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
neurodiversity, therapy, mental health, queer Troy Morrow neurodiversity, therapy, mental health, queer Troy Morrow

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.

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How do you find an LGBTQ-affirming therapist who is actually affirming?
queer, sex-positive, therapy, trauma Urielle Samis, LCSW queer, sex-positive, therapy, trauma Urielle Samis, LCSW

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.

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