Gender & identity
Transgender men, women, non-binary, and gender-fluid people seeking affirming guidance through transition and everyday life.
Accepting new clients · In-person & virtual
A safe place to become who you already are
Warm, affirming therapy with Katy Michaels, LCSW. Whether you are exploring gender, healing from trauma, navigating relationships, or simply ready for change — you are welcome here.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?”— Marianne Williamson
Free to be me. Free to be you.
Who I work with
You are the expert of your life.
I am here as your guide.
From the very beginning we start with why you are coming to therapy and what you want for yourself. My role is to walk beside you with empathy, honesty, and practical tools.
Healing & change
Anxiety, depression, trauma, sexual abuse, substance use, or the aftermath of abusive relationships — individual or within a family system.
Relationships
Singles, couples, and trouples who want deeper connection, clearer communication, and healthier patterns together.
Adolescents, young adults, middle-aged and older adults, and people of color are all welcome. Therapy is available in person in Palm Desert and virtually across California.
How we work
Evidence-based approaches, human connection
Sessions feel conversational. I draw from modalities that help you move toward the life you want while building skills that stick.
ACT · CBT · DBT · EMDR
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — chosen and blended to fit you, not the other way around.
Practical & personal
You leave with usable tools, recommended readings, and a clearer sense of the next step. Therapy is a partnership, not a lecture.
Why this practice
I have walked through the fire too
I too have gone through the gauntlet and risen from the ashes. That is how I see therapy — when someone asks for help to get to the other side, to a stronger, more beautiful version of themselves.
My focus is providing a trusting, empathetic, safe, nurturing, and supportive environment. You are the expert of your life. I am the guide.
Ready when you are
Whether you want a free consultation to see if we are a good fit or you already know you want to begin — reach out. You do not have to carry this alone.