APRIL STRONGARONE, LCSW
LGBTQIA+ Therapy
510-516-6332
Getting started
Starting therapy can often bring up many feelings; anxiety, excitement, fear, hope, anger, doubt, defeat...and taking those first steps to find a good fit between you and your therapist is an important part of the therapeutic process. We will work together to get to know what feels comfortable to you and create a safe space and pace that allows for growth and change in the areas that are important to you.
How I work
Our sense of self and difficulties in the world are often tied to our early experiences and/or significant life events. Making sense of those early relationships and events can help us better understand our patterns and interactions with others. We can do this within the therapeutic relationship to explore those dynamics and reactions in a safe space to practice healthier ways of being; and to better understand who you are and how to help you better align with how you'd like your life and relationships to be.
Who is therapy for
Therapy is for anyone who would like to have a greater awareness and understanding of themselves and their relationship dynamics. Therapy is also for people who have a desire to make changes in their lives, the patterns and dynamics that don't feel good to them anymore or may be creating problems. Therapy can be a place to increase clarity and courage, and practice the coping skills that work best for you. Traumatic events don't have to be a life sentence, they can provide opportunities for growth and together we can build your strength and resilience while healing.
What can I expect
Our first few sessions will be establishing an understanding of each other and your therapy goals and expectations. Maybe you know what those are, that's great, if you don't we can create some room to figure those out together. Therapy can range from short term (a few months) or long term (a year or longer) depending on your needs, desire, and interest. You may begin to notice shifts in how you see yourself and experience others right away, and for others it can take a while to see and feel changes. There is no one way, or right way, to do therapy, there is just what works for you.