My Therapist Is Out!
by Open Space Therapy Collective
Welcome to My Therapist is Out! An Open Space Therapy Collective Podcast. We are your hub for queer and trans mental healthcare. Each episode therapists from OSTC and guests to deep dive into mental health and community building through unapologetic queer conversations.To book a free consult call with one of our therapists visit: openspacetherapycollective.com/book-appointment
Episodes
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Announcement: Coming Out Day Deserves a Party and a Purpose
SPECIAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! National Coming Out Day is October 11th and we are building something together. Literally. Join OSTC and BabyGay at The Black Cat in Silver Lake from 1 to 5PM for our 4th annual NCOD event. This year is a collaboration with BabyGay, The Black Cat, and Los Angeles...
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You Are Not Chasing a Feeling, You Are Building a Relationship: A Q&A on What Healthy Actually Looks Like
We spent this whole series naming what is toxic and building tools for what’s health. Now let's talk about what we are actually building toward. In the second Q&A closing out Queer Hearts Healthy Starts, Renae Johnson LPCC, ATR-BC (they/them) and Allison Smith LCSW (she/they) get into the…
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Whose Shame Is It Anyway? A Q&A on Shame, Relationships, and Queer Life
It showed up in every single episode. In the conversations about toxic relationships, money, sex, community, and chosen family. Under all of it, the same thing: shame. In this Q&A episode closing out the Queer Hearts Healthy Starts series, Renae Johnson LPCC, ATR-BC (they/them) and Allison Smith...
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Built Without Us in Mind: Queering Your Relationship with Money with Patrick Armano-Amato
We have talked about relationships to ourselves, our families, community, sex, and romance. And we saved the most loaded topic for last: money. In this final full episode of Queer Hearts Healthy Starts: Breaking Toxic Relationship Patterns, Renae sits down with Patrick Armano-Amato, CRPC, AWMA,...
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Sex, Shame, and Survival: A Conversation with Alex Garner
Thirty years of living with HIV. Twenty years of global queer advocacy. And a perspective on shame, sex, and survival that you are not going to hear anywhere else. In this episode of our series Queer Hearts Healthy Starts: Breaking Toxic Relationship Patterns, Renae sits down with Alex Garner...
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Embodied and Unscripted: A Queer Conversation About Pleasure and Consent with Anna Mayer
You have done the work of figuring out who you are. But have you done the work of figuring out what you actually want? In this episode of Queer Hearts Healthy Starts, OSTC Clinical Director Kristen Crowe (they/them) sits down with queer somatic sex and relationship therapist Anna Mayer (she/her)…
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All Hands In: The Real Work of Building Queer Community with Yinka Freeman
Building queer community sounds beautiful in theory. In practice, it is messy, political, deeply personal, and one of the most radical things we can do right now. In this episode of Queer Hearts Healthy Starts, host and Open Space Therapy Collective founder Renae Johnson (they/them) sits down…
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More Than a Partner: Building Queer Friendships That Actually Hold You
We talk a lot about romantic relationships in queer spaces. But what about everything else? In this episode of Queer Hearts Healthy Starts, OSTC therapists Kristen Crowe, LPCC, BC-DMT (they/them) and Raven Juergensen, APCC, ATR-BC (she/her) get into the queer social friendscape: what it actually...
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What "Toxic" Actually Means, and Why the Word Alone Isn't Enough
The word "toxic" is everywhere. But what does it actually mean, and when does throwing it around start to work against us? In this episode of Queer Hearts Healthy Starts, OSTC therapists Allison Smith, LCSW (she/they) and Ernesto Martinez, AMFT, APCC (he/they) get into the real definition: not…
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Series Intro: Queer Hearts Healthy Starts: Breaking Toxic Relationship Patterns
Welcome to the series Queer Hearts Healthy Starts: Breaking Toxic Relationship Patterns! Queer people know how to love hard. We also know how to stay too long, give too much, and call it devotion. In this intro episode of Queer Hearts Healthy Starts, OSTC therapist Terra Friedman, AMFT, opens the...
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Part 2: Series End Q&A Identity Based Harm & LGBTQ+ Community Care
In Part Two of this closing Q&A episode, Renae Johnson and Kristen Crowe turn toward healing — not as a finish line, but as an ongoing, collective practice. Responding to listener questions, they talk openly about navigating hate-based violence, political attacks, and community trauma without...
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Part 1: Series End Q&A Identity Based Harm & LGBTQ+ Community Care
In Part One of this listener Q&A, hosts and therapists Renae Johnson (they/them) and Kristen Crowe (they/them) respond to questions from the My Therapist Is Out! community about identity-based harm and what it actually feels like to live inside it. Together, they unpack why so many queer and...
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Generational Strength & LGBQ+ Community Healing
In this episode of My Therapist Is Out!therapists Allison Smith (she/they) and Gio Nigro (they/them) dig into how identity-based harm—like microaggressions, cultural erasure, and systemic exclusion—shows up in LGBTQ+ lives and bodies. They explore why healing doesn’t happen in isolation, the role...
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Stories as Medicine: Identity-Based Harm and Healing through Storytelling with Jose Rosario
Renae Johnson (they/them) sits down with Jose Rosario (he/him) of Phoenix Empowered for a powerful conversation about identity, storytelling, and mental health as pathways to collective healing. Jose shares his lived experience as a queer Latino man with a disability and how storytelling has…
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Feeling Safe Again: Embodiment & Queer Community Care
In this episode of My Therapist Is Out!, therapists Kristen Crowe (they/them) and Terra Friedman (she/her) unpack how identity-based harm disconnects us from our bodies—and from each other. Through somatic, relational, and systemic lenses, they explore why so many LGBTQ+, BIPOC, disabled,...
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Allyship in Action: Supporting Immigrant Communities
In this episode of My Therapist Is Out!, we’re joined by Veronica Velazquez (she/her) from LA Queer Coalition to talk about what real allyship looks like in action—especially as immigrant communities face increasing harm, surveillance, and ICE activity. Together, we explore how LGBTQ+ communities...
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Beyond the Wounds: Identity-Based Harm & Community Care
In this first episode of our series, Ernesto Martinez introduces the concept of identity-based harm and the power of community care. Centered on LGBTQ+ experiences, Ernesto discusses the mental health impacts of discrimination, systemic violence, and ongoing political targeting, highlighting how...
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LGBTQ+ Neurodiversity Daily Life & Identity Q&A w/ Renae Johnson & Mikey Whited
In Part Two of our LGBTQ+ Neurodiversity Q&A, host Renae Johnson (they/them) returns with Mikey Whited (they/them, Psych NP) to dive into the practical side of living as a neurodivergent queer adult. From managing executive dysfunction and workplace advocacy to creating sensory-friendly spaces at...
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LGBTQ+ Neurodiversity Relationships & Communication Q&A w/ Renae Johnson & Mikey Whited
LGBTQ+ Neurodiversity Q&A (Part One) — Closing Reflections on the Series with Renae Johnson (they/them) & Mikey Whited, Psych NP (they/them) As we wrap up our Neurodiversity Series, host Renae Johnson and returning guest Mikey Whited sit down to answer your biggest questions about neurodivergence...
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Queer and Neurodivergent: Living Outside the Box
In this episode of My Therapist is Out!, Kristen Crowe (they/them) and Ernesto Martinez (they/he) dive into what it really means to navigate the world as queer and neurodivergent. Together, they unpack how neurotypical standards often miss the mark, why compassionate frameworks matter, and how...
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The Gifts of an LGBTQ+ ADHD Brain and How to Work with It
In part two, Mikey and Jennie return with Renae to move from personal stories into professional insight. As a Psych NP and ADHD Coach, they unpack the science of ADHD, the role of brain chemistry, and the ways misdiagnosis and stigma often cloud understanding. The conversation dives into...
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ADHD and Queerness: Untangling the Overlap
Host and therapist Renae Johnson (they/them) sits down with siblings Mikey Whited, Psych NP (they/them), and Jennie Larsen, ADHD Coach and Teacher (she/her), for an honest look at what it’s like to grow up with ADHD side by side. Together they share stories of navigating childhood, the different...
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Beyond the Labels: An Introduction to Queer Neurodiversity
In this episode, OSTC therapist Allison Smith, LCSW (she/they), kicks off our new series on LGBTQ+ Neurodiversity by exploring what it really means to live at the intersection of queer and neurodivergent identities. From ADHD and autism to dyslexia and beyond, we dive into how neurodivergence...
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Safe Spaces, Loud Voices: Connecting Queer Havens w/ Charlie Sprinkman (they/he)
In this episode, Renae Johnson (they/them) sits down with Charlie Sprinkman (they/he), founder of Everywhere is Queer, to talk about what it really means to build and sustain queer safe spaces. From Charlie’s journey out of a conservative upbringing to becoming a leader in queer visibility, this...
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MTIO Summer Check-In: When Rest Isn’t Enough — with Kristen Crowe (they/them)
Sometimes it’s not just rest you need. Sometimes, it’s a radical reimagining of what you’re carrying—and what you need to set down for good. In this mini summer check-in episode, Kristen Crowe (they/them), therapist and dance/movement therapist at Open Space Therapy Collective, drops in with a…
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Bonus Episode: Honoring the Rest You Actually Need with Terra Friedman (she/her)
While My Therapist is Out! is on a summer break, we're still popping into your feed with bite-sized mental health moments to keep you grounded and connected. In this mini check-in, therapist Terra Friedman (she/her) invites you to rethink how you're resting—and whether it's really working for…
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Bonus Episode: When Anger Comes Online – A Summer Mental Health Check-In with Ernesto Martinez (they/he)
While My Therapist is Out! is on summer break, we’re popping into your feed with a mini mental health check-in. This bite-sized episode features therapist Ernesto Martinez (they/he), offering grounded reflections on what it means when anger begins to surface — especially for LGBTQ+ folks in...
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MTIO! Summer Break — but don’t worry, we’re not leaving you hanging.
My Therapist Is Out! is taking a little summer break — but don’t worry, we’re not leaving you hanging. Every two weeks, our queer therapists will still be sliding into your feed with bite-sized mental health check-ins. Think of it as your gentle reminder to pause, breathe, and take care of your...
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The Power of Showing Up: Building Queer Community with Pony Lee Mustgrave
What happens when you mix scissors, stories, and queer magic? You get Folklore—a radically warm and inclusive salon built by community, for community. In this heartfelt episode of My Therapist is Out!, host Renae Johnson (they/them) sits down with artist, stylist, and community organizer Pony Lee...
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TGI TownHall by LA Queer Events Coalition & Unique Woman’s Coalition
🎙️ My Therapist is Out! Presents: The TGI TownHall – 100 Days In, Our Lives on the Line What does safety, justice, and visibility look like for trans, gender-expansive, and intersex (TGI) communities under the current administration? We’re 100 days in—and it’s time to take stock. In this special...
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Move Through It: Dance/Movement Therapy, Trauma & Queer Rebellion with Kristen Crowe (they/them)
Let’s get one thing straight (lol jk, never): trauma lives in the body—and queer bodies have been through it. In this raw and real episode of My Therapist is Out!, Renae Johnson (they/them) and Kristen Crowe (she/they) break down how Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) helps us reclaim what the world...
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Navigating the Queer Journey with PJ Brescia (they/them)
What does it mean to come out—not just once, but over and over again—as you uncover more of who you are? In this episode Renae (they/them) sits down with PJ Brescia (they/them), the heart and brains behind Baby Gay, a nonprofit devoted to supporting folks in their coming out journeys. PJ shares...
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Queer, Alert, and Exhausted: Unpacking Hypervigilance in LGBTQ+ Lives with Terra Friedman, AMFT (she/her)
In this episode of My Therapist is Out!, Renae Johnson (they/them) and Terra Friedman (she/her) dive into the lived experience of hypervigilance—a survival response many queer folks know all too well. From growing up in environments where it wasn’t safe to be fully ourselves to navigating today’s...
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Leading with Your Core Values with Crystal Whiteaker (she/her)
What does it really mean to lead with authenticity and build an inclusive brand? In this episode of My Therapist is Out!, Renae Johnson sits down with Crystal Whiteaker, founder of Crystal Lily Creative, to talk about how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) shape thriving organizations and...
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How Mainstream Therapy Often Fails Marginalized Clients with Ernesto Martinez AMFT, APCC (they/he)
In this episode of My Therapist is Out!, Renae Johnson (they/them) and therapist Ernesto Martinez (he/they) dive deep into the many ways mainstream therapy often falls short when working with marginalized clients — and what we can do to create more inclusive, affirming care. Ernesto shares…
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Consent, Healing, and Community Care with Naima Merella, CAMTC, RYT (they/them)
Consent isn’t just a checkbox—it’s the foundation of trust, safety, and meaningful healing. In this episode of My Therapist is Out!, Renae Johnson sits down with Naima Merella, CAMTC, RYT, to explore what true consent looks like in bodywork, yoga, and holistic healing. As a queer, BIPOC healer,...
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Power of LGBTQ+ Community: Rebuilding after LA Fires with the LA Queer Events Coalition
In this special episode of My Therapist is Out!, we’re bringing you a powerful live recording from the LA Queer Events Coalition Wildfire Relief Town Hall. This panel discussion, moderated by Carla Ibarra (@lacivilrights), brings together LGBTQ+ leaders, mental health professionals, and community...
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Taking Care of Your LGBTQ+ Mental Health in Times of Political Change
In this episode of My Therapist is Out!, hosts Renae Johnson (they/them) and Kristen Crowe (she/they) explore the intersection of politics and mental health, focusing on the emotional toll of recent political events. They dive into topics like political fatigue, burnout, and practical coping...
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Voices on the Frontline: Mental Health Professionals and the NUHW Kaiser Strike with Gina Porter, RN and Dr. Jared Garcia
In this episode, Renae sits down with two frontline mental health professionals, psychiatric RN Gina Porter and hospice clinical social worker Dr. Jared Garcia, who are part of the NUHW Kaiser strike to uncover the challenges, hopes, and systemic changes driving their fight. We’ll dive into what…
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LGBTQ+ Holiday Tools: Post-Holiday Recovery with Jenny Nigro (they/them)
In this episode, Renae and therapist Jenny Nigro discuss the emotional aftermath of the holiday season, particularly focusing on the queer community. They explore the importance of self-care, reconnecting with oneself, and the need for self-compassion as individuals transition into the new year....
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LGBTQ+ Holiday Tools: Navigating Holiday Emotions with Ernesto Martinez, APCC, AMFT (they/he)
In this episode, host Renae Johnson and therapist Ernesto Martinez discuss the complexities of navigating emotions during the holiday season, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals. They explore common challenges faced by queer folks, such as dealing with unsupportive family dynamics, managing...
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LGBTQ+ Holiday Tools: Staying True to Yourself in Family Spaces with Kristen Crowe LPCC, BC-DMT (she/they)
The holidays can be tough when family gatherings make you feel the pressure to hide your true self. In this episode of My Therapist is Out!, we explore how queer individuals can navigate the season with authenticity, resilience, and joy. Join host Renae Johnson and OSTC Clinical Director Kristen...
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LGBTQ+ Holiday Tools: Navigating Political Convos w/ Terra Friedman AMFT (she/her)
The holidays can be a minefield of emotions for LGBTQ+ individuals. Between family dynamics, societal pressures, and the potential for isolation, staying mentally healthy can feel like a challenge. In this heartfelt and practical episode of My Therapist is Out!, host Renae Johnson and therapist...
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We're Taking a Short Break
We are taking a short break to do some self-care and regroup after this week’s election results. But we’ll be back in less than a month! In the meantime: 🌈 Take Care of YourselfSelf-care isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the fuel for long-term activism and resilience. Rest, eat, drink water, and check…
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Can Rage Ever be Healthy? with Debbie Whyte APCC, ATR (she/her)
This week host Renae Johnson (they/them) and OSTC therapist Debbie Whyte (she/her) explore if rage can be healthy. Feeling overwhelmed by rage? You’re not alone. For many of us in the LGBTQ+ community, anger is tied to lived experiences of discrimination. In this episode we answer: Ugh I get so...
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Mission Driven LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship
In this episode of My Therapist is Out!, we’re meeting with Dr. Liz Lasky and celebrating LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who are doing more than just building businesses—they’re creating change. From breaking barriers to leading with purpose, we’ll explore what it means to be mission-driven in the world of...
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Can you have healthy relationships if you only saw toxic ones modeled in your family? with Kristen Crowe (they/she)
Ever feel like your relationship blueprint is straight out of a toxic family playbook? In this episode of My Therapist is Out!, host Renae Johnson (they/them) and therapist Kristen Crowe (they/she) ask the big question: "Can you actually have healthy relationships if all you’ve seen are the…
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What to Look for When Choosing Your Chosen Family with Debbie Whyte (she/her)
This week host Renae Johnson (they/them) and OSTC therapist Debbie Whyte (she/her) explore how to be open and discerning when searching for chosen family. Finding your chosen family takes time. It’s all about surrounding yourself with those who really see and support you. But how do you actually…
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Live Beyond ACEs & Toxic Stress Awareness Campaign
This week, host Renae Johnson (they/them) is joined by ACEs awareness advocates Dr. John Blosnich (he/him) and Juniper Brown (he/they) to explore the importance of understanding and healing from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the long-lasting adverse effects of this toxic stress. In…
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Can Therapy Help with Pain During Sex? with Kristen Crowe, LPCC, BC-DMT (they/she)
This week host Renae Johnson (they/them) and Kristen Crowe (they/she) explore how pain during sex can be more (or not) than just physical symptoms. Our somatic experience, even during pleasure is uniquely tied to our subconscious, personal history, and relationship dynamics. In this episode we...
About this show
Welcome to My Therapist is Out! An Open Space Therapy Collective Podcast. We are your hub for queer and trans mental healthcare. Each episode therapists from OSTC and guests to deep dive into mental health and community building through unapologetic queer conversations.To book a free consult call with one of our therapists visit: openspacetherapycollective.com/book-appointment
Hosted by
Open Space Therapy Collective