The Open Umbrella
Welcome! The Open Umbrella is a queer mental health blog about gender, sexuality, LGBTQ+ issues, therapy, queer relationships, sex-positivity, kink, ethical nonmonogamy, neurodiversity, healing from trauma, intergenerational trauma, and all that related stuff that will come up!
Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy & Autism Acceptance
Advocates in the autistic community have shared the importance of shifting from awareness to acceptance; people are aware autism exists, but autistic people need to feel truly accepted in our society. I would argue that even acceptance is not enough, and there needs to be more meaningful, tangible, and consistent efforts from allistic (non-autistic) people to accommodate and value autistic people and our community.
My Queerness, My Outness: A Reflection on “Coming Out” and “Coming In”
Healing Umbrella therapist Reece Thomas explores the complexities that guide our decisions around coming out as Queer through a deeply personal reflection. Reece is an African-American, Queer, neurodivergent therapist based in Nashville, Tennessee.
How do you find an LGBTQ-affirming therapist who is actually affirming?
If you’re queer, you know how hard it is to find a safe and affirming therapist. If you’re wanting therapy because you’re exploring your gender identity or sexual orientation, you probably have run across a lot of therapists who identify as “LGBTQ-affirming,” but then you may have gone to see them and not felt seen or understood. Or worse, you may have been hurt by them.