Waseem Amin M.S., LPC

Gender-affirming therapy has been a central part of my practice since my earliest days in the field. I have enjoyed working with folks through various points of their ~gender journey~, from just barely noticing new gender dysphoric/euphoric thoughts to being years into their social and/or medical transition. As a trans person myself, I draw on my personal and professional experience to create a non-judgmental, exploratory space that remains grounded in WPATH guidelines.

Anxiety and depression are two of the most highly-occurring conditions with gender dysphoria, so treating anxiety effectively became a pivotal part of my approach as well. I offer folks the psychoeducation needed to understand the mechanics behind their anxiety, share grounding techniques to help manage acute anxiety episodes, and explore more adaptive world views based in acceptance and psychological flexibility to reduce baseline anxiety levels.

Well, I am friendly and I'm definitely LGBTQ :) Jokes aside, I do ensure that the therapeutic space I hold warmly welcomes all members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I understand that shared experiences vary widely between our sub-communities, and there are ultimately as many unique LGBTQIA+ life stories as there are individuals. Come as you are, whether you are newly learning your place in the community or you have a totally robust understanding of your LGBTQIA+ self.

I think of CBT as one of the pillars of talk therapy. Applying the biopsychosocial model means acknowledging the two-way influence between each of biological, psychological, and social factors. Changes in one cause changes in the others, and CBT allows me to start this chain effect by rewiring the way automatic thoughts are formed. My interventions often include both the practice of reframing maladaptive thoughts and the behavioral modifications that reinforce or 'prove' modified thoughts.

I think of CBT as one of the pillars of talk therapy. Applying the biopsychosocial model means acknowledging the two-way influence between each of biological, psychological, and social factors. Changes in one cause changes in the others, and CBT allows me to start this chain effect by rewiring the way automatic thoughts are formed. My interventions often include both reframing maladaptive thoughts and the behavioral modifications to 'back up' or reinforce reframed thoughts.

I think of CBT as one of the pillars of talk therapy. Applying the biopsychosocial model means acknowledging the reciprocal influence between biological, psychological, and social factors. Changes in one tend to cause changes in the others, and CBT allows me to start this chain effect by rewiring the way automatic thoughts are formed. My interventions often include both reframing maladaptive thoughts and the behavioral modifications to 'back up' or reinforce newly reframed thoughts.

Cultural humility is an indispensable facet of my therapeutic approach. The influence of one's culture(s) can be wide-reaching, affecting early life experiences, perspectives, values, and ultimately how the therapeutic journey unfolds. I particularly enjoy working with folks who identify with more than one culture, applying a more nuanced and fluid approach to authenticity that allows a harmonious integration of what might have once felt irreconcilable.

Have you ever spoken with someone whose only form of 'conversation' is unsolicited advice? Motivational Interviewing is the antithesis to that. Rather than push you in an arbitrary direction, we take a collaborative approach that uses your values to fuel the change that you decide is best for you. This process may entail gentle challenging and feelings of dissonance, but there remains a fundamental understanding that all decisions are yours to make at the end of the day.