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Many practices call themselves affirming. What that means in practice varies enormously. At WTG, affirmative therapy means our clinicians are versed in the language and terms used by LGBTQ+ communities, familiar with the minority stress model, and equipped to conceptualize and treat the comorbidities that disproportionately affect this population. It means your identity is not something to work around - it's central to the work.
Since 2013, Williamsburg Therapy Group has provided LGBTQ+ affirming therapy to Brooklyn residents across Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and the wider borough. Every psychologist on our team holds a doctoral degree - PhD or PsyD - and is licensed to practice in New York State.
Brooklyn draws LGBTQ+ individuals from across the country and the world - many come for its legal protections, its communities, and the sense of safety it offers compared to other places. But that migration brings its own challenges: isolation from former social networks, the difficulty of building new meaningful connections, and the weight of navigating identity in a city that is both deeply affirming and relentlessly demanding.
Many practices call themselves affirming. What that means in practice varies enormously. At WTG, affirmative therapy means our clinicians are versed in the language and terms used by LGBTQ+ communities, familiar with the minority stress model, and equipped to conceptualize and treat the comorbidities that disproportionately affect this population. It means your identity is not something to work around - it's central to the work.
You'll speak with our patient coordinator before anything else. They'll learn about your situation and match you with the psychologist whose training, background, and approach align with what you need - including clinicians who share your identity where that matters to you.
The first session is a conversation. Your psychologist's priority is to understand what's brought you in - whether that's something identity-specific or something that has nothing to do with your LGBTQ+ identity at all. There's no agenda here beyond understanding you clearly and beginning to build a therapeutic relationship that feels genuinely safe.
Sessions draw from CBT, psychodynamic approaches, and the minority stress framework - the balance shifts depending on what you're working on. Some clients come in with identity-specific concerns; others come in with anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties that happen to exist within an LGBTQ+ context. Both are valid, and both are treated with the same clinical depth. Sessions run 45–50 minutes.
The LGBTQ+ population experiences the highest mental health disparities of any demographic. Common presentations include mood disorders, anxiety, substance use, trauma, and the cumulative toll of minority stress. Our clinicians are trained to treat these transdiagnostically - understanding how identity-related stressors interact with and shape clinical presentations.
Identity is not a fixed destination. Our psychologists provide a safe, unhurried space for clients exploring sexual orientation or gender identity - without assumptions about where that exploration should lead.
Coming out is different for every person and every relationship. We help clients navigate the process at their own pace, weighing the psychological costs of concealment against the real risks that can come with visibility in different contexts.
Few things are as painful as being rejected by family because of who you are. We help clients process that grief, rebuild their sense of self, and - where appropriate - navigate the possibility of repair.
Political anxiety has become acutely elevated in the LGBTQ+ community as rights and livelihoods have come under increasing threat. We help clients manage the psychological weight of living in a climate where their identity is contested.
Experiences of discrimination, harassment, and violence leave lasting marks. Our clinicians are trained to treat trauma within an LGBTQ+ context, understanding how minority stress compounds and shapes traumatic experience.
Queer relationships exist within unique social and cultural contexts that general couples therapy often doesn't account for. We work with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples on intimacy, communication, and the specific dynamics that shape queer partnerships.
Mood and anxiety disorders occur at significantly higher rates among LGBTQ+ individuals, rooted in minority stress, family rejection, or self-concealment — addressed through evidence-based approaches targeting their actual causes.
When religious or cultural beliefs create conflict with a client's LGBTQ+ identity, we don't resolve that tension for them — we help them find their own path to integrating all aspects of who they are, fully respected in the process..
Skyrocketing rates of rejection through dating and hook-up apps have had a measurable impact on mental health in the LGBTQ+ community. We help clients understand what's affecting them and rebuild a healthier relationship with connection and intimacy.
Based on our experience with Brooklyn clients, most people attend therapy for 3–6 months, though this varies significantly depending on your goals and situation. Some clients find meaningful relief within 8–10 sessions; others benefit from longer-term support. Progress is assessed regularly and the approach adjusted as needed.
Most Brooklyn clients attend weekly sessions, though frequency can be flexible depending on your needs. Some clients start weekly and transition to bi-weekly as the work progresses.
It depends on the therapist's approach and what's appropriate for your situation. If you have a preference either way, our patient coordinator will factor that into the matching process.
Results vary, but most clients begin noticing meaningful shifts within the first several sessions - greater clarity, reduced isolation, and a stronger sense of being genuinely understood.
Dr. England is a licensed clinical psychologist at Williamsburg Therapy Group with specialized training in neuropsychology, offering LGBTQ+ affirming care for individuals with ADHD and other cognitive or psychiatric conditions. She focuses on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of memory, attention, and broader brain behavior functioning.
Dr. Chelsky is a licensed clinical psychologist providing LGBTQ+ affirming therapy and assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. She works with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, identity development, and life transitions, offering warm, respectful care that supports each client’s unique identity and lived experience.
Dr. Chuck Burton is a licensed psychologist who brings an active, pragmatic, and person-centered approach to therapy with individuals and couples. Sessions infuse psychological science with a therapeutic relationship that is supportive, collaborative, and authentic.

Our Brooklyn office is located at 109 N 12th St, Suites 503, 507, 701 & 702, in the heart of Williamsburg. We're easily accessible from Manhattan and all Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Getting Here:
Subway: L train to Bedford Ave (5-minute walk)Our doctoral-level psychologists are recognized experts in their fields, regularly consulted by leading national and international publications for their clinical insights. When major media outlets need expert perspectives on mental health, they turn to our Brooklyn-based team.
We are here to help you no matter where you are at emotionally and want to pair you with a professional that cares and can help.
We are an out-of-network provider, with select post-doctoral therapists accepting United Healthcare and Aetna plans. Brooklyn patients with out-of-network benefits can file reimbursement claims at no cost through Reimbursify, which handles the entire process from submission to payment.
Our patient coordinator will verify your coverage and explain expected costs before your first session.
A LGBTQ+ therapist strives to create a safe environment where clients can focus on the reasons bringing them to therapy without fear of rejection or judgment.
After learning more about you and your goals during the free consultation, our dedicated patient coordinator will match you with the right therapist in Brooklyn, NY - including clinicians who share your identity where that's important to you.
LGBTQ+ affirming therapy is individual therapy delivered by clinicians with specific training in LGBTQ+ experiences, the minority stress model, and the unique comorbidities affecting this population. Your identity is treated as central to the work, not incidental to it.
No, you do not need a referral to start LGBTQ+ therapy.
Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right fit and that's okay. If you don't feel comfortable after the first session, reach out to our dedicated patient coordinator and they will help you find a better match.
Everything you discuss with your therapist is confidential and protected by HIPAA. With that said, as a mandated reporter, we are legally required to break confidentiality and notify authorities if we suspect child abuse or neglect, abuse of elderly or dependent adults, or if a client presents an imminent danger to themselves or others.
Yes, we offer virtual therapy as an option for all clients. Some clients prefer the convenience of telehealth, while others prefer meeting in person. 70% of patients at our Brooklyn office prefer in-person appointments because of our beautiful space.
Sessions are typically 50–60 minutes.
Bring your insurance card, ID, list of medications/providers, and questions/goals to your first appointment.
Yes. LGBTQ+ affirming therapy is scientifically supported and consistently shown to improve mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals - particularly when delivered by clinicians trained in the specific stressors and comorbidities affecting this population.
If you need to cancel an appointment, reach out to our dedicated patient coordinator at least 48 hours in advance.
“Dr. Jessica Chelsky has been an incredible support in my journey. She created a safe, affirming space where I felt fully seen and understood, and helped me navigate challenges with confidence and clarity.” – Alex M., Brooklyn resident
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“Dr. Rose Howell has been an amazing support. She creates a genuinely affirming and safe space, and has helped me navigate my identity and relationships with much more confidence.” – Jordan K., Brooklyn resident
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“WTG has beautiful office spaces and also skilled therapists. Dr. Camilla Mazetto, who is very warm and competent in her clinical care, helped me a lot.” – Ligia F., Brooklyn resident
Better mental health begins with one step. Our Brooklyn therapists are ready to help - and most clients are seen within one week.
Our highly skilled therapists can help you develop the tools to deepen and strengthen your relationship by fostering communication, trust, and understanding. Learn how to lovingly resolve conflicts, rebuild intimacy, and grow together through life’s challenges.
Create a more peaceful and harmonious family dynamic with family therapy. Learn how to skillfully manage communication breakdowns, conflict, and life transitions while building empathy and understanding.
Give your child the support they need to overcome life’s challenges with strength, resilience, and compassion for self and others. Our caring team is ready to meet your child where they are and help them skillfully navigate the road ahead.
Individual therapy, otherwise known as psychotherapy, is the process of meeting one-on-one with a provider to address different struggles.
Founded in 2013, Williamsburg Therapy Group is a mental health collective that provides the very best comprehensive mental healthcare to the Brooklyn community. We have thoughtfully curated a team of over 50 multidisciplinary doctors so that you can come to one place for most of your mental healthcare needs. We select only the most highly trained doctor-level therapists who are warm, professional, relatable, and proactive as they work with you.
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