Therapy for LGBTQIA+ Spokane
We provide a safe, affirming, and inclusive environment for queer people in South Hill and other neighborhoods in Spokane.
- LGBTQIA+ Individual Therapy
- LGBTQIA+ Couples Therapy
We provide individual and couples therapy with the queer experience in mind.
Navigating life as a queer person in a heteronormative world can have its own challenges
Some friends may not get it. Your family may range from well-meaning confusion to rejection. It’s understandable if an individual or a couple may hesitate to approach a mental health professional for their concerns.
With a judgment-free therapeutic space and the experience and expertise of our professionals, we provide tailored care unique to the LGBTQIA+ experiences.
LGBTQIA+ Individual Therapy
Whether you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, or any other term in the queer umbrella.
At Spokane Counseling Hub, we provide affirmative support to the unique challenges queer individuals experience.
You may be exploring your gender identity or untangling what you want in a relationship.
Whichever the case, you do not have to explain terms and such to our professionals.
Through affirmative therapy, we validate and advocate for the needs of sexual and gender minority individuals and acknowledge the stigma and other obstacles they may face.
Here are some of the challenges we help you navigate:
- Exploring Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Dysphoria – Knowing who you are is more of a journey than a destination. We help people with their doubts about their identified labels and provide transition support for dysphoria.
- Untangling What You Want in a Relationship – The queer identity can affect what you want in a relationship that is different from heteronormative expectations. Whether you’re in the asexual-aromantic spectrum, polyamorous, or intersex, we can help you validate the intimacy you desire.
- Healing from Hurtful Experiences – Family rejection and social discrimination can lead individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and struggles with self-acceptance. To help LGBTQIA+ individuals heal, we provide a safe space to help them process these experiences and move forward in life.
LGBTQIA+ Couples Therapy
Like all relationships, conflict is inevitable. However, resolving conflicts also deepens intimacy. Sometimes, people need a little help with constructive communication, rekindling feelings, and working out issues.
With our LGBTQ-affirming therapists, we help couples overcome conflicts with the queer experience in mind for effective counseling.
At Spokane Counseling Hub, we provide couples therapy for the LGBTQ community. With affirming support, we welcome all couples.
With our LGBTQ-affirming therapists in Spokane, Washington, we help couples overcome conflicts with the queer experience in mind for effective counseling.
Our couples therapy is available for:
- Same-sex couples
- Polyamorous relationships
- Bisexuals in homo- or heterosexual relationships
- Kink/BDSM
- Queerplatonic relationships
- Couple with an intersex individual
Benefits of LGBTQIA+ Therapy
What Happens When You Take Our LGBTQIA+ Therapy Services?
LGBTQIA+ therapy equips you with emotional support and strategies to navigate relationships and personal challenges.
With a judgment-free therapeutic space and the experience and expertise of our professionals, we provide tailored care unique to the LGBTQIA+ experiences.
Here are the benefits you can expect with Spokane Counseling Hub.
Benefit #1: Judgment-Free Space to Heal and Process Trauma
Therapy provides a judgment-free space where you can address your concerns safely.
- For Individual Therapy: Therapists can help individuals process negative experiences related to their gender identity and sexual orientation.
- For Couples Therapy: Therapists can help couples with conflicting perspectives on the same experience. We do not take sides in the dispute but call out any individual behaviors contributing to joint problems.
Benefit #2: Support for Living Your Authentic Life
According to the “Five Regrets of the Dying,” the number one regret is not having the courage to live the life true to myself.” With professional support, we help you forge your self-esteem and live life authentically.
- For Individual Therapy: We provide gender-affirming care and life transition, including obtaining medical letters for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
- For Couples Therapy: Couples therapy of any kind helps partners become closer together or part ways intelligently. In any case, we help partners treat themselves and their significant other/s with compassion and better communication.
Benefit #3: Navigate Relationships with Confidence
Relationships can be messy, especially when coming out to your friends and families. At Spokane Counseling Hub, we provide support, be it healing from rejection or planning to come out.
- For Individual Therapy: We guide you on how to come out or deal with their reactions after revealing your gender identity and sexual orientation. Your friends and family may be accepting, in denial, confused but trying, or rejecting. Whichever the case, we are here to offer our support.
- For Couples Therapy, Parents and in-laws may not understand your relationship well. At Spokane Counseling Hub, we provide the skills to communicate and establish boundaries when needed.
Meet our local LGBTQ-affirming therapists in Spokane, Washington.
Emily deTar Gilmartin
Meet Emily deTar Gilmartin
Emily deTar Gilmartin is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate with a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Gonzaga University. With 15 years of experience counseling individuals and couples in five different countries, Emily brings a unique perspective to her couples therapy work at Spokane Counseling Hub. Throughout her career, she has observed a common, universal longing in people—the deep desire to trust and connect in their relationships.
Emily is incredibly skilled at helping couples rebuild that trust and emotional bond. Through her expertise in EFT, she guides them toward lasting change. If you’re looking for compassionate support from someone who truly understands the complexities of relationships, Emily is here to help you navigate the journey.
Jennine Estes
Meet Jennine Estes Powell
Jennine Estes Powell, LMFT, is not only the owner and supervisor of Spokane Counseling Hub but also a nationally recognized leader in couples and relationship counseling. Co-author of the acclaimed book Help for High-Conflict Couples, Jennine is certified in EFT and trained in EMDR, making her highly qualified to support couples dealing with trauma, conflict, and disconnection.
Beyond her private practice, Jennine mentors and supervises Associate Marriage and Family Therapists, helping shape the next generation of therapists. Her extensive experience and dedication to couples therapy make her invaluable for couples seeking real, sustainable growth in their relationships.
How LGBTQIA+ Counseling Works: Sessions Tailored to Your Needs
Depending on the complexity of the issues, sessions in Spokane Counseling Hub often consist of 12 sessions lasting 35-60 minutes each.
For your convenience, we also provide online therapy to accommodate individuals who cannot come to our office.
- In the first few sessions, your assigned therapist will get a handle on your concerns with an expert and professional perspective.
- In the middle of the sessions, they will collaborate with you on applicable strategies for addressing your concerns.
- In the concluding sessions, your therapist will determine the effectiveness of the treatment use and adjust as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best therapy approach for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples?
The best therapy approach for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples is affirmative therapy. Affirmative therapy validates and advocates for people with minority identities on sexuality, gender identity, and more, as these identities often shape their experiences. This means that therapists trained in affirmative therapy also acknowledge and consider their treatment with the stigma and obstacles LGBTQIA+ individuals face.
What is gender-affirming care?
Gender-affirming care provides social, psychological, and medical support tailored to your gender identity. In therapy, this means creating a safe space to heal from trauma, shame, and depression often rooted in microaggressions, hostile experiences, or a lack of social support. At Spokane Counseling Hub, we’re here to help you navigate these challenges with compassion and understanding. For those seeking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), we can also provide medical letters to ensure you receive the care you deserve.
Do you take insurance?
We provide superbills instead of accepting insurance. Superbills contain itemized insurance-friendly information to help providers determine whether to reimburse you. Insurance providers do not typically cover relationship counseling. However, some plans cover it if the policyholder needs it due to a mental health condition.
Do you have gay therapists?
Absolutely. Our practice includes LGBTQIA+ therapists, and allies, who provide affirming, compassionate care. Our owner is also a member of the LGBT community. We specialize in understanding and supporting the unique experiences of GSRD (Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diversity) individuals.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
The queer experience in a heteronormative society has its own unique obstacles. But you do not have to be alone to face them. At Spokane Counseling Hub, we provide supportive and affirming services for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples. Schedule an appointment today for therapy care in South Hill and other Spokane neighborhoods.
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