I'm an LAPC (Licensed Associate Professional Counselor) working in Community Mental Health and at a baby private practice, both of which serve largely queer and trans folks. I have now been seeing clients under supervision for about two years.

I'm so lucky to be able to provide therapy for free to clients through medicaid/medicare in an agency setting, and at sliding scale rates for out of pocket expenses through my private practice. The benefit of CMH is that my sliding scale goes to zero, and my caseload is always full, but the drawback is that I am currently compensated at a very low rate ($34 per direct hour). I provided therapy for queer and trans individuals at similar rates at another organization until recently, when it suddenly closed down in response to frozen and reallocated federal grant funding. When that organization went under, I adopted everyone on my caseload into my fledgling private practice at the same rates they were receiving to preserve continuity of care, which I felt strongly was the most ethical choice in the situation.

Working in community mental health puts me in a critical support role for folks with extensive trauma, and serious diagnoses, who currently experience multiple intersections of structural oppression (which are only intensifying). I adore my clients; they are talented, ingenious, resilient, and deserve the best.

I struggle with the knowledge that I don't currently have the depth of practice that many of my clients truly need to address extensive trauma histories, and adapt survival skills which may limiting now. It's been my goal since beginning my degree program to become certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and IFS (Internal Family Systems), both of which support trauma processing. I've since really benefited from Gestalt trainings as well. Gestalt has many overlapping elements in common with EMDR and IFS, and the weekend workshops I've been able to attend on scholarship have already been transformative for me and my practice.

I am so, so excited to share:

I do my best to be an autodidact, but reading and podcasts only take one so far in what is at heart an experiential rather than analytical process.

So, I'm reaching out to ask for support. Please consider helping me get these effective modalities to folks who need them the most, but most likely could not otherwise afford it. My projected income for this current year is about 30,000. I'm safe and happy and fed, and also things are pretty lean, especially with Cost of Living Increases. I will not be able to go if I don't get some additional support.

I believe deeply in the transformative power of these three modalities, and I know that I will regret not taking a leap to develop myself and better serve my communities. I know that I am definitely going to take a financial leap to attend EMDR training in August, and I would be absolutely over the moon if I could continue deepening my practice in either IFS or Gestalt modalities (depending on how much I'm able to raise). The more I'm able to raise, the more I will be able to develop the scope and depth of practice to support our communities.

Costs

(I am also applying for scholarships which may cover some small portion of Gestalt or IFS.)

Image credits: Emily Briggs Photography (color) and Juno Rosenhaus (black and white).