Book LGBT-friendly therapy, covered by insurance
LGBT therapists in Columbia, MD


Top LGBT-friendly therapists and psychiatrists in Columbia, MD
Find affirming mental health support in Columbia, Maryland with 621 licensed providers who understand gender and sexual identity. Headway connects you with warm, open-minded therapists experienced in LGBTQIA+ mental healthcare, offering virtual and in-person sessions with flexible scheduling and insurance coverage to support your wellbeing.
I am Dr. Christie Simon-Waterman, a dually certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over a decade of experience providing compassionate, evidence-based, and holistic care across the lifespan. My clinical background spans primary care, mental health, and community-based health, allowing me to care for the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.
I earned my nursing education at Coppin State University and completed my doctoral training with a strong focus on health equity, leadership, and integrated care delivery.
In my practice, I specialize in:
- Anxiety, depression, trauma-related conditions, and mood disorders
- Integrated mental health treatment
- Substance use–related concerns and recovery support
- Care for underserved and marginalized populations
My approach is empathetic, collaborative, and trauma-informed. I believe healing happens best when clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. Together, we develop personalized treatment plans that may include therapy, medication management when appropriate, lifestyle interventions, and ongoing support tailored to your goals.
Above all, I am committed to creating a safe, supportive responsive space where clients can build resilience, restore balance, and move forward with confidence and clarity.
Kim Prager, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker/Therapist, studied and trained at University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has 16 years of experience providing therapy to people from all walks of life, Most recently, she worked at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's integrated executive medicine and oncology clinics.
She believes therapy is a place to be seen and heard and an opportunity for personal growth. Her approach is holistic and trauma informed, often with a focus on adjustment, interpersonal dynamics, grief, and loss.
She welcomes you to reach out to find a way to live more authentically, forge genuine connections, and prioritize value based goals that bring about positive change in your life.
With 14 years as a psychiatric registered nurse before becoming a practitioner, I bring both clinical expertise and heartfelt understanding to every patient interaction. I strive to create a safe, judgment-free space where you can feel understood and supported. Together, we’ll explore your unique experiences, identify what’s holding you back, and develop strategies to help you move forward with confidence and hope.
I believe that meaningful therapy begins with a strong therapeutic relationship. My first priority is getting to know you, understanding what has brought you to therapy, and creating an environment where you feel comfortable being open and authentic. I want you to feel that I am the therapist you’ve chosen—not the therapist you have to see.
I work with adolescents, adults, and families, and I take an individualized approach to therapy based on each client’s needs, strengths, and goals. Drawing from several evidence-based treatment modalities, I work collaboratively with clients to better understand their experiences, identify the changes they want to make, and develop practical skills to support those changes.
Together, we’ll explore what has brought you to therapy, what you hope to gain from the process, and how our work together can help you move toward the outcomes that are meaningful to you.
I focus mostly on behavior change. That might be a change from how you think about yourself, relationships, work, or something else. I can help you explore that. My role is to support you in believing that change is possible.
I also work in an open-ended environment. There is no contract or set number of sessions. Therapy should be flexible, and everyone's frequency is different. Most people notice growth within 10 sessions.
I’m glad you’re here. I'm passionate about working with couples and individuals. Cooperatively, we navigate relationships, family issues, trauma, anxiety, depression and more. Healing happens through relationships rooted in reciprocity and respect. I strive to create a space where you feel safe, supported and understood. My approach is collaborative and down-to-earth. You don’t need to have everything figured out... we’ll move forward together at a pace that feels right for you.
Hi! As a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience, I'm incredibly proud to say that I've worked in multiple settings with people from diverse backgrounds. I've most often worked with African-American men and women, Veterans, individuals suffering from depression, trauma, stress, relationship dysfunction, and substance abuse. Regardless of the issue, the initial question has always been the same: "How can I help this person navigate their world, and become the best version of themselves in the process?"
Starting therapy can feel intimidating, but you don’t have to figure things out alone. I’m Tamara Whittleton, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with adults navigating stress, anxiety, depression, and major life changes. I focus on creating a supportive environment where clients feel comfortable talking openly while developing practical strategies for growth and healing
Hi there! I am a licensed psychologist and completed a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Adelphi University. I use evidence-based approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy when working with clients. I specialize in the treatment of individuals with OCD, anxiety disorders, and substance use difficulties, as well as families of individuals who struggle in these ways.
When you work with me you sign up to be challenged and empowered to change your own life.Through our work together, we will partner to be able to help you build the life you want. I cannot promise that it will be easy, but I can tell you that it will be worth it. Together, we will help you identify goals for your life, challenge your old ways of thinking that have been holding you back, and connect your thought patterns to your behaviors.
Christopher has over 10 years of experience working with adolescents and adults struggling with a variety of life stressors including LGBTQ+ issues, chemical dependency, depression and anxiety. He also has extensive experience working with neurodiversity, eating disorders, and PTSD.
You should know that I take your concerns seriously, and I will meet you with compassion, respect, and zero judgment. I understand that reaching out for mental health support can feel intimidating, especially if you have faced stigma, felt dismissed in the past, or worried about what a diagnosis might mean. My goal is to help you feel safe and at ease from the very first conversation.
As a doctoral-prepared, board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over eight years of experience in psychiatric and mental health care, I work with individuals across the lifespan. I commonly support people navigating depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress-related concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and other emotional or behavioral health challenges. I approach each person as a whole, not a label, and I take the time to understand your symptoms in the context of your life, your stressors, your strengths, and your goals.
In our work together, you can expect a collaborative, patient-centered approach. I believe treatment works best when you feel heard and involved, so we will discuss what you are experiencing, what has helped or not helped in the past, and what you want to be different moving forward. If medication is part of your care, I prioritize thoughtful, evidence-based decisions, clear education about options, and ongoing adjustments based on your response and preferences. I also value practical strategies and supportive guidance that you can apply between sessions.
Most importantly, I am passionate about each person I serve because I know you are important, and I recognize the courage it takes to seek help. My role is to offer steady, professional support and a trusting relationship as you work toward clarity, stability, and lasting wellness.
About our LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists in Columbia, MD



- 100%LGBTQIA+
- 98%Anxiety
- 96%Depression
- 90%Stress management
- 85%Trauma

- 99%Aetna
- 88%Cigna
- 86%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 72%CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
- 65%Ascension

- 99%English
- 5%Spanish
- 3%French
- 2%Yoruba

- 94%Online only
- 5%In-person or online

- 79%Woman
- 20%Man
- 1%Non-binary

- 43%Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Clinical
- 28%Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
- 23%Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- 4%Clinical Psychologist
- 2%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist

- 99%Individual therapy
- 40%Family therapy
- 26%Couples therapy
- 17%Child or adolescent therapy
Frequently asked questions


Find the right LGBTQ-friendly therapy provider for you
Headway makes it easier to connect with affirming therapists who understand your identity — from finding the right therapist, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
Browse by specialty
Find someone who works with what you’re going through.Browse by city
Explore the cities patients search for most.Browse by state
Explore mental health care in another state.- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming






































