ABOUT MY PRACTICE
In my therapy practice, I primarily use the modalities of depth psychology and inner child work. I am able to connect with clients worldwide over Zoom.
Depth psychology refers to the process of going deeper than many other therapy modalities. We will look beyond the surface to find the deeper roots of your distress, where we may discover connections to past traumatic events, childhood wounds, or intergenerational trauma. This process focuses on unknotting ~slowly, gently~ the wounds that are getting in the way of your connection to your true self and keeping you from being able to hear, recognize, and follow your own intuition. In this way, I do not seek to
heal you of your wounds. I merely have the honor of witnessing you in your process of healing yourself, and growing more whole. My goal in our work is to co-create the safety & meaning your body needs to finally be able to integrate your pain, trauma, negative cycles, stuckness, and distress–your knots–into your wider being, bringing you more peace. This can also include an exploration of our unconscious, dreams, the symbolic, and the transpersonal.
Inner child work brings together attachment theory, internal family systems (parts work), body-based (somatic) approaches, psychodynamics, and Jungian shadow work to uncover how our past experiences influence our present cycles and patterns. When we experience trauma, attachment wounds, or simply do not get our emotional needs met as children, parts of ourselves can get “stuck” at that age. When we can get in touch with this inner child and learn to re-parent them, we can help them move through their stuckness and find safety and stability in the present. We can also do this work with our ancestors who may be stuck due to their own trauma, who may be reenacting their patterns through us.
SPECIALTIES
- Complex PTSD
- Disordered eating
- Disorganized attachment styles
- Personality disorders* (Abandonment & Validation Wounds)
- Childhood trauma
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Emotional dysregulation
- Suicidal ideation
- Non-monogamous relationship therapy
- Gender identity exploration
- Sexuality exploration
- Exploration & discovery of the true Self
- Kink/BDSM (including looking at our desires through a healing lens)
- Grief & depression from living under the cult of capitalism/white supremacy/cisheteronormativity (which I view as parts of the same cult)
- Learning how to be our true selves and not just survive but also thrive while resisting said cult
- Processing masculinity & what it means to us as trans men, cis men, &/or masculine folks
*What the DSM refers to as personality disorders, I simply view as more severe forms of Complex PTSD. This means the trauma endured was on average more severe and more prolonged, began early in the person’s life, and attachment wounds run deeper. Integral parts of the Self have been unable to develop/split off due to living in a constant state of trauma and/or emotional unsafety (something everyone with CPTSD deals with to a certain extent). I work with all personality disorders, but have particular expertise in what I call Abandonment Wounds (Borderline Personality Disorder/BPD) and Validation Wounds (Narcissistic Personality Disorder/NPD).
ABOUT DIVESTING FROM CLINICAL LICENSURE
I received my Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles, and completed the necessary training requirements for my degree. After coming to a more holistic understanding of the limitations of licensure, instead of continuing to pursue my LMFT (Marriage and Family Therapist license), I decided to intentionally divest from the licensure system as a form of decolonization. I found that I could not ethically work within the licensure system while remaining in integrity with my abolitionist values. Western psychology has traditionally been rooted in capitalist, white supremacist, cisheteronormative, & abelist values. It works as an extension of the prison industrial complex and the violent police state.
For example, licensed therapists are required to send police to the homes of clients experiencing suicidal urges (“welfare checks”), involuntarily hospitalize (imprision) clients when they are perceived as a “danger to themselves or others,” or report suspected child abuse which involves the police. These requirements are not only violent and unhelpful, but also disproportionately affect marginalized communities and tear families apart, creating even deeper trauma, and blocking the chance to heal and repair relationships. These responses actually tend to
increase the chance of suicide & violence due to clients not being able to talk openly about their pain. It generates more unsafety and blocks the ability to build trust in the therapeutic alliance, which is necessary for moving through trauma. If someone is in distress, the biggest chance we have to help them is through witnessing them, sitting in their pain with them, finding the root of their wounds, and giving them the space they need to express themselves and feel heard. None of these things are available if the police are involved.
In addition, the clinical licensure system is abusive to its trainees and associates, who are forced to accrue hours for years in oppressive non-paid or underpaid internships. Not only does this classist model gatekeep the profession from folks of marginalized identities, but these training sites are often racist, transphobic, and abelist towards clinicians as well as clients, creating an incredibly hostile working environment. While being closely supervised in these internships, we are forced to go along with their oppressive framework, deeply harming our clients and ourselves in the process.
For all of these reasons, and many more, I have chosen to forgo licensure in favor of following my values and my heart. Therefore, I am not a licensed mental health professional or medical provider.
SLIDING SCALE RATES
My standard price for therapy is $200/hour.
I offer sliding scale rates for folks who are experiencing financial hardship. Sliding scale rates go from $50-$200, and are based on what you can afford. Folks who are in extreme need and cannot afford the $50 are invited to ask for what they can afford.
Unfortunately, all of my lower-cost sliding scale spots are full at this time. I am still accepting clients between the range of $100-$200. If you are interested in working with me, but cannot afford $100, you are welcome to email me and ask to be put on the waitlist. I am, however, working on putting together a group therapy offering for folks with CPTSD. If that is something that interests you, please reach out and let me know. This would be much more affordable than individual therapy with more sliding scale availability. Contrary to popular belief, it can actually be even more beneficial than individual therapy for many folks with attachment wounds because it offers real, in-person practice with relating and being vulnerable inside a safe container with a therapist.
I view accessible therapy as a necessary form of mutual aid. At the same time, I have to make sure my own needs are met, rent is paid, and there’s food on the table. I do not question people about what they can afford; I trust people know what price is doable for them. Here is a rough guide for you to use to help decide what price you can manage:
Below $50: I do not have reliable income and cannot rely on family to help me through challenging financial times. I regularly do not have money for basic necessities, and basic human needs go unmet because of this. I have housing or food instability. I am reaching out for help during this challenging time and I am allowing my community to support me through this.
$50-$80: I have somewhat reliable income and most of my basic needs are regularly met. Sometimes I struggle with affording basic necessities. I mostly live paycheck-to-paycheck. I do not have family to rely on financially when shit hits the fan, and am unable to save enough for emergencies. I cannot afford to pay the full cost of therapy, but I am helping Orion cover basic costs/making ends meet and allowing my community to support me.
$90-$150: I have regular, reliable income. I generally have enough money to be able to afford basic necessities without stress. I have family I could rely on financially if I were ever to experience financial hardship. I have some money for emergencies. I am paying for the full cost of therapy. I am able to afford therapy but don’t have much extra to give at this time.
$160-$200: I have regular, reliable income. All of my basic needs are met, and I am regularly able to afford things just for fun & pleasure. I have savings for emergencies. I have a family who could support me financially if I ever needed assistance. I am paying for the full cost of therapy, and I am also subsidizing therapy for folks who cannot afford the full cost. By paying a little extra, I help Orion afford to offer low-cost therapy for less than $50 to folks who need it. I wanna help make therapy accessible for others! I am a very important part of the mutual aid puzzle and my contribution is extremely appreciated.
WHO DO I WORK WITH?
I work with anyone who resonates with what I’ve shared. As I am queer, trans, non-monogamous, a member of the kink/BDSM community, disabled, chronically ill, and a sex worker, I have particular life experience in those areas. If you are questioning your identity or curious about exploring new ways of being, you are welcome here. Folks who have been previously harmed or traumatized by the psychiatric model, who experience suicidal thoughts but do not want to be 5150’d, or folks with abolitionist and anarchist values might be interested in working with my non-heirarchical therapeutic framework.
THINK I MIGHT BE THE THERAPIST FOR YOU?
Email me at
orionqueer@gmail.com to request a free 30-minute intake over Zoom to see if we’re a good fit. I encourage you to bring any questions you might have that will help you decide. For more information about my practice, check out my instagram page:
@orionqueertherapy