Understanding LGBTQ+ Trauma Therapy Specialists in New York

Why Specialized Support Matters!

A moment of reflection during LGBTQ Therapy in NYC—healing trauma begins with safety, presence, and a therapist who truly understands.

Updated on March 28, 2025

Are you carrying the weight of old wounds—religious trauma, family rejection, or that constant second-guessing of your worth—and wondering if there's a therapist out there who actually gets it? You're not alone. And more importantly, you deserve more than generic support. You deserve therapy that sees you, that speaks your language, that doesn't require a history lesson on queer culture, or worse—force you to translate your pain into something a therapist can understand.

As someone who specializes in LGBTQ Therapy in NYC, I integrate a blend of experiential trauma therapies to go beyond surface-level talk therapy. I bring EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and other experiential methods together in a focused, adaptive, and deeply respectful way to help clients move through and beyond trauma—not just cope with it. These tools are especially effective in building a deep, grounded sense of self that so many LGBTQ+ clients long for.

And yes—because I’m also part of the queer community—I understand firsthand how healing it is when a client says, "I didn’t have to explain what that meant." Whether it’s a passing reference to a 90s evangelical worship band (DC Talk fans, anyone?) or the way queer identity shapes your sense of safety, those shared touchpoints matter. They say, you’re not alone here.

The Need for Trauma-Informed, Identity-Affirming Therapy

Trauma isn't just a single event—it’s often a series of moments that taught you your identity made you unsafe. For LGBTQ+ individuals, that can include being misgendered, excluded from family gatherings, belittled in religious spaces, or feeling invisible in classrooms or clinics. These experiences live in the body. They echo in the nervous system long after the moment has passed.

Despite New York City’s progressive reputation, many LGBTQ+ folks still struggle to find therapy that’s both trauma-informed and identity-affirming. I’ve heard so many stories—clients whose therapists told them to "respect their parents because the Bible says so," clients who weren’t believed, who were called by the wrong name, or who simply didn’t feel safe enough to share the real story.

That’s not trauma therapy. That’s retraumatization.

What Makes LGBTQ+ Trauma Therapy Specialists Different?

Here’s what sets LGBTQ trauma therapy apart—and what I offer through my integrated, experiential approach:

1. Depth-Oriented, Experiential Therapy Methods

I don’t just talk through your story—I help you feel it, shift it, and transform it at its root. I am fully certified in EMDR Therapy, which allows us to reduce the emotional charge of painful memories, and I combine this with Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help you understand and care for the internal parts of you that carry shame, fear, or protectiveness. I also draw from other experiential therapies that bring the work into the here-and-now, making it more embodied, creative, and alive.

This kind of therapy isn’t passive—it’s an active process of discovery and healing. It’s where transformation happens.

2. Safety Isn’t Assumed—It’s Co-Created

From the very first session, we establish what safety means for you. We talk through our therapy agreements: your right to pass, your right to ask for what you need, how we build trust not just between you and me, but between the parts of you that carry fear, shame, and hope. Safety isn’t just a vibe—it’s a practice.

3. We Work at Your Pace—but We Go Deep

Healing doesn’t have to be slow or overwhelming. We go at the pace that feels safe enough—but I also help you focus. Together, we’re not just talking through weekly stress. We’re finding the root of the hurt so you don’t have to keep carrying it. That’s how things shift.

4. Cultural and Historical Literacy

While lived experience informs my approach, what matters most is that your therapy experience is affirming, informed, and nuanced. When my clients share something vulnerable—especially those from religious or politically conservative upbringings—I bring not only clinical knowledge but also a compassionate and grounded understanding of the systems that shaped their pain.

What LGBTQ+ Trauma Therapy Can Help You With

• Religious trauma and spiritual abuse

• Internalized homophobia or transphobia

• Attachment wounds and relationship difficulties

• Anxiety, shame, and hypervigilance

• Fear of being visible or setting boundaries

• Navigating identity in family, work, and dating spaces

Real Stories, Real Change

Here’s a glimpse into what this work looks like:

In LGBTQ Therapy NYC, caring for your inner child means learning to show up with compassion for the parts of you that needed safety all along.

Photo by Kelli McClintock; Uploaded from Unsplash on 3/28/25.

J.D.’s Journey
J.D. arrived in therapy holding years of religious and family rejection. Through our work using EMDR, they were able to soften the grip of those memories. They no longer flinch when thinking about family gatherings. They’ve reclaimed their identity in ways that feel embodied—not just conceptual. They’re dating again. Laughing more. Living with less fear.

K.L.’s Breakthrough
K.L. came to therapy with a deep sense of disconnection in relationships. Through psychodynamic and attachment-based work, we uncovered how early invalidation shaped their current fears. Over time, K.L. learned to notice these patterns, care for the younger parts inside, and set boundaries that once felt impossible.

And what I feel when a client like K.L. says, "I think I actually love myself now"? Honestly, it’s how I imagine a midwife feels. There’s labor. There’s pain. But witnessing someone give birth to a new way of being—after years of hiding or hustling for love? It’s so fucking cool.

What to Expect in Our First Session

You don’t have to come in polished. You don’t need a therapy goal written out. We’ll simply begin.

• We get curious: What brings you here? What’s felt hard to carry alone?

• We build safety: We’ll talk about what you need to feel safe—and what to expect.

• We co-create a plan: Based on your needs, we’ll decide which tools, pace, and approaches will help.

And we’ll revisit that plan as you grow. Therapy isn’t static—it evolves as you do.

FAQ: LGBTQ+ Trauma Therapy in NYC

Is this different from regular trauma therapy?
Yes. We bring in all the trauma tools—EMDR, IFS, psychodynamic work—but we adapt them through an LGBTQ+ lens. That means naming internalized messages, reclaiming lost parts of yourself, and addressing trauma as someone who has been othered.

Will I have to rehash my entire past?
Not unless you want to. We don’t need to go into every detail to heal. Some work happens through memory, some through metaphor, some through body-based noticing.

Can I afford this?
I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots. While I’m not in-network, I can help you understand your out-of-network benefits, and therapy may be eligible for FSA/HSA reimbursement. Most importantly—I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can explore if it’s a good fit before you invest.

You Deserve More Than Survival

LGBTQ Therapy NYC is about more than coping. It’s about freedom. Healing. Self-trust. Finding the version of you that isn’t shrinking, hiding, or editing. The version that knows their worth.

And yes—this city can be a lot. But it’s also full of possibilities. The right support can make all the difference.

If you’re ready for therapy that affirms your identity and helps you heal from the roots up, let’s talk.

Let’s take the first step toward healing and wholeness, and build something new together. One session at a time.

Eric M. Hovis, LMHC, LPC
I’m a licensed mental health counselor with over 16 years of experience working with LGBTQ+ adults, especially those carrying complex trauma from religious or authoritarian backgrounds. I integrate EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and experiential therapies in a warm, affirming, and focused way to help you find deep, lasting healing. Learn more about my practice here: LGBTQ Therapy NYC.