Trans Affirming PTSD Treatment/Trauma Therapy in the Kansas City Area
Unfortunately, we know that Missouri is one of the states that has recently become more conservative. It feels like every week there’s another news story about some move our legislature or attorney general is taking to target transgender individuals. At our practice, we’re keeping an eye on the bills in Missouri by watching the PROMO site. And, as a team, we’re sharing updates, processing our emotional reactions and constantly talking about how to support our trans clients.
A Trauma-Focused Therapy Practice
As a trauma-focused practice, we understand how important it is for all individuals to feel safe, seen, and heard when seeking mental health care. And we’ve heard stories from our trans clients about times when they haven’t felt like they could be completely vulnerable in therapy. We’ve heard stories of clients having therapists who meant well but truly didn’t understand the trans experience at all and didn’t understand the extra fears you may have about safety issues or the impact of the microaggressions you may experience on a daily basis.
We Prioritize TransGender-Affirming Therapy
At our practice, we prioritize transgender-affirming therapy for all individuals seeking trauma treatment. We have clinicians who identify as trans and even our cis clinicians are experienced in providing trans-affirming care. Our clinicians also receive ongoing training to ensure they are staying up-to-date with best practices and guidelines for providing culturally responsive care.
Honestly, we still get it wrong sometimes. But we are constantly striving to better support our clients. And, we understand that therapy can be a vulnerable process. So, we want to assure all of our clients that they are in a safe space to work through their trauma.
Trans Affirming Therapy versus Trans Accepting Therapy
It's important to understand the difference between trans-affirming therapy and trans-accepting therapy. While trans-accepting therapists may be ok with the gender identity of their trans clients, affirming therapists take it a step further. Honestly, if a mental health professional has gone through the education that’s required and promised to adhere to their code of ethics, they should be accepting. But that doesn’t mean they’ve had experience working directly with trans individuals. It doesn’t mean that they’ll understand your fear when you hear about new orders that may limit access to your hormones or the extra safety considerations you may always have in the back of your mind even as you heal from a past assault. Essentially, affirming therapists create an environment where trans individuals can feel fully seen and understood. Affirming therapists seek to create an environment where trans clients can fully express themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination.
We Have Experience Working With Trans Individuals
At Aspire Counseling, all of our therapists have experience working with trans individuals. We recognize that the trans experience is unique and diverse, and we make it a priority to stay up-to-date on the latest research, best practices, and guidelines for working with trans clients. And, we’re constantly talking as a team about the latest news stories that may impact you and consulting with one another as questions come up.
We understand that processing trauma can be an incredibly vulnerable experience, especially for members of the trans community who may have experienced discrimination, violence, or rejection. Our therapists strive to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their trauma without fear of judgment.
Whether you participate in our individual trauma therapy, PTSD intensives, or our online LGBTQ+ support and coping skills group, we want you to feel validated, supported, and safe. We’ll work closely with you to understand your unique needs and experiences. And, we’ll provide personalized PTSD treatment that addresses your specific concerns.
In other words, our trans-affirming therapists go beyond simply accepting your gender identity. Rather, our therapists actively work to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can fully express themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality trauma treatment to our transgender clients.
In-Person Therapy at Our Lee's Summit Office
We offer individual trauma therapy in-person at our Lee's Summit office, located just outside of Kansas City. Our counseling office is a safe space for all individuals seeking trauma treatment, and we have worked hard to create an environment where trans individuals feel welcomed and supported. Our office is easily accessible from all parts of Kansas City, and we are located in a quiet and peaceful area, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Online Therapy for Transgender Individuals in Missouri
We understand that some individuals may prefer online therapy, especially given recent concerns about accessibility and safety. Our practice offers online therapy for individuals located within the state of Missouri. We have a team of caring, affirming clinicians who specialize in trans-affirming therapy and are available to work with individuals seeking support. Online therapy offers the convenience of receiving care from the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the need to travel or worry about finding a safe space to receive care.
PTSD Intensives for Trans Individuals
Our practice also offers one-week trauma therapy intensives for individuals seeking to work through their trauma more quickly. This option can be particularly helpful for individuals who may not have the time or resources to attend weekly therapy sessions for several months. Our intensives offer trans-affirming care in a safe and supportive environment, and our therapists have seen incredible results delivering PTSD treatment in this format. That said, these are generally in person at either our Lee’s Summit or Mid-Missouri counseling offices.
LGBTQ+ Support and Coping Skills Group
In addition to individual therapy and PTSD intensives, we offer an online LGBTQ+ support and coping skills group. This group is run by two trauma-informed clinicians who are members of the LGBTQ community. The group provides a safe and supportive space for individuals to connect with others who share similar experiences and challenges. Participants will have the opportunity to learn coping skills and strategies for managing stress and anxiety related to trauma and receive support from both the facilitators and other group members.
You Deserve a Therapist With Basic Knowledge About the Trans Experience
We understand that seeking trauma therapy as a trans individual can be challenging and anxiety-provoking. At our practice, we prioritize trans-affirming care, providing a safe and supportive space for all individuals seeking trauma treatment. Our practice offers in-person therapy at our Lee's Summit office, online therapy for individuals located within the state of Missouri, one-week trauma therapy intensives, and an online LGBTQ+ support and coping skills group.
Honestly, we’re not going to get everything right. Your therapist might use the wrong pronouns, but they’ll know to quickly note it and move on. Your therapist might not know much about a specific medication you use, but they’ll know where they can learn more. And you won’t have to stop to explain what HRT stands for, won’t be asked if you’ve had specific gender-affirming procedures (unless necessary because we’re writing letters to help you access gender-affirming care), and if you mention to your therapist feeling uncomfortable with it you can rest assured knowing that is safe and that your therapist will be able to humbly accept your feedback and move forward with you.
The Bottom Line: You Deserve to Heal! Reach Out to Our Lee’s Summit Office Today.
The bottom line is that we want to help you find healing from the most stressful experiences of your life. And we know that your gender identity may have impacted you at that moment or impacted how you think about the event since. Or maybe it doesn’t. Regardless, you’re looking for a place where you can feel safe and vulnerable as you move through the healing process. If you live in Missouri (or travel here for a trauma therapy intensive), know that we will do absolutely everything we can to help you feel comfortable and supported throughout the process. At Aspire Counseling, we are committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based care to all individuals seeking trauma treatment, and we invite anyone seeking support to reach out to us.
Other Mental Health Supports at Aspire Counseling
Aspire Counseling offers a variety of other mental health supports for people in Missouri. We offer in-person counseling both in Lee’s Summit and Columbia, MO. While we specialize in counseling for anxiety and PTSD treatment, we can help with a wide range of other concerns as well. We generally see children aged 10 through retirement age. And we have therapists with various specialties including disordered eating, depression, grief, gender-affirming care, and OCD treatment.
In addition to our Trauma Therapy Intensive, Aspire Counseling offers many other therapy services related directly to overcoming trauma. These services include the following:
