’re exploring your identity, facing relationship challenges, or seeking support for anxiety, depression, or self-esteem, our therapists provide personalized and evidence-based care to help you navigate your mental health with confidence.
LGBT Therapy In Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Online.
Oliver Drakeford Therapy Is an LGBTQ Affirmative Practice located at 8702 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood CA 90069
LGBTQ+ COUNSELING FOR ADULTS & COUPLES
Affirmative therapy emerged as a response to the historical way LGBTQ+ identities were mischaracterized and pathologized in the past. It rejects outdated models that treated homosexuality and gender variance as conditions to be "fixed."
Instead, LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy recognizes the inherent worth of queer identities and provides a space where individuals can heal from internalized stigma, shame, and societal pressures. This approach ensures that therapy is not just a neutral space but an actively affirming one—helping LGBTQ+ clients move from self-doubt and internalized oppression toward self-acceptance, confidence, and empowerment.
Affirmative therapy centers on celebrating LGBTQ+ identities rather than tolerating them. This means therapists must be aware of how systemic oppression, historical discrimination, and personal identity development intersect in their clients' lives.
Rather than assuming that LGBTQ+ clients come to therapy because of their identity, affirmative therapy meets individuals where they are—whether they seek support for relationships, mental health, trauma, or any other personal challenge—while recognizing the strength and resilience within LGBTQ+
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ AFFIRMING Therapy🏳️🌈
I've been working with gay men for over a decade. LGBTQ+ individuals often navigate unique experiences, from coming out to family acceptance, workplace dynamics, and personal growth. We provide a nonjudgmental space to explore all kinds of issues.
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Anxiety, depression & trauma
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Identity exploration & self-acceptance
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Internalized shame & self-worth
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Family-of-origin dynamics
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Substance use
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Body Image and diet
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Navigating relationships & dating
LGBTQ+ Relationship intimacy quiz
If you're in a relationship and looking to find out if your relationships could do with some extra guidance, why not start with our Couples Intimacy Quiz? It's totally free and gives you a comprehensive breakdown of your scores to see your blind spots and growth points.
Find the Quiz here
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🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ Couples Therapy🏳️🌈
Same-sex and queer relationships experience both universal and unique relationship challenges. I love working the LGBTQ couples - read more about LGBT Marriage Counseling.
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Communication & intimacy issues
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Conflict resolution & attachment styles
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Navigating non-traditional relationship structures
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Family acceptance & external pressures
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Healing from past relational wounds
🏳️🌈 LGBT THERAPY FOR FAMILIES🏳️🌈
For LGBTQ+ individuals, family relationships can be complex, you can read more about how I work in Family Therapy here.
We offer therapy for:
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Parents struggling to support an LGBTQ+ child
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Rebuilding strained family connections
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Addressing generational or cultural conflicts
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Navigating family rejection & chosen family dynamics
What to Look for in an LGBT Therapy
Meeting You Where You Are
Not every LGBTQ+ person enters therapy for gender or sexuality-related issues. A skilled therapist won’t make assumptions but will listen and understand your unique concerns—whether related to identity, relationships, work stress, or personal growth. Counseling sessions should meet your needs and pursue your goals.... with occasional and appropriate nudging from the clinician if sessions go off course.
Understanding Intersectionality
Your experiences are shaped by many factors, including race, religion, culture, and gender identity. We take a holistic approach, helping you navigate challenges where different aspects of identity intersect. Counseling sessions need to take the pressure off the client to educate or inform the therapist, the basics have to be known by the therapist, and
Avoiding Bias and Assumptions
A well-trained LGBTQ therapist will check both positive and negative biases. Whether it’s an assumption that every LGBTQ+ person wants to be an activist or that coming out is always the right choice, therapy should be centered on your needs, not the therapist’s personal perspectives.