SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Licensed clinical social worker Dani Terry emphasizes the importance of approachability and professionalism in her practice, believing this blend is essential for effective therapy.
“You always want to be approachable,” Terry stated. “You want people to feel like they can talk to you; otherwise, they’re not going to get anywhere.”
Through her private practice, True Colors Counseling, based in South Lake Tahoe, Terry assists clients with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and various trauma-related issues. Her approach is particularly tailored to the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community, a group she identifies with personally.
“I have felt called to this work for a very long time,” she said. “I do get a lot of joy out of it – queer joy, maybe one could say.”
Research from the National Alliance on Mental Illness indicates that individuals within the LGBTQ+ community are at a higher risk of mental health conditions, particularly depression and anxiety. Terry’s practice reflects a deep understanding of these challenges, integrating inclusive language and sensitivity in all aspects of her business, from marketing materials to patient forms.
“To me, it touches almost every aspect of my business,” she explained. “I’ve been thinking about how to be a really good fit for helping the queer community since before I even graduated from grad school.”
Terry’s therapeutic approach considers the full spectrum of a person’s life experiences, particularly those related to their sexual orientation and gender identity. She examines factors such as family life, the time taken to share one’s identity with others, and the professional impacts of coming out.
“There is a set of characteristics that are pretty easy to see once you know what you’re looking for,” she noted. “For the queer community, I look for trauma symptoms as an overlay on identity pieces. Not just is a person queer, but what was their family life like?”
Terry hopes more clinicians will recognize the need for specialized training to better serve the LGBTQ+ community. Dr. Helen Kales, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis Health, supports this perspective, noting that specialty training can provide critical insights that general treatment might miss.
“A lot of medicine is pattern recognition,” Dr. Kales said. “When someone has a subspecialty, they may spot things that others don’t. Special training can make clinicians more perceptive.”
Kales, a specialist in geriatric psychiatry, emphasized the importance of subspecialties. “People with special training may have additional wisdom to bring to bear,” she explained, highlighting the value of expertise when general treatments prove insufficient.
The demand for mental health care continues to outpace the number of available providers, driven by increased public awareness of mental health issues and reduced stigma around seeking treatment. Terry, who offers virtual therapy across California, sees this trend firsthand.
Terry has found significant success using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with her LGBTQ+ clients. This treatment helps individuals reprocess traumatic memories in a controlled and safe environment.
“People can’t see the way out all the time when they’re in the middle of a deep dark hole,” Terry explained. “Sometimes, as a therapist, your job is to hold the hope for them until they can hold their own hope, and that’s so beautiful.”
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