Helen Dempsey-Henofer

While being genuinely seen in young adulthood is so powerful, being out as your authentic self seems entirely out of reach. You suspect your lived experience is too different to be relatable or painfully unacceptable to those you care about. Loneliness is a wall between you and the life you want. At night you lay awake imagining what you might say if you told your story. The words catch in your throat. Anxiety when it comes to being honest about who you are is a bitter pill. It takes on a life of its own, causing you to feel stuck and wondering if you’re silencing the best parts of yourself. Imagine the relief of letting your story go free, of being accepted and validated. That can happen in therapy. While not the same thing as being out to your family, it is a place to start. Whether the secret you keep close is related to trauma or “I really want to do cosplay,” or “I’m an Atheist,” or “I’m super super 100% gay,” there’s room for it here. Beyond the therapy space, I’m fortunate to have wonderful humans who happen to be LGBTQ+, transgender and gender-expansive in my family and the importance of safe, affirming spaces is not only professionally, but also personally important. I’m committed to an informed inclusive practice. Find me at helendempsey-henofer.com