What we treat
LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy in Natick, MA
LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy at Aurora Counseling Associates is for clients across the queer and trans community looking for clinicians who actively understand the territory, not just clinicians who say they will not judge. We work with individuals, couples, and families on what brought you to therapy, with your sexuality, gender, and relationship structure as part of the context, not a topic to be tolerated.
What affirming means here
The word "affirming" gets used loosely. A working definition of how we use it:
Pronouns and chosen name are asked at intake and used reliably throughout your care.
Sexuality and gender are not pathologized
Being queer, trans, nonbinary, asexual, intersex, kinky, or polyamorous is not what we are treating. We work on whatever brought you in.
Clinicians here are educated on the territory
We know what the coming-out process can look like at different ages. We know what minority stress is and how it shows up. We know the difference between gender dysphoria and gender exploration. We know that polyamory is a relationship structure, not a relationship problem.
We do not require you to educate us
You can spend session time on what you came in for instead of explaining identity basics.
We are not a conversion-therapy practice in any form
That work is unethical and harmful, and it is not anywhere near what we do.
We hold the medical and family system that surrounds you with care. We work with families of LGBTQIA+ kids, with parents figuring out how to support a child whose gender or sexuality is changing the conversation, and we hold both with respect.
Who we work with
- LGBTQIA+ teens navigating identity, coming out, family dynamics, school, dating, mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, or eating concerns (though we do not treat eating disorders as a primary diagnosis; we will refer when that is the right fit).
- LGBTQIA+ adults working on the same range of life concerns anyone might bring to therapy, with the added context of identity, minority stress, and the cumulative impact of being queer or trans in a world that is uneven about that.
- Trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse clients at any stage: questioning, exploring, transitioning socially or medically, post-transition. We can also write letters of support for gender-affirming care when clinically appropriate.
- Queer couples and partnerships including same-gender, mixed-orientation, polyamorous, kink-aware, and any other consensual structure. Our couples work does not assume monogamy or assume two people.
- Families of LGBTQIA+ kids and adults who want to be supportive and are navigating their own learning curve.
- Parents who are coming out later in life, including those navigating it within an existing family structure.
How we approach the work
Affirming therapy at Aurora is not a separate modality; it is how every clinician here works. The clinical work uses the same approaches you would find elsewhere in the practice (CBT, ACT, psychodynamic, play and expressive therapy with younger clients, trauma-informed work), with the lens of identity, minority stress, and the social context built in.
What that often looks like in practice:
- Distinguishing identity-related stress from other mental health concerns. Anxiety after coming out at work and generalized anxiety disorder are different presentations and benefit from different work.
- Working with minority stress. The cumulative impact of being part of a stigmatized group is a documented health factor. We name it and work with it.
- Family-system work when family relationships are part of what you are sorting out, whether that means a teen and their parents, or an adult and their family of origin.
- Couples and relationship work that does not require translating queer life into straight templates.
- Coordination with prescribers, gender-affirming care providers, and medical teams when relevant.
Therapists at Aurora who specialize in affirming care
While every clinician here practices affirmingly, the therapists whose work centers on LGBTQIA+ populations include:
- Eren Santana-Bykofsky, MA: art therapy; LGBTQIA2S+, autism, ADHD, CBT, DBT.
- Laura Buckley, LMHC: children, teens, adults; LGBTQIA+ issues, mood disorders, play therapy.
Others on the team work regularly with queer and trans clients as well. We will match you with the clinician whose specific focus, scheduling, and insurance fit.
Insurance and rates
If you need a letter of support for hormone therapy, surgery, or other gender-affirming care, we can discuss this at intake.
A note on letters for gender-affirming care
If you need a letter of support for hormone therapy, surgery, or other gender-affirming care, we can discuss this at intake. Letters are written when there has been enough clinical work to make a thoughtful letter possible. We follow WPATH-informed standards for letters when applicable. For some clients this is straightforward; for some it is more involved. We will be straight with you about what we can offer and the timeline involved.
Who you would work with
Clinicians who offer LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy
Read how each person works before you reach out. If you are not sure who to ask for, we will help you choose.
These clinicians list this as a specialty. Most of our team works with it in some form, so if you have someone in mind, ask and we will tell you whether the fit makes sense.
Questions
Common questions
Will my therapist try to talk me out of being queer or trans?
Do I have to be out to start therapy?
My teenager came out and our family is struggling. Where do we start?
Do you work with polyamorous couples and triads?
Can you write a letter for gender-affirming care?
Do you accept my insurance?
Is telehealth a real option?
Where to next
Related areas we work in
Get started
Ready when you are
If what you are looking for is a clinician who already understands the territory, request an appointment or call (508) 650-0991. We will match you with the right clinician for your work.