Virtual Therapy across New York & New Jersey.
LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy in NYC
You deserve to feel fully yourself.
Find more freedom to live authentically.
Therapy can be a space to explore who you are – not who you’re expected to be.
Maybe you’ve spent years figuring out what feels authentic to you and what was shaped by family expectations, cultural messages, or pressure to fit in. You may second-guess your needs, relationships, or how you show up in the world.
LGBTQ+ affirming therapy offers a space to explore your identity, relationships, and experiences without having to explain or justify who you are.
Therapy isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about understanding the messages you’ve internalized, reconnecting with what feels true to you, and making choices that fit the life and relationships you want.
Whether you’re exploring your sexual or gender identity, navigating family dynamics, dating, or simply trying to feel more comfortable being yourself, LGBTQ+ affirming therapy can help.
You might benefit from LGBTQ+ affirming therapy if…
You’re questioning or exploring your gender or sexual identity
You feel pressure to hide, minimize, or justify parts of yourself
You’re navigating family expectations, rejection around your identity, or having to defend your relationships
Dating brings up feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, or shame
You might ask yourself, “Am I queer enough?”
You want to feel more confident being yourself in relationships
You want a therapist who understands LGBTQ+ experiences without making your identity “the issue”
Your identity is not something we “fix.” Therapy can help you understand the experiences that have shaped how you see yourself, separate your own values from outside expectations, and build a life and relationships that feel authentic to you.
Start LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy in NYC today!
What if you could go from…
Questioning whether your needs are valid → Trusting yourself and your experiences
Feeling like you have to explain yourself → Finding community who just get it
Putting other people’s comfort first → Showing up more fully as yourself
Following expectations that don’t fit → Making intentional choices based on your values
Feeling anxious about being rejected → Building relationships where you can feel safe and connected
Feeling alone in your experiences → To feeling seen, understood, and supported
Let’s replace “Am I too much?” with:
“What do I actually need?”
What LGBTQ+ affirming therapy might look like…
Affirming therapy is not about assuming what your identity means to you or making it the focus of every session. It’s about creating a space where all parts of your experience are welcome.
We’ll start by getting to know you, your story, and what you want from therapy. Depending on your goals, we might:
Explore how family, cultural, or societal messages have shaped the way you see yourself and your relationships.
Identify patterns of people pleasing, self-silencing, or self-doubt that may have helped you feel safe in the past.
Explore your gender, sexuality, relationships, or identity at whatever depth feels meaningful to you.
Use CBT and ACT strategies to challenge unhelpful thoughts and make choices that align with your values.
Practice communicating your needs, setting boundaries, and building relationships that feel more authentic.
You get to decide what you want to explore. There is no expectation that you need to label yourself, come out, or have everything figured out before starting therapy.
Meet Your NYC LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapist
Julie Koven, Ph.D.
Hi! I’m Julie, a licensed psychologist specializing in helping adults understand the impact of trauma, identity, and relationship experiences on how they feel about themselves and others.
As someone familiar with feelings of otherness, I’m passionate about creating a grounding and safe environment that is LGBTQ+ affirming, culturally sensitive, and sex-positive. You deserve to feel seen and understood without having to explain or justify who you are.
My approach is trauma-informed, relational, and collaborative. We’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you, talk through the process, and create a therapy experience that aligns with your personal needs and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
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LGBTQ+ affirming therapy means working with a therapist who respects and supports your sexual orientation, gender identity, relationships, and lived experiences without treating them as problems to be changed.
It’s therapy delivered with care and a nuanced understanding of the unique stressors and systemic barriers that LGBTQ+ individuals face. This includes managing minority stress and discrimination, navigating access to services, processing internalized homophobia or transphobia, and exploring gender and sexual identity in the context of other identities.
I can’t promise perfection, but I will strive to provide a different experience than you’ve had in other relationships. If something doesn’t feel right, let’s talk about it. Your comfort and safety matter here.
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That’s totally ok! You can come to therapy questioning, exploring, or simply wanting a space to talk about parts of yourself that you haven't felt comfortable discussing elsewhere.
Therapy can help you slow down, notice what feels true for you, and separate your own wants and values from expectations you may have internalized from family, culture, or society.
There’s no pressure to identify a particular way, come out, or adopt labels that aren’t accurate or meaningful to you.
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Yes, I can provide gender-affirming letters for current clients. For new clients, I can write letters after a brief evaluation period. It typically takes 3-4 weeks to gather history, assess symptoms, and (when appropriate) provide a diagnosis. Please confirm what you need from your insurer/surgery center. I follow the WPATH Standards of Care and will work with you to manage feelings of gender dysphoria while we navigate this process together.
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My rate for a 50-minute therapy session is $225. I dedicate a portion of my caseload to sliding scale spots to make therapy more accessible to clients. If cost is a barrier, please inquire about my sliding scale option.
I am in-network with Aetna. For other insurance plans, I am considered to be an out-of-network mental health provider.
I am happy to provide monthly superbills for you to submit to insurance. I recommend checking with your insurance about your out-of-network mental health benefits as many of my clients are able to get reimbursement from their insurance.
Why you might consider working with an out-of-network therapist:
No limitations on sessions. We can meet without worrying about insurance cutting off the length, frequency, or duration of therapy.
It helps me keep your information confidential. No need to submit your diagnosis or notes to insurance for treatment.
Therapy is personal! It should be individualized and flexible to your needs and should not be dictated by insurance.
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The first step is scheduling a free 15-20 minute consultation call by clicking HERE! During our call, we’ll talk about what you’re looking for, answer any questions you have, and then find a time to meet for weekly sessions.
You can also call/text 929-489-1160 or send me an email at juliekovenphd@gmail.com
Need something else?
Additional Therapy Services
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ENM, POLY, & MODERN RELATIONSHIPS
Wondering if there’s more than one “right” way to do relationships? If you’re curious about non-monogamy or navigating poly challenges in existing relationships, therapy can help you clarify your needs and boundaries, explore your desires, and communicate more effectively.
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THERAPY FOR SEXUAL TRAUMA
Whether you’ve experienced sexual trauma in childhood or recent years, you might notice the impact on your relationships, in your body, or how you feel about yourself. Together, we’ll work to build safety, make meaning of your experiences, and reconnect with healthy supports.
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THERAPY FOR ANXIETY
Constantly overthinking? Stuck in patterns of people pleasing, conflict avoidance, or self-criticism? In therapy, we’ll explore the “why” and bolster skills to manage the negative thoughts and uncomfortable sensations that come with anxiety.
No default scripts.
Not trauma-driven choices.
Something intentional.
Start your therapy journey today.
Contact information:
Email juliekovenphd@gmail.com
Call or text 929.489.1160
you deserve to feel seen and understood
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you deserve to feel seen and understood —