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LGBT therapists in Arlington, MA


Top LGBT-friendly therapists and psychiatrists in Arlington, MA
Arlington residents can access inclusive mental healthcare through Headway's diverse provider network of 687 professionals experienced in supporting LGBTQIA+ communities. Flexible scheduling, virtual options, and insurance coverage make quality affirming care accessible and affordable for your wellbeing.
You need insight into your problems, not more advice. I'm Matt, a licensed professional specializing in helping teens and emerging adults (13–30) keep their footing in the whirlwind of adolescence and becoming an adult.
I see my role as creating a safe space a where you can explore what it means to be you. Within the therapeutic alliance, built on trust and safety, I will listen to your joys, fears, and pain with empathy and compassion, and offer you tools to thrive.
I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing medication
management and therapy for children ages 5+, adolescents, and adults. I treat ADHD,
depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, and related conditions. I also work with adults with autism
spectrum disorder and ADHD, providing diagnostic clarification and ongoing treatment within
general psychiatric care. I offer in-person and telehealth visits and focus on collaborative,
evidence-based, and individualized care.
I work with individuals and people in relationships navigating grief, trauma, anxiety, shame, anger, relationship distress, parenting, adoption, identity, and life transitions. Together, we'll slow down enough to notice what has been difficult to see, better understand what's happening beneath the surface, and explore new ways of relating to yourself and others.
Life can be hard, and everyone needs help sometimes. In fact, humans are by nature collaborative. It can be difficult to see all the possibilities when your mood or hurts from your past are getting in the way.
My background includes supporting individuals, couples, and families from a variety of backgrounds in navigating personal and life challenges, including depression, anxiety, trauma, parenting skills, grief and loss, transitions, etc. Currently, I am only offering individual services.
I also have 10+ years of specialized experience in working with survivors of sexual violence and non-offending loved ones in understanding the impact of trauma and exploring their own healing journey.
Now accepting patients in Massachusetts! Offering in office visits on the fourth Monday of each month in Westford, MA from 8:00 until 11:30 and virtual visits throughout the week.
I have been in healthcare for over 20 years and enjoy partnering with patients . As a gay man, I understand the comfort that comes with working with someone from the community.
I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with experience in both outpatient and inpatient settings, providing comprehensive mental health care across diverse populations. My background includes extensive work in behavioral health emergency settings, partial hospitalizations, IOP, recovery care, community psychiatric care. I also have experience supporting dually diagnosed patients with co-occurring medical conditions, giving me a broad perspective on the complex interplay between mental and physical health.
I earned my PMHNP degree from Post University and hold PMHNP licensure in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Throughout my career, I have remained committed to evidence-based care, while continuously seeking opportunities for professional development and growth in the mental health field.
Healing Across the Lifespan: A Partnership in Mental Wellness
Choosing a mental health provider is a deeply personal decision. You aren’t just looking for a prescriber; you are looking for a witness to your story, an expert in the biological complexities of the brain, and a partner in your recovery.
My name is Jessica Stanley, and I am a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC). My journey to this practice has been defined by a unique duality: the macro view of a healthcare executive and the micro focus of a dedicated clinician. Before opening the doors to this practice, I served as the Clinical Director for a large-scale healthcare organization. In that role, I was responsible for the oversight of complex systems, the mentorship of large clinical teams, and the implementation of evidence-based protocols across diverse populations.
While my time in leadership allowed me to impact mental health at a systemic level, my true passion has always remained in the quiet, transformative moments of the exam room. I have returned to full-time clinical practice to bring that high-level expertise back to where it matters most: the individual human experience.
Mental health does not exist in a vacuum, nor does it look the same at age seven as it does at seventy. I specialize in treating patients across the entire lifespan. Whether I am working with a child struggling to navigate their first years of school, an adolescent facing the pressures of identity formation, or an adult managing the heavy mantle of career and family, my approach remains the same: comprehensive, compassionate, and evidence based.
Areas of Specialization
I am trained to treat a broad spectrum of psychiatric conditions including:
ADHD & Neurodivergence
Anxiety Disorders
Depression
PTSD & Trauma Recovery
I grew up in MA. I earned a 2nd-degree black belt from Premier Martial Arts. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UML. I worked at a group home for teenagers, then one for adult men with schizophrenia. I worked as a support and then a lead teacher at a day program for adults with developmental disabilities. There, I learned a lot about Behaviorism and ABA. I was then able to work as a clinician as I finished my graduate degree.
I earned my graduate degree at Fitchburg State University. I did my internship at the Community Health Center in Fitchburg. I worked in community mental health before venturing out on my own.
I specialize in EMDR for complex trauma and solution-focused short-term therapy. I am willing to share personal and HIPAA-compliant info if it is relevant to your recovery. I chose this specialty because it has worked for me! Let me show you how you can take back control of your mental health.
I'm a Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over ten years of experience supporting children, teens, and families across community health and pediatric hospital settings. Much of my work has centered on adolescents, youth involved in the justice system, families navigating multiple systems of care, perinatal mental health, and end-of-life work. I also hold a certification in perinatal mental health (PMH-C). Beyond direct clinical work, I've led program development and evaluation for initiatives serving LGBTQIA2S+ communities and Latinx and Indigenous youth. Before becoming a social worker, I worked as an Intervention Specialist, supporting middle and high school students with learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and significant mental health needs. Across all of this, one belief stays constant: you are the expert on your own life, and my role is to walk alongside you with respect, curiosity, and genuine care.
I graduated from Smith College School of Social Work in Northampton, MA, in 2002 and have been helping people with various mental health issues since that time. I have been trained in psychodynamic therapy, DBT, mindfulness, and Somatic Experiencing, among other modalities.
I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. There are credentials I could list and ways for you to assess why I am the right clinician for you, and while those things matter, what I find most true is this: I care deeply about this work.
Finding the right therapist is hard, and on behalf of all therapists, I'm sorry this is true. I won't promise a "safe space" for the people I work with, but I can promise an accountable one. I am committed to learning alongside you, knowing that we will teach each other what comes next. I will create the container for our work, and together, I hope to build a foundation of trust that allows you to heal, grow, challenge, accept, and integrate all that has brought you here.
Many people who come to see me are living with depression, overwhelmed with anxiety, or are processing and healing from past trauma. You might be going through a major life transition or find your usual ways of coping are no longer working. You might feel stuck, uncertain, and disconnected from yourself. Investing in therapy can be difficult when there are so many other things that demand your attention. My role is to help you explore what is important to you, what is getting in the way, and make realistic, actionable steps towards your goals.
Disclaimer: My current role as an Access Clinician at Harvard University Health Services allows me to work with folx from all walks of life. I hold a small caseload in my private practice to focus on my clinical interests. Due to my role, I do not see any actively enrolled Harvard students in my private practice. However, this means you can see me at CAMHS for short-term counseling.
Are you having difficulty adjusting to a new environment, relationship, identity, or phase of life? Do you overanalyze social interactions or struggle to connect with others? I have worked in community mental health, college counseling, and private practice settings. I work with adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, life transitions and relational concerns. As a queer-identified therapist, I am also dedicated to working with LGBTQ+ folks, and affirming of kink and ENM/polyamory as well.
About our LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists located within 20 miles of Arlington, MA



- 100%LGBTQIA+
- 100%Anxiety
- 91%Depression
- 86%Trauma
- 86%Family issues

- 91%Aetna
- 77%Cigna
- 73%Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare
- 73%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 45%Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

- 91%English
- 9%Spanish
- 5%Mandarin
- 5%Portuguese
- 5%Twi

- 95%In-person or online
- 5%In-person only

- 55%Woman
- 41%Man
- 5%Non-binary

- 32%Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- 27%Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
- 27%Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- 5%Clinical Nurse Specialist
- 5%Clinical Psychologist

- 100%Individual therapy
- 18%Family therapy
- 9%Child or adolescent therapy
- 5%Couples 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.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an LGBTQIA Therapist in Arlington, MA
Searching for LGBTQIA+ therapists in Arlington starts with finding identity-affirming care. An affirming therapist may support concerns related to identity, coming out, gender exploration, relationship stress, anxiety, depression, or family dynamics. As you compare therapists, look for bios that mention affirmative therapy, gender-diverse experience, WPATH training, or direct experience with LGBTQIA+ communities. These details can help you find a therapist whose training, approach, and listed specialties match what you want from care.
In a smaller city like Arlington, local options for affirming care may be more limited than in larger nearby areas. Virtual appointments can expand your search while still helping you find a therapist who fits your schedule, preferences, and insurance plan. You can also narrow your search by availability, therapeutic approach, therapist identity, and whether a free phone consultation is offered. Reading profiles before booking can help you see how each therapist describes their communication style, experience with LGBTQIA+ populations, and approach to care.
Therapy in Arlington can be a significant expense without insurance. Using in-network insurance is one of the most reliable ways to lower your out-of-pocket costs. Headway helps you compare LGBTQIA+ therapists who are accepting new patients, review bios, check availability, and see estimated session costs before you book. That makes it easier to find someone who matches your needs, accepts your plan, and is ready to meet.
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