LGBTherapy Matters
LGBTQ+ Therapy from a Gay Therapist
Navigating the Coming Out Journey
Welcome to LGBTherapy Matters. I’m Jeremiah Matters (He/Him), an openly gay therapist serving the LGBTQIA+ Community in California and Nevada. Navigating the Coming Out Journey—and realizing that it’s a lifelong process—is not an easy voyage, and it’s something I know first-hand. Growing up in the closet and constantly denying myself well into my 20s made life overwhelming and unmanageable, and it took me several years of looking for affirming therapy until I finally found a therapist who I could be myself around. Learning how to accept yourself in a hetero-normative society is something that brings shame, fear, confusion, pain, suffering, and loss. However, as difficult as life may have been for you thus far, my hope as a therapist is to help you sail out of those dark waters and follow the compass to a brighter place filled with peace, understanding, acceptance, and authenticity.
LGBTQ+ Dictionary
Term of the Week:
Gender Spectrum
“Refers to the idea that gender identity and expression are not limited to the binary of male and female, but instead exist on a continuum with many possibilities. This includes those who identify as either male or female, both male and female, somewhere in between, or non-binary identities.”
Check out my LGBTQ+ Dictionary for more terms!
Check out my TikTok.
Click on the link above to visit my TikTok and watch my latest videos where I talk about hot topics and clinical issues within the LGBTQ+ Community. Here’s one of my favorite topics below: “Reclaiming Your Gay Childhood.”
*Edit to video: I’m now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Check out my Blog.
I write blogs on hot topics within the LGBTQ+ Community, such as gender identity, stereotypes, and more.
Check out my latest blog: “Finding Your Pride: How LGBTQ+ Therapy Can Empower You”
LGBTQ+ News.
Check out this NBC Out article: “Trans young adults and parents sue over Trump's orders restricting transition care”
Click the title above to read the article, or read other LGBTQ+ news here.
LGBTQ+ Therapy for Individuals
When meeting with you for Individual Therapy, I want you to understand that you know your story better than anyone else, but I also know that when we live a life full of lying to ourselves and denying who we are, we also tend to lie about and deny our true emotions—often displaying a façade to the outside world—and this can be harmful not only to ourselves, but to everyone around us. This is why I work with individual clients who are navigating the Coming Out Journey by using Emotionally Focused Therapy, for emotions are what drive our relationships and everything that we do. As an openly gay therapist, I remember what it’s like to hide in the closet, and I also know how liberating it has been to come out. If you want to learn how to accept yourself and start living your life more authentically, check out my “LGBTherapy for Individuals” page by clicking below.
LGBTQ+ Therapy for Couples
Navigating the Coming Out Journey with your partner can be just as difficult as doing it alone. Whereas individuals can go years without ever coming out to their friends and families, couples often have a yearning to be known by their loved ones, but they disagree on how to do it due to cultural, religious, and personality differences. When meeting with you and your partner for Couples Therapy, I also use Emotionally Focused Therapy, but rather than turning towards oneself, I will have you turn towards your partner to help you become more vulnerable with your core emotions so that you both can learn how to be more authentic and understand each other’s attachment needs. As an openly gay therapist in a relationship, I know what it’s like to experience uncomfortable, conflicting emotions, and learning how to vulnerably express them to my partner in a meaningful, respectful way has done wonders for us. If you want to learn about how to end unhealthy cycles with your partner so that you can live more authentic lives with each other and those around you, check out my “LGBTherapy for Couples” page by clicking below.