It’s not unusual for sex workers to ask me to point them toward sexwork-friendly therapists, but even “sex positive”, queer-and-kink friendly therapists are sometimes very judgmental about sex work. And though I know a couple in the Seattle area, I get requests from all over the country. So when Alyxx (whom I know in real life) told me that she was now licensed to do phone or video therapy, I asked if she’d write a column for me. When I asked about her knowledge of sex work, she just smiled and countered “How do you think I paid my bills during Grad School?” She works closely with members of alternative communities and is available in person or via phone, text, or video.
“I feel like I’m being judged.”
“I can’t open up, if she knows what I do for a living that will be the whole thing.”
“I don’t need to be grilled about my past, I need to focus on my real needs.”
Have you thought these things before? Said them to others? Feared going to a therapist because of social stigma or risk of getting care that just ignores who you are? What if you had a therapist who was actively involved in alternative lifestyles? As someone who is LBGTQ (well, at least two or three of those), Sex Work experienced, and involved in the local Leather and Queer communities, I am open to meeting people where they are, not where someone else thinks they should be. I have decades of experience in the field, and hold Licenses in Counseling and Chemical Dependency treatment. Despite that latter, I don’t think drugs are “bad” (or “good,”) they are tools that a person chooses to solve a problem, just like any other behavior.
My primary therapeutic approach is “choice” therapy. William Glasser developed Reality/Choice therapy in the 1960’s as a way to empower clients to solve problems by examining choices and taking control of those paths. With the passage of time and practical experience, this method has grown into a method that allows for true harm reduction, meeting clients where they are and accepting that the client, not the therapist, is the expert on what is needed and how to make changes. “Well,” you might think, “If I’m the expert, why do I need you?” The answer to that lies in experience, and in ability to see the various paths available, when the client seems stuck. You are the expert in you, but I’m the expert in helping you get to your goal, finding your options, and focusing in on what you really want and need. In a world where people are telling you how to live and what to think, it can be very helpful to have a guide, a map to the treasure you seek. Your past might hold some trauma that needs addressing, but what is important is how you are going to move forward today, what choices will get you out of bed in the morning and able to present yourself the best way you are able. It’s not about being another person telling you what to do, but working with you to provide you the tools so you can do what you want.
I am available in multiple ways so that we can tailor your time with me to your needs, be it short-term problem solving or long-term therapies. I offer in-office sessions if you are local to the Seattle area, as well as offering online options (video, audio, and/or text). Unusual schedules are generally not a problem; you can email me at this address, or call/text me at 206-569-8819, and we’ll set something up!
