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LGBT therapists in Hayward, CA


Top LGBT-friendly therapists and psychiatrists in Hayward, CA
Finding an open-minded therapist in Hayward who celebrates your identity matters. Headway's network includes providers experienced in gender and sexual identity affirming care, with many offering free consultations and sessions available as soon as the next day to support your wellbeing.
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I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with individuals, couples, and families. My professional experience includes inpatient hospitalization, community-based mental health, and private practice settings, allowing me to support clients with a wide range of emotional, relational, and life challenges. I specialize in grief and loss, relationship concerns, caregiving stress, chronic and terminal illness, workplace burnout, and major life transitions. I also have specialized experience supporting individuals and families affected by Huntington’s Disease and strive to provide an inclusive, culturally responsive space where clients feel respected and supported.
Hello! I am Registered Yoga Teacher, Clinical Supervisor & Consultant, as well as a Certified Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts Practitioner.
I have almost a decade of experience working with children, adults, couples, and families in a therapeutic capacity. I specialize in trauma and family work. I am an integrative psychotherapist – integrating art therapy, play therapy, sand tray, mindfulness, astrology, spirituality, and more into therapy.
I'm Dr. Christina Cortez, a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Santa Barbara, California. Grounded in a humanistic and client-centered approach, I'm committed to meeting individuals where they are emotionally, culturally, and spiritually.
My practice is built on the principles of empathy, respect, and collaboration, with a strong focus on creating a safe, nonjudgmental space for healing and personal growth.
I provide bilingual (English and Spanish) psychotherapy for adolescents and adults, integrating evidence-based modalities such as EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
My work is deeply informed by multicultural awareness and sensitivity to the diverse cultural and religious values clients bring into the therapeutic space.
With a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, I've served in various clinical settings including community mental health, outpatient treatment, and education.
My professional mission centers on honoring the lived experiences of each client while supporting their path toward resilience, empowerment, and meaningful change.
Dr. Clancy Cavnar is a licensed psychologist with specializations in addictions and psychedelic therapy. She has worked with a wide variety of people and with a broad range of diagnoses and life situations that therapy can help with. She offers a comprehensive assessment and treatment focused on a client’s individual needs. Dr. Cavnar is empathic and compassionate, and therapy with her is an exchange of ideas, with deep listening and non-judgmental acceptance.
Shara Ally, DNP, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing evidence-based medication management for adults (18+) via telehealth. As an author and TEDx speaker, she translates complex research into clear, practical care plans that help patients feel informed and supported.
Shara specializes in mood and anxiety disorders, trauma-related conditions (PTSD), adult ADHD, OCD, bipolar spectrum disorders, and women's mental health across the reproductive lifespan—including perinatal and postpartum mood disorders, PMDD, and menopausal transitions. Her practice is medication-focused and highly collaborative, with education, skills coaching, and supportive check-ins integrated into visits. She coordinates closely with therapists, primary care providers, OB-GYNs, and other clinicians to ensure cohesive treatment.
Patients can expect a comprehensive evaluation reviewing history, symptoms, prior treatments, and goals. Shara practices thoughtful prescribing with transparent discussion of options, benefits, and side effects so decisions are truly shared. She uses measurement-based care—structured symptom tracking—to guide adjustments and reduce trial-and-error. Her whole-person approach integrates sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress management when relevant, with streamlined access through secure telehealth and clear after-visit summaries.
Shara's style is warm, direct, and person-centered, grounded in shared decision-making. Her care is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and rooted in current clinical evidence. Beyond clinical practice, she serves as a nurse educator and academic mentor, shaping future psychiatric clinicians through evidence-based teaching. An international fellowship in India enriched her global perspective through research and teaching in hospital and university settings.
For up-to-date availability, please visit us or call/text us at 415-968-6515.
My path into psychiatry is both professional and personal. I moved to the U.S. alone at 17 while navigating complex PTSD and periods of misdiagnosis, which shaped how I understand mental health today. I began with a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Nankai University, then trained as a nurse and nurse practitioner at Charles R. Drew University and Purdue University.
Over the past 7 years, I’ve worked across medical and mental health settings, developing an approach that balances clinical precision with individualized care. I specialize in anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and complex PTSD, particularly for individuals who feel stuck or haven’t found relief in traditional treatment.
I’m licensed in California, Virginia, New York, Washington, and Oregon, and provide care via telehealth.
About our LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists in Hayward, CA



- 100%LGBTQIA+
- 98%Anxiety
- 94%Depression
- 89%Stress management
- 86%Trauma

- 98%Aetna
- 80%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 75%Cigna
- 73%Anthem Blue Cross California
- 64%Blue Shield of California

- 97%English
- 15%Spanish
- 2%Farsi
- 1%Mandarin
- 1%Assamese

- 89%Online only
- 11%In-person or online

- 74%Woman
- 24%Man
- 3%Non-binary

- 46%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 29%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 9%Nurse Practitioner
- 8%Clinical Psychologist
- 7%Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

- 100%Individual therapy
- 40%Family therapy
- 28%Couples therapy
- 17%Child or adolescent therapy
Frequently asked questions


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