LGBTQ+ Affirming Counseling

Being LGBTQ+ isn’t the problem that brings most people to therapy. The harder part is often everything around it: wondering how to tell someone, bracing for how family or friends will react, feeling like you have to hide parts of yourself, or carrying the weight of being the only one who’s different in a place where it feels like everyone else has it figured out. At Greenstone Counseling, our therapists offer LGBTQ+ friendly counseling where you don’t have to explain or defend who you are. Helping the LGBTQ+ community is very important to us. You can meet with us in person in Rexburg or Pocatello, or online anywhere in Idaho.

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What this can look like

People come to LGBTQ+ counseling for many reasons, and some don’t have a name for it yet. You might be:

Questioning your sexual orientation or gender identity, and not sure what to do with what you’re noticing
Thinking about coming out, or recovering from how it went
Navigating a family that is struggling to understand, or one that has pulled away
Carrying anxiety, depression, or loneliness that comes from not feeling safe to be yourself
Working through dating, relationships, or a marriage where identity is part of the conversation
Trying to hold together your identity and your faith or community, which can feel impossible when they seem to pull in different directions
Supporting a child, sibling, or partner who is LGBTQ+, and wanting to do it well

None of these means something is wrong with you. Living in a place or family where you feel you can’t be fully yourself is stressful, and it’s reasonable to want support with it.

Who we help

Every one of our clinicians works with the LGBTQ+ community, and we support teens, adults, couples, and families.

Teens and adults. Individual counseling for people at any stage, from questioning to years after coming out.
Couples. Relationship counseling for LGBTQ+ couples, and for couples where one partner’s identity is part of what’s changing.
Families. Support for families who want to understand and stay connected, including parents of an LGBTQ+ child or teen.

Some of our therapists work with older teens and adults only, and not every therapist sees couples. Call us and we’ll match you with someone who fits your situation.

Rexburg and Pocatello: In-person LGBTQ+ counseling is available at both offices.

Online across Idaho: We offer telehealth anywhere in the state, which many people prefer when privacy matters or when an LGBTQ+ therapist feels hard to find nearby. Clients in Idaho Falls and Ammon often choose this option, and some come to our offices in person.

Identity and faith

In southeast Idaho, where faith is central to so many families and communities, LGBTQ+ identity and faith often come up together. Some people are trying to understand how they fit in a religious community. Others are grieving a loss they didn’t choose, or feeling pressure from family or church. Our therapists work with people on both sides of this, and the goal is never to push you toward any outcome. Your therapist’s role is to listen, help you sort out what’s yours and what you’ve been handed, and support the path you choose, whatever that looks like. If faith questions are a big part of what you’re carrying, our faith transition and faith crisis counseling page explains more.

How the therapy works

Your therapist’s job isn’t to change who you are, and it isn’t to decide what your identity should be. It’s to give you a steady, respectful place to sort through what you’re experiencing at your own pace.

Our therapists draw on approaches matched to the person. Person-centered and solution-focused therapy keep the work grounded in what you want. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) helps you make room for hard feelings while you move toward what matters to you. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works with the harsh thoughts and self-criticism that can build up over years of hiding, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) offers skills for intense emotions. Mindfulness and polyvagal-informed work can help when stress and fear live in your body. Attachment-based therapy and family systems work look at how relationships with family and partners shape things, which matters for couples and families. When painful experiences are part of the picture, such as rejection, bullying, or harm in a religious or family setting, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR may help.

What your first session looks like

The first session starts with the practical pieces: informed consent, confidentiality, and our practice policies. Then your therapist will get to know you, including your history and what you’re hoping to get out of counseling. You can tell your therapist the name and pronouns you use, and you can share as much or as little as you want. You don’t have to be certain about your identity, or out to anyone, to begin.

Privacy and confidentiality

For many people, privacy is the first concern. We protect your information under HIPAA and Idaho law. We share it only with your consent, except in limited situations the law requires or allows, which your therapist will explain at your first session.

For clients under 18, Idaho law says parents and legal guardians generally give consent before counseling begins, and they have rights to information about that care. Your therapist will explain what this means in practice at the start, so that you and your family know what to expect.

You can use insurance or pay privately. If you use insurance, your insurer receives a claim with a clinical diagnosis. It may also send statements to the plan’s primary policyholder showing the provider, dates of service, and amounts billed. If that’s a concern, private pay avoids insurance statements. Call us before your first visit and we’ll walk through your options. Telehealth is also available if meeting from a place that feels private is easier for you.

Finding the right fit

A good fit is crucial, especially when you’re sharing something this personal. That’s why we offer a free consultation, usually 15 to 20 minutes, so you can find the therapist who feels right for you before you begin.

Our LGBTQ+ therapists

Rexburg

Pocatello

Kimberly Leishman, LCPC, older teens and adults
Laura Wolter, LCPC
Shanon Kaneko, LPC
Dana Facer, Clinical Intern, completing her hours toward Idaho licensure under the clinical supervision of Erika Nordfelt
Valinda Mikesell, LPC, older teens and adults (in Pocatello some days)

Every one of our clinicians, in both offices, also offers telehealth throughout Idaho.

Related services

Faith Transition & Faith Crisis Counseling: When identity and faith are tangled together.
Marriage & Couples Counseling: Relationship counseling for couples, including LGBTQ+ couples.
Child & Teen Therapy and family counseling: Support for younger clients and for families.
Trauma & EMDR Therapy: When rejection or harm has left a lasting mark.

Questions people ask

No. Many people begin counseling because they’re still figuring it out, and you can go at your own pace. You don’t have to be out to anyone, and you don’t have to have a label for what you’re experiencing.
No. Your therapist’s job isn’t to change who you are. It’s to help you understand what you’re feeling and decide how you want to move forward.
For clients under 18, Idaho law says parents and legal guardians generally give consent before counseling begins, and they have rights to information about that care. Your therapist will explain what this means in practice at the start, so you know what to expect. If this is a concern, call us and we’ll talk it through before you begin.
Yes. Many people bring both, and our therapists work with them together, without pushing you toward any particular outcome.
Yes. We work with LGBTQ+ couples, with couples where identity is part of what’s changing, and with families who want to understand and support someone they love. Not every therapist sees couples, so call us and we’ll match you with the right person.
Yes. Some people come alone, and some bring a partner, parent, or family member for some or all sessions. We can talk through what feels right for you.
We offer a free consultation, usually 15 to 20 minutes, so you can find the best fit. A good fit matters, so call us and we’ll help you decide.
Yes. Many people from Idaho Falls and Ammon meet with us online, and some come to our Rexburg or Pocatello offices. Call us and we’ll help you decide what works best.
Yes. Telehealth LGBTQ+ counseling is available anywhere in Idaho.
We’re in network with most major insurance companies, and private pay is also an option. Before your first visit, we’ll complete a free insurance benefit check. We’ll contact your insurance company and share what they tell us about your mental health coverage. This gives you an estimate of your coverage, not a guarantee, so we also encourage you to call your insurer and confirm your own mental health benefits.
Dana Facer is a clinical intern completing her licensure hours under the supervision of Erika Nordfelt. Clients who see Dana receive paperwork that explains her intern status and supervision. We can bill only a couple of insurance companies for intern sessions. Otherwise, sessions with Dana are $30 each.