Anastasia Hanson (she/they)

Much of my clinical work focuses on exploring gender, identity, expression, and relationship to self. I love to work with clients who are getting ready to socially transition, or "come out", on identifying personal and social triggers for gender dysphoria, as well as glimmers for gender euphoria. I always want to validate that social transition never looks like one thing, and love to explore with clients how they want to come out, with whom, and bring intentionality and safety to the process.

I am white, queer, genderfluid, and bi/pansexual. The spectrums of sexuality and gender are beautiful and vibrant. Unfortunately, we live in a world where embodiments of gender and sexuality are controlled, oppressed, policed, and disempowered. In my work with clients, I hope to work within the realm of what is safe and possible for each client in reconnecting and rediscovering the parts of them who are curious & playful. The goal of sexual & asexual self-expression is liberation.

If we believe the idea that "relationships are hard work", then there is maybe no work in our modern culture so undervalued and unseen as relational work. Whether you are monogamous, monogamish, CNM/ENM, Poly, Solo Poly, Relationship Anarchist, established or curious/uncertain, I want to honor the work you have already done in your relationships, and be of service to you in the work that awaits you.

Much of the work I do in therapy is getting to know each client, what they are bringing into the therapy space, and what they are wanting, hoping for, or needing from the therapeutic relationship. I seek for therapy to feel real and authentic, and that often involves laughter as well as tears. I am that therapist that will laugh at your jokes (yes I know it's a coping mechanism) because I love to laugh, but will also encourage you to lean into tender emotions every once in a while.

I believe we are all tapestries of emotions, experiences, wants & needs, and that this is what it means to be a person. This can be beautiful, but also confusing & overwhelming. What do we do when we really want something—partnership, self-acceptance, to express ourselves somehow—but some part of us blocks us & gets in the way? Or if we want something we know we can't, or shouldn't have? IFS helps us tend to stuck, inflammed, and lost parts of ourselves, & teaches us how to care for ourselves.

It can be so exhausting to feel ourselves going through the same cycles in our relationships. But this exhaustion reflects the hard work our bodies and minds are doing to find safety, security, and genuine connection in our relationships. A relational therapist helps to step in, observe how people are working (or not working) together, and find opportunities to interactions and communications to work differently.