Insights from the Couch: My Experience as a Gay Male Therapist in NYC

Hi, I’m Eric—a gay male therapist in NYC who offers LGBTQ Therapy in NYC that’s warm, attuned, and grounded in lived experience. Whether you're navigating anxiety, trauma, or just need space to be in process, I’m here to walk with you.

Updated on April 21, 2025

There’s a moment I always remember. I was sitting at a Queer Christian conference, quietly taking in the stories around me. People were sharing personal experiences of navigating spiritual spaces that didn’t affirm their identity—stories of shame, isolation, resilience, and eventual reclamation. And with each one, I felt something loosen in my chest. Their words mirrored mine. Their pain resonated. Their joy was contagious. I didn’t have to explain. I was just… seen.

That experience became a cornerstone for how I now show up in the therapy room. As a gay male therapist in NYC who also grew up in a religious environment that didn’t affirm my queerness, I know firsthand what it means to be misunderstood. And I also know the healing power of being met in that tender space—non-verbally, emotionally, viscerally—with someone who gets it.

That’s what I want for my clients.

If you're exploring LGBTQ Therapy in NYC or looking for a gay male therapist in NYC who can hold your story with deep understanding, care, and grounded presence—welcome. You’ve landed in the right place.

🧭 Becoming a Therapist: Why This Work Matters to Me

I didn’t just become a therapist because I was curious about psychology. I became a therapist because I needed therapy. I needed to understand why parts of me still flinched in moments that should’ve felt safe. I needed to untangle the quiet pressure to “perform” a version of myself that other people could accept. And I needed someone who could sit with all of it—without flinching.

So much of my training, from graduate school to EMDR certification, has helped me develop tools for healing trauma, managing anxiety, and supporting identity integration. But what has shaped me most is the experience of walking through it myself.

Now, I support clients in reclaiming their full selves—especially queer clients, spiritual seekers, and high-functioning New Yorkers who are tired of spiraling inward in silence. My work is trauma-informed, identity-affirming, and emotionally honest. And my clients feel it.

What It’s Like to Be LGBTQ in NYC (And Why We Still Need Therapy)

There’s this idea that coming to New York City is the answer—that it’s the place where queer folks can finally breathe, finally be themselves, finally be free.

And yes, NYC can be magical. But it can also be lonely, exhausting, and unrelenting. Especially when you’re still carrying invisible burdens.

Many of my LGBTQ clients come to therapy saying things like:

• “I thought I’d be thriving here, but I’m just trying to survive.”

• “Everyone else seems so confident, and I still feel like I’m faking it.”

• “I know I should be happy…but I don’t feel safe. Even in my body.”

Sometimes it’s trauma. Sometimes it’s anxiety. Often, it’s both. But underneath it all is a longing: I want to know who I really am—and I want to feel okay being that person.

LGBTQ Therapy in NYC isn’t just about coming out or resolving identity questions. It’s about coming home to yourself. It’s about creating a space where you can let your hair down, be in process, and stop performing for the world’s approval.

What Makes My Therapy Different as a Gay Male Therapist in NYC

You might be wondering: why work with a gay therapist? Why does that matter?

Here’s what I’ve heard from my clients—many of whom are also queer, neurodivergent, creative, spiritual-but-wounded, or all of the above:

✅ “You get it without me having to explain everything.”

Sometimes we don’t have the words yet. Sometimes we’ve tried therapy before, and the therapist just didn’t get it. In our work, I attune not just to what you say—but to what you don’t have to say. That’s how safety is created. And it’s how deep healing begins.

✅ “You remember what I say and follow up.”

This one might sound small, but it’s huge. My clients tell me that they feel deeply seen, in part because I remember the things they’ve said—and I check in. I ask about your family member, your dog, your upcoming audition, that conflict at work you brought in last week. That consistency helps you know I really care. Because I do.

✅ “You’re not afraid of the messy stuff.”

I’ve sat with grief, with rage, with spiritual confusion, with shame. I’ve walked people through heartbreak and watched them emerge clearer and stronger. I’m not afraid of the hard stuff. In fact, that’s where the gold often is.

✅ “You help me get to the root faster.”

We don’t waste time. I work with warmth, but also with depth. My clients often say they feel things shifting early on. That’s because I help you name what’s really going on—and give you tools to work with it, not around it.

Addressing the Misconception: Do Gay Therapists Have an Agenda?

Let’s name this, because it’s real.

There’s a stereotype that seeing a gay male therapist means seeing someone who will try to push a particular agenda or worldview.

Here’s the truth: I’m not here to define who you are.

I’m here to help you define who you are—on your terms.

What I bring into the room is authenticity. That includes my queerness, my spirituality, my introversion, and my deep belief that healing happens when we’re met in our full humanity.

I practice from a “fellow traveler” stance—I’ve been on my own healing path, and I walk alongside you on yours. Sometimes that means I share personal reflections. Other times, I offer clinical expertise. But always, I’m attuning to what you need and what your nervous system can hold.

If you’re ready for that kind of therapy—one that’s deeply personal, nonjudgmental, and grounded—you’ll likely feel right at home here.

Holding Space for Queer Clients With Religious Trauma

So many LGBTQ individuals carry unhealed wounds from spiritual communities. The messages might not have been explicit—but they were felt:

• “You’re wrong.”

• “You’re dangerous.”

• “You can be loved, if you change.”

It can take years to untangle those internalized beliefs.

Because I’ve walked this path, I can offer something beyond theory. I can offer presence. Not just intellectual affirmation, but a felt sense that your story makes sense to me.

In our work together, we might integrate parts work, EMDR, or mindfulness strategies—but underneath it all is the invitation to let yourself be seen, fully, and with love.

You are not too much. You are not broken. You’re becoming whole again.

How I Stay Grounded (And Help You Do the Same)

Let’s be honest—this world can be a lot. If you're feeling overwhelmed by political stress or disheartened by the news cycle, you're not alone.

I do my own grounding work daily. I move my body. I check in with the younger parts of me. I lean on chosen family and spiritual practice. I remember what I’m here for.

And I’ll invite you to do the same.

If you’re dealing with political anxiety, I invite you to read my blog:
👉 “Why Does Politics Feel So Overwhelming Right Now? LGBTQ Therapy NYC: Managing Political Anxiety and Information Overload.”

Together, we’ll find your anchor. We’ll work with the overwhelm, not against it. We’ll figure out what needs your attention and what can be gently released.

🌿 This Isn’t Just Therapy. It’s Your Life. Reclaimed.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering:

• “Is it safe to be fully myself here?”

• “What would it feel like to stop performing?”

• “Can I actually feel at home in my own skin?”

…then it might be time.

Therapy can be a sacred space to do that work—to return to yourself, to find your voice, to rebuild your sense of worthiness and belonging.

And if you’re looking for LGBTQ Therapy in NYC or want to work with a gay male therapist in NYC who brings realness, depth, and presence into the room—I invite you to connect with me.

💬 Let’s Talk

I offer a free 15-minute consultation to see if working together feels like a good fit.
This is your time. Your story. Your space to be seen.

Let’s find your way forward—together.