LGBTQIA+ Therapist Meg Mattingly
Takeaway: As a queer therapist in Austin, I help clients cultivate a deeper understanding and acceptance of their identity. This can involve processing religious trauma and/or deconstructing the narratives we’ve received from our culture. I understand the unique mental health challenges that can arise from being a part of the queer community and delight in working with late-bloomers, creatives, curious souls, and folks breaking binaries & social norms. No matter what this work looks like for you, we’ll come together to help you embrace all of who you are in a safe and supportive space.
Meet Meg Mattingly, LGBTQ therapist in Austin
I find joy in working with clients who are working on breaking the binaries that have kept them from their authentic self. Whether that be around deconstructing harmful religious beliefs, family expectations, identity expression, sexual orientation, gender identities, gender expression or simply just finding your true self. There are so many ways we can find ourselves living without slowing down to ask, “Wait, is this even my story i’m living right now?”. I love helping others tap into their own truth, their own desires and needs. The queer experience is so vast and expansive, and isn't meant to look one particular way.
There are so many societal barriers that can keep us from ourselves. As someone who came out later in life as a queer woman, I personally understand from my own life, the obstacles we can face. I feel drawn towards helping people take up more space for themselves, with the hope of a more fulfilling life. As a queer therapist, I work from a relational lens and incorporate mindfulness, nonviolent communication, self-compassion and nature based practices. I strive to create a safe environment where clients can be curious, build coping skills and find deeper connection to themselves through healing.
I welcome you wherever you are in your queer journey, it’s exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Why choose Willow Tree Collective for LGBTQ+ counseling in Austin
Finding the right therapist, can feel overwhelming and daunting. Individual therapy is such relational work and it's so important that you feel a sense of trust and safety with your therapist. Before establishing a relationship though, it can be helpful to understand what areas they specialize in, to ease the process. At Willow Tree Collective, we specialize in working with queer individuals and strive to create a space where your unique needs and story is valued.
Does any of this sound familiar?
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You feel like a “late bloomer” coming into your queer identity. You’re gatekeeping yourself out of the community because your queer experience feels different or doesn't look how you think it's suppose to. Maybe you feel your LGBTQ issues aren't as valid or important or you're struggling with untangling how society views you.
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You’re not out to your family due to fear of rejection, or you are out, and your family has struggled with embracing your authentic self. This brings up a lot of grief, trauma, shame, anger, and sadness.
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You’re navigating through religious trauma. Whether you’re deconstructing your faith or still feel connected to your religious upbringing, it feels complicated due to your gender and/or sexual identity. Maybe you feel caught between two cultures, unsure of where you fit.
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The binary has broken and there is so much space to explore who you are through gender expression and sexual orientations! We are expansive beings, always growing and unfolding. You are looking for a space where you can explore the nuances.
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Did your child just come out or share their new pronouns with you? Although you’re supportive of their journey, you feel ill equipped with how to move forward and need a place to process.
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Living in Texas as a queer person, can cause higher levels of anxiety and depression due to continual attacks and laws created to discriminate the LGBT+ community. If you are someone who already struggles with mental health issues, the current political climate towards the queer community can negatively impact your wellbeing.
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Starting college? Just moved to town? Starting a new job? All of these events can be exciting, but also bring with them a slew of unknowns and change. As a queer person, there may be unique challenges that arise with big life changes and it feels overwhelming.
If you found yourself connecting to any of these topics, or simply want a safe and inclusive space to land, we'd love to provide you counseling services and for you to my our client. You are not alone.
When another practice may be a better fit for your needs
Finding the right therapist to join you on your journey of healing and discovery can feel overwhelming. Although I support everyone's journey to healing and freedom, I may not always be the right fit for you. Here are a few areas that are outside of my specialization and Identity.
Polyamorous relationship counseling
BIPOC therapist
Neurodivergent expertise
Trans or non-binary Therapist
Queer Group Support
Under 18 years of age
Four of the best LGBTQ+ therapists in Austin & Surrounding Area
Austin has a rich community of LGBTQ+ therapists. I am delighted to share four amazing queer clinicians that are doing incredible work in and for the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community.
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Monica Jurado Kelly, owner of Ascend Counseling + Wellness, is a clinical social worker and a trauma therapist specializing in therapy with adults who have typically marginalized identities (e.g., BIPOC, LGBTQ+, first-gen/children of immigrants). She specializes in providing culturally responsive individual therapy services to fellow humans who have difficult family members, are adult children of immigrants, are therapists or other helping professionals, and those seeking to resolve traumatic experiences. Monica identifies as an Indigenous Latina, daughter of Mexican immigrants, queer, and child-free by choice. She approaches healing from a liberation perspective and is dedicated to helping people come home to themselves.
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As a member of several marginalized groups, I both understand and appreciate what it means to struggle. In my work with clients, I strive to assist those who don't have a voice find theirs and support those who would otherwise not seek therapy for a fear of judgment. I currently provide both individual and group therapy to adults. I specialize in working with the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly the transgender and gender diverse community, although have come to realize that my actual specialty is what I call “unf**king our socializations.” In addition to this, since we are more than our gender and sexuality, and as a result of my decade of professional experience across a wide array of mental health settings, I work with a variety of mental health concerns. I operate from a trauma informed and healing centered perspective with a social justice lens and an anti-oppressive framework. I am also fat positive, sex positive, neurodiversity affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming (including gender affirming), poly, ethical non monogamy, and kink affirming and am allied with those engaged in sex work. I also strongly believe in harm reduction. To find out more about me and my practice, check out Next Quest Counseling.
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BRC Therapy is owned by Bri Craig, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist offering therapy services to all Texas residents. They are committed to providing an inclusive, affirming, and justice-oriented environment for clients. They work from an anti-oppressive lens and believe in increasing access to quality mental healthcare for all races, bodies, identities, and abilities.
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Therapy Underground is a small psychotherapy and coaching practice based in Austin, TX owned by Chance Ramirez. They focus on offering inclusive and supportive services for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Chance's approach is anti-racist, anti-diet, trauma-informed, strengths based, collaborative, gender affirming, neurodivergence-affirming, and sex positive. They offer virtual sessions and limited in person sessions for those interested in art therapy.
FAQs about LGBT counseling in Austin
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Queer affirmative therapy is an approach that supports individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ by affirming their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. Therapists acknowledge and support individuals within the LGBTQ+ community while recognizing the complexity of their experiences through the lens of intersectionality. This therapeutic framework not only validates sexual orientation and gender identity but also considers how various aspects of identity—such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, and ability—intersect and influence a person's experiences and challenges.
Factors that can help identify if a therapist provides queer affirmative therapy include:
Affirming Language: A therapist who uses inclusive language and demonstrates deep understanding of LGBTQIA+ identities without assumptions or biases.
Cultural Competency: Knowledge about LGBTQIA+ issues, history, and challenges faced by the community, showcasing an awareness of intersectionality.
Supportive Environment: Creating a safe space where individuals can openly discuss their experiences without fear of judgment or discrimination.
Respect and Validation: Valuing and respecting diverse identities, experiences, and relationship structures without pathologizing them.
Collaborative Approach: Collaborating with clients to address their specific needs and goals in a way that honors their identities and experiences.
Continual Learning: Being open to ongoing education and specialized training on LGBTQIA+ issues and integrating this knowledge into their practice.
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LGBTQ affirmative therapy offers profound benefits by providing a supportive, validating space for individuals to explore their identities. It fosters a sense of belonging, reduces internalized stigma, and encourages self-acceptance. Research from the American Psychological Association (APA) highlights the positive impact of affirmative therapy, noting its role in promoting mental health and well-being among LGBTQIA+ individuals. Affirmative approaches help in addressing the unique challenges faced by this community, improving self-esteem, relationship satisfaction, and overall mental health. Additionally, affirming environments facilitate openness and trust between clients and therapists, leading to more effective therapeutic outcomes. Studies such as those published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology affirm the efficacy of these approaches in supporting the diverse needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals, ultimately contributing to their emotional and psychological flourishing.
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Whether you’re looking to work on LGBTQIA+ issues or simply want a therapist who shares your identity, I recommend Inclusive Therapist or National Queer & Trans Therapist of Color Network. These site allow you to search for queer & trans/nonbinary therapists within the whole state of Texas. This can be helpful if you’re living in a rural area with limited access to queer-specific mental health services. If you are a parent looking for support for your teen or are a queer youth, Outyouth is a great Austin resource that has its own therapist directory. Please feel free to reach out if you've got more specific questions about resources.
Explore and embrace your identity with LGTBQ+ counseling in Austin.
It can feel like such a vulnerable process starting therapy. At Willow Tree Collective we strive to make new clients feel heard and understood, not matter who they are. This whole human thing, is collective work! We aren't created to do it alone. If you are seeking therapy, we'd love to set up a consultation with you.
