LGBTQ+ & Gender-Affirming Therapy in Greensboro, NC
Therapy where you never have to educate your therapist
If you’re transgender, nonbinary, queer, or questioning, you’ve probably had or heard about the other kind of therapy experience. The one where you spend half the session explaining terminology.
That’s not what happens here.
At Santos Counseling, gender-affirming therapy means your identity is the starting point, not the subject of debate. You are the expert on who you are and the experiences that you have lived. Our job as your counselor is to support you with what you actually came in for. Maybe this is anxiety, depression, family conflict, trauma, relationships, or the stress of navigating a world that isn’t always built for you.
Who we work with
- Transgender men and transgender women
- We work with you at any stage, whether you transitioned years ago, are early in the process of transitioning, or aren’t pursuing medical transition at all.
- Nonbinary, genderqueer, and gender-expansive adults and teens
- People questioning their gender identity
- People questioning their sexual orientation
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual clients
- LGBTQ+ college students in the Triad (UNCG, NC A&T, Guilford College, Greensboro College, Elon, GTCC)
- Parents and family members who want to support an LGBTQ+ loved one well
- Spanish-speaking LGBTQ+ clients (terapia afirmativa disponible en español)
Common counseling areas we help with
Most of our LGBTQ+ clients come to counseling at Santos Counseling for the same reasons anyone does and want a counselor who gets the added layer their identity brings to it:
- Anxiety and depression. This includes the specific weight of minority stress, which can often include experiencing hypervigilance, anticipating rejection, or code-switching exhaustion.
- Gender dysphoria and building a life that reduces it.
- Coming out. We aim to create a supportive and safe space to work with you one step at a time.
- Family relationships, including families who are struggling, partially supportive, or unsupportive
- Trauma, including religious trauma, bullying at school or work, and past counseling experiences that did harm
- Relationships and dating as an LGBTQ+ person
- Life transitions. We often work with students ranging from middle school to those starting college, starting a career, or starting over.
- Internalized shame and building genuine self-respect, not just surface-level positivity
Letters and assessments for gender-affirming medical care
As you may be aware, some medical providers, surgeons, and insurance plans request a letter of support from a licensed mental health professional before hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery. Santos Counseling provides these assessments and letters, and we approach them the way they should be approached: as a collaborative and affirming conversation.
What to expect for letters and assessments for gender-affirming care:
- An assessment appointment (or a small number of appointments) with a licensed mental health clinician experienced in this process
- A letter written to meet your provider’s or insurer’s specific requirements. We work closely with you to understand what is taking place and support you.
If a surgeon or insurance plan has asked you for documentation, call (336) 663-6570 and mention you need a letter for gender-affirming care. We’ll walk you through it.
Frequently Asked Questions About LGBTQ+ Counseling
Do I need to be pursuing medical transition to work with you?
No. Transition is not a requirement, a goal we push, or a topic we force. Some clients are pursuing medical steps, some are not, and some are undecided. All are welcome.
Is my therapist going to understand trans issues, or will I have to explain everything?
As your counselor, we are trained and understand the process. If a clinician isn’t the right fit for your needs, we’ll say so and help you find someone who is.
I had a bad experience with a previous therapist. How is this different?
You’re not alone. Santos Counseling is a diverse practice with trained clinicians. Many of our LGBTQ+ clients come to us after a counseling experience that felt dismissive or subtly invalidating. We encourage you to interview us: ask about your counselor’s experience with trans and nonbinary clients, their approach, and their training. We collectively welcome questions.
Do you see LGBTQ+ teens?
Yes. We work with LGBTQ+ and questioning teens and their families, with a focus on both the teen’s wellbeing and helping parents support their child effectively.
Can you write a letter for hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery?
Yes. Our licensed counselors provide assessments and letters of support for gender-affirming medical care, written to your provider’s or insurer’s requirements. You don’t have to be an existing counseling client. Call us with what’s been requested, and we’ll explain the process, timeline, and cost.
Do you offer therapy in Spanish?
Sí. Santos Counseling es una práctica bilingüe — ofrecemos terapia afirmativa en español, tanto en persona como por telehealth.
Do you take insurance?
Yes, we take insurance. Click here to learn more about the insurance process.