A black silhouette of a cat with pointed ears and a long tail, sitting upright.

How I approach working with substance use and addiction

For LGBTQ+ folks, substance use rarely comes from nowhere. It often starts as a way of coping with shame, exhaustion, and a world that feels relentless. There’s no expectation to make big changes; let’s start from where you are and go from there.

What do substance use issues feel like?

You might notice:

  • You don't think you have a “drinking problem”, but your drinking is causing issues

  • Drugs or alcohol have become the go-to for unwinding, socializing, or getting through hard days

  • Your hangovers are getting in the way of achieving your goals and living the life you want

  • You don't identify with the word alcoholic, but you don't love your relationship with drinking either

  • Drinking alcohol or using drugs are making your anxiety, depression, or other mental health symptoms worse

  • You're sober curious but struggling to find community that actually reflects your life

  • You've tried to cut back or stop and found it harder than you expected

Where do they come from?

Substance use in queer and trans communities often emerges from:

  • Minority stress and its aftermath. Chronic exposure to discrimination, rejection, and systemic invalidation is exhausting. Substances offer temporary relief from a weight that never fully lifts

  • Shame as a driver. For many queer and trans people, substances became a way of numbing internalized shame about identity, sexuality, or simply existing differently in the world

  • Queer social culture. Bars and alcohol have historically been central to queer community and socializing. Drinking can become deeply woven into the fabric of connection and belonging before it becomes a problem

  • Trauma and mental health. Anxiety, depression, and unprocessed trauma are disproportionately common in queer and trans communities. Substances often start as a coping mechanism before becoming their own issue

  • A lack of affirming recovery spaces. Traditional recovery models weren't designed with queer and trans people in mind. When the available support doesn't reflect your life, it's harder to reach out and easier to keep going alone

How therapy can support you

  • Simple illustration of a baseball.

    Understanding how substances impact you

    Looking at what drugs or alcohol have been helping you cope with or mask.

  • Close-up of a green golf ball with dimples.

    Redefining your relationship with alcohol

    Stop, cut back, or just get honest about your relationship with alcohol.

  • Close-up of a light blue frost-covered baseball.

    Building a life you don't need to escape from

    Figuring out what you want in life and finding ways to get there.

If this feels like the kind of support you’ve been looking for, I’d love to hear from you.

Set up a free 15-min chat
Set up a free 15-min chat