Welcome
We’re glad you’re here! Our goal is to help ease your gender-related distress (GRD) and support you in living a fulfilling and authentic life. GRD can come in many different forms, and for many different reasons. We want to help you
- identify the distress,
- better understand what factors may be contributing to it, and
- set reasonable goals for dealing with it.
For some, GRD is intermittent or relatively minor, only happening in certain situations or around certain people.
For others, the distress can be quite encompassing, affecting their sense of self and safety on a daily basis. Whatever your circumstances, we have a group of trained experts committed to help you navigate and minimize your distress.
How We’re Different
We take a holistic approach to treating gender-related distress (GRD) by supporting you in
- embracing your authenticity,
- accepting your body, and
- strengthening your relationships.
We help you determine the source of your GRD and find ways to alleviate or manage the distress without making permanent and life-altering changes to your body or losing supportive relationships.
For example, some of our clients have difficulty connecting with their peers, or feel self-conscious around them. This self-consciousness can make them feel lonely and/or disconnected from their bodies and overwhelmed by gender stereotypes. We help you tackle this anxiety and find ways to feel more connected to others and more accepting of your body.
“…find ways to feel more connected to others and more accepting of your body.”
How it Works
If you are under 18, the first appointment will be
- a consultation with your parents or caregivers which
- will focus on understanding your developmental history and
- what factors may be influencing your GRD.
The next several sessions will be between you and one of our therapists, and
- will be dedicated to understanding your perspective and beliefs and
- will include a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment.
The therapist will then work with you and your parents to design an individually-tailored treatment plan. The plan will likely include a variety of treatment components such as individual, family, parent(s)-child, and/or couples therapy. When possible, parent-child therapy and parent therapy/coaching are almost always foundational to treatment because your parents play an important role in your life. Parents have more influence on your environment and your sense of security and belongingness than a therapist can or should. We’re here to help your parents create a safe environment for you and understand your needs.
“We’re here to help your parents create a safe environment for you and understand your needs.”
We contract with and refer to other clinicians to increase the accessibility of harmony-focused treatment. Each clinician works under the direction of Dr. David Haralson, our clinical director. Dr. Haralson has worked with teens, children, and young adults, with a special interest in helping youth experiencing gender-related distress since 2013. As a member of Therapy First (TF), he regularly attends trainings, reviews current research, and attends peer supervision to help provide the best supervision to our clinicians as possible. He is also an AAMFT-approved supervisor and is surrounded by a team of therapists who are experts in gender and gender-related distress.
Helping families get the sensitive, non-medicalized therapy they deserve.
Donate so that GHI can provide harmony-focused therapy to low-income individuals and families burdened by gender-related distress.
