Therapy For High-Achieving Gay Men Who Secretly Struggle With Shame
Hey, I’m Josh! It’s nice to meet you.
From the outside, it looks like you’re doing ok, but...
On the inside, you’re exhausted, anxious, self-critical, and feel stuck.
I help high-achieving and emotionally sensitive gay men and their relationships, who have spent years pushing through shame, perfectionism, and harsh self-criticism. I help clients and partners build internal security and fulfilling connections so they can start living with more confidence, clarity, and authenticity.
I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Florida, and I use a mind–body approach to help you heal old survival patterns that are keeping you stuck.
Why Is Having A Gay Therapist Important
Growing up gay often means learning to adapt early in childhood. You learned to hide parts of yourself, staying vigilant, or learning to earn connection and love through achievement. These survival strategies can follow you into adulthood, affecting relationships, intimacy, and self-worth. People who have not grown gay in a heteronormativity world, do not have this lived experience. Having a gay therapist and therapy specifically for gay men allows for understanding, compassion, and so you don’t have to explain yourself to someone who doesn’t get it. Together we will bring curiosity to these patterns, helping you develop emotional security from the inside out.
Issues Commonly Addressed in Therapy for Gay Men:
Imposter syndrome
Chronic shame or self-criticism
Relationship anxiety or avoidance
Difficulty expressing needs or setting boundaries
Perfectionism or being achievement oriented
Trauma and attachment wounds
Disconnection from emotions or desire
Repeating unhealthy relationship patterns
My Approach To Therapy for Gay Men
I work with gay men and their partners using NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), NARM is a trauma-informed, relationship-focused approach that centers on safety, emotional awareness, and relating to yourself with out shame.
Instead of labeling you or making you relive painful memories, NARM focuses on what’s happening in the present moment. We look at the coping strategies you learned to survive and approach them with compassion, not shame. From there, we work to help you reconnect with who you truly are and build a life and relationships that feel secure, alive, and authentic.
