Who Are the Best LGBTQIA+ Therapists in Los Angeles?
Takeaway: Finding the right LGBTQIA+ therapist is about more than choosing someone who describes their practice as inclusive. This guide highlights LGBTQ-affirming therapists in Los Angeles and explains what to look for when comparing your options, from relevant experience and therapeutic approach to whether you feel understood, respected, and comfortable being yourself.
LGBTQ-Affirming Therapy at Diversified Therapy LA
At Diversified Therapy LA, we offer LGBTQ-affirming therapy for people who want room to talk honestly about their lives. You may be coming in because work has become exhausting, a relationship feels disconnected, or you are trying to understand what you want next. Your identity belongs in that conversation, and you help decide how much attention it needs.
We bring a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens to our therapy work. Family expectations, race, faith, and experiences of discrimination can shape how you move through the world. Those experiences may overlap with gender and sexuality in ways that are hard to separate. We stay curious about what that means for you, with respect for your pace and boundaries.
Our approach is grounded in cultural humility and trauma-informed, with attention to what feels manageable for you. We recognize the pressures people face outside the therapy room while working together on the concerns they want to address within it. We highly value our therapeutic relationship. Your goals guide the work, whether that means managing chronic stress, exploring relationship patterns, or feeling more comfortable making choices for yourself.
Visit our LGBTQIA+ Therapy in Los Angeles specialty page to learn more. We would be glad to talk about fit, including whether another therapist might better meet your needs.
4 Best LGBTQ Therapists in Los Angeles
“Best” is subjective. Someone who feels like a good therapist for your friend may not be the right person for you. Your concerns, identity, budget, location, and preferred approach all matter, as does whether you want online therapy or to meet in person.
This is not a ranking. We have included Kristen from our practice and three outside therapists whose websites describe LGBTQ-affirming care as a focus. These skilled clinicians are options to explore, rather than personal referrals. We also share information about the Los Angeles LGBT Center for readers interested in community-based mental health services.
As you read, consider what you most want help with. Perhaps it is anxiety, family dynamics, self-esteem, or relationship challenges. You might want a mental health provider who shares an aspect of your identity, or someone with particular experience supporting trans folks, nonbinary people, or people in the queer community whose cultural backgrounds resemble yours. There is no single priority you have to choose.
The details below reflect providers' published information. Credentials, fees, locations, and availability can change, so confirm them directly. You can also ask whether their current therapy services match what you are looking for.
1. Kristen Andrews, AMFT
Kristen is a queer Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at Diversified Therapy LA. She works under the supervision of Camille Tenerife, LMFT, supporting individuals and couples with life transitions, identity questions, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.
Kris brings curiosity and a collaborative approach to sessions. She draws from narrative therapy, psychodynamic work, mindfulness, and relational therapy to help clients examine the stories and expectations shaping their lives. That might mean exploring who you are outside a job title, working on personal growth, or how to evolve within a partnership while staying connected to yourself. Her practice description welcomes polyamory, kink, and ethical non-monogamy.
Before becoming a therapist, Kris spent more than a decade in corporate human resources. Her background makes her an option to consider if career pressure and personal identity are closely connected for you. We have included her because her work brings LGBTQ-affirming support and career and relationship concerns together. A consultation is a chance to ask how she would approach your goals, whether you want support on your own or alongside a partner.
Credentials: Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist; supervised by Camille Tenerife, LMFT #114130.
Registration number: AMFT #154111.
Education: MA in Clinical Psychology, Pepperdine University; BA in Psychology, University of Missouri.
Specialty areas: LGBTQ-affirming therapy, couples therapy, career concerns, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Location/format: In-person therapy in Sherman Oaks and virtual therapy across California.
Learn more: Meet Kris at Diversified Therapy LA.
2. Courtney Rago, Psy.D., LMFT
Courtney Rago (they/she) is a licensed therapist and practice owner of Paper Planes Psychotherapy. Their work makes room for people exploring gender, sexuality, and what it means to feel more like themselves. Courtney has researched LGBTQ+ identity development and brings training in trauma and body awareness to talk therapy.
Courtney's focus on trans and nonbinary couples stands out. They work with partners who are reconnecting emotionally, physically, or sexually after changes in identity or gender-affirming care. Their practice also welcomes polyamorous and ethically non-monogamous relationships. If you're hoping to understand what connection looks like for your particular partnership, Courtney is someone to explore.
Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; Doctor of Psychology (PsyD).
California license number: LMFT #140183.
Education: Psy.D. in Couple and Family Therapy, Alliant International University, Los Angeles.
Specialty areas: LGBTQ+ identity exploration, trauma, trans and nonbinary partnerships, couples, families, and non-romantic partnerships.
Location/format: Virtual therapy across California, including Los Angeles.
Learn more: Courtney Rago at Paper Planes Psychotherapy.
3. Monique (Mo) Merritt Romick, LMFT
Monique, who goes by Mo (she/her), is a queer, Black therapist at Nido Individual & Family Therapy. She works with teens and adults around identity, cultural stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. Her background includes social justice education and diversity and inclusion work.
Mo takes a collaborative, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive approach. Her bio also makes room for humor and joy, alongside the harder conversations. We included her because of her experience with LGBTQIA2-S+ youth and her attention to how race, culture, and sexuality overlap. If you're looking for someone who considers those experiences together, her profile is worth reading.
Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
California license number: LMFT #141084.
Education: MS in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, California State University, Northridge.
Specialty areas: LGBTQIA2-S+ clients, BIPOC clients, adolescents, neurodivergence, identity, grief, anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Location/format: In-person and telehealth care in California; her directory profile lists Manhattan Beach. Confirm her current office location with Nido. She is also licensed in UT and FL.
Learn more: Monique Merritt Romick at Nido.
4. Aaron Martin, LMFT
Aaron Martin is a mixed-race, queer therapist based in San Francisco who sees individuals virtually throughout California (so you can work with him from Los Angeles)! His practice focuses largely on anxiety among gay men and trans, queer, and nonbinary people.
Aaron combines psychodynamic and relational training with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). His approach includes looking at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors feed one another, while making room for humor and a gentle challenge. If you spend a lot of time worrying, replaying conversations, or wondering whether you've done enough, his focus on anxiety may be relevant to you. Aaron currently offers individual therapy, rather than couples or family sessions.
Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
California license number: LMFT #133857.
Education: MS in Counseling, San Francisco State University.
Specialty areas: Anxiety, gay men, and trans, queer, and nonbinary individuals.
Location/format: Based in San Francisco; video sessions across California.
Learn more: Aaron Martin Therapy.
Additional Resource — Los Angeles LGBT Center
The Los Angeles LGBT Center offers individual therapy, couples and family therapy, and group services for LGBTQ+ people and their families and allies. Its website lists both in-person and telehealth care, insurance acceptance, and sliding-scale fees based on ability to pay.
If cost has made it hard to get started, the Center is another place to ask about your options. Its team includes licensed mental health professionals and clinicians-in-training. Contact them to find out how intake works, whether there's a wait, and who would provide your care. If you're using insurance, check that they accept your insurance plan and ask what you'd pay. It's worth getting those details up front so you know whether the arrangement will work for you.
Learn more: Los Angeles LGBT Center therapy services.
How to Choose the Right LGBTQ Therapist for You
A good therapist needs relevant experience, and someone who can create a safe and supportive space, making it more comfortable to open up. You might not feel completely at ease right away, especially if therapy is new to you. Still, you can notice whether someone listens, welcomes questions, and takes your concerns seriously. Here are a few things to consider:
Relevant experience: Ask whether the therapist regularly works with LGBTQ clients and concerns similar to yours. Experience supporting queer adults may differ from experience with gender-nonconforming teens.
Therapeutic approach: Do you want practical tools, deeper exploration, someone to hold space, or help with relationship patterns? Ask how the therapist typically works and how your goals would shape sessions.
Identity and cultural understanding: Think about whether a shared identity matters to you, and ask about the therapist’s experience with intersectional identities, including how race, culture, gender, sexuality, and family dynamics may overlap in your life.
Personal fit: Notice whether you feel respected and whether there is room to disagree, correct an assumption, or say something feels uncomfortable.
Practical considerations: Compare fees, availability, insurance policies, and location. If providers offer in-person therapy and online sessions, ask which options are available to you.
It's okay to talk with a few therapists before choosing. You’re allowed to ask questions and take your time finding someone who feels like a good fit. This is a person you'll be sharing important parts of your life with, and you get a say in who that is.
Questions to Ask a Potential LGBTQ Therapist
A consultation is a chance to get a feel for the person you'll be talking to. You can ask how they work with LGBTQ clients and what they mean by affirming therapy. You don't have to ask everything on this list. Pick a few questions that would help you feel clearer about getting started.
What experience do you have working with LGBTQ individuals and couples?
How would you describe your approach to LGBTQ-affirming therapy?
Have you worked with concerns similar to mine?
How do race, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other parts of a person's life inform your work?
What therapeutic approaches do you use, and how do you decide what fits?
Do you have specialized training or continuing education relevant to the support I am seeking?
What can I expect in the first session and the sessions that follow?
Do you offer in-person or virtual therapy?
What are your fees and insurance or out-of-network policies?
How do you respond when a client feels misunderstood or gives you feedback?
Notice how the conversation feels, too. Can you finish your thought? Does the therapist answer what you asked? Do you feel comfortable asking a follow-up? You don't need to tell your whole story on this call. A consultation can simply help you decide whether you'd like to have another conversation.
Find LGBTQ-Friendly Therapy in Los Angeles
If you're looking for LGBTQ therapy in Los Angeles, we'd be glad to hear from you. At Diversified Therapy LA, we take time to understand what's happening in your life and what you'd like help with. That might include relationship challenges, work stress, family dynamics, or feeling unsure of yourself after a big change.
Kris works with individuals and couples, offering LGBTQ-affirming care through a culturally responsive approach. You can ask us about her experience, how she works, and whether her availability fits your schedule. We're a private-pay practice, so we're also happy to discuss fees and explain our out-of-network options. Reimbursement depends on your insurance plan.
Take a look at our About Us page, or reach out for a consultation. You can tell us what you've been dealing with in your own words. We'll talk through whether our practice feels like a good place to start.
FAQs About LGBTQ Therapy in Los Angeles
Do I need an LGBTQ therapist if I'm LGBTQ+?
They don't have to identify as LGBTQ+ to provide affirming care, though you may prefer someone who shares that part of your identity. What matters is their relevant experience, respect for you and your relationships, and whether you feel comfortable working with them.
What's the difference between an LGBTQ-friendly and LGBTQ-affirming therapist?
“LGBTQ-friendly” usually means a therapist is welcoming, non-discriminatory, or supports equal access to mental health care; “LGBTQ-affirming” generally means they actively respect LGBTQ identities and consider how stigma, systemic barriers, and discrimination may affect clients' lives. Ask what either term means in their work, because the label alone doesn't tell you about their experience.
How do I find an LGBTQ therapist in Los Angeles?
Therapist directories, LGBTQ community resources, and provider websites can give you a few places to start. Narrow your options by experience, fees, location, and session format, then use consultations to get a better sense of the person behind the profile.
