D. Joel Marquart

I believe therapy is about safety and empowerment. It can be hard to find a space to safely process the loneliness of feeling misunderstood, unseen, and disrespected in a culture that quickly marginalizes and invalidates anyone it does not understand. The world of mental health needs advocates who are consistently acknowledging the destructive impact of historical injustice and the trauma of discriminatory practices that contribute to overwhelming inequity. I seek to provide a safe space for critical components of identity to emerge and find healing from un-affirming narratives created by those in places of power and privilege. My approach to therapy starts with the relationship. A first session would combine getting to know each other along with a collaborative understanding of your hopes and goals for therapy. Sometimes clients are ready to jump right in and process some things, other times they need the space to develop trust and figure out where they want to start. There is no right or wrong way to begin!