Identity and self-understanding
Coming out, coming back out, naming what you have always known, sitting with uncertainty, and the long process of becoming.
Services · 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming care
Therapy where you do not have to explain yourself first.
Affirming online psychotherapy for 2SLGBTQIA+ adults across Ontario. Identity is taken as a given, not as something to assess. Sessions are about what you actually came in for.
About 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming therapy at Anchor & Bloom.
This is online psychotherapy for 2SLGBTQIA+ adults across Ontario. The clinical work is offered by Daniella Simas Medeiros, RP (Qualifying), who practices under the registered clinical supervision of Katelyn Matias, RP. Daniella holds space for the work of being queer, trans, nonbinary, two-spirit, bi, ace, intersex, and everything else under the acronym, without requiring you to translate.
Sessions can be about identity, and they can also be about everything else. Anxiety, work, breakups, family, ADHD, fertility plans, ageing parents, the stress of being in a body that gets misread. The work is yours.
What clients bring in
The work that happens here.
Gender and body
Gender exploration, transition decisions and aftermath, dysphoria, body image, medical interactions, and what affirming care for the body actually looks like for you.
Relationships
Dating, partnerships, polyamory, chosen family, ethical non-monogamy, breakup grief, queer family-building, and the relationship work that does not fit the standard script.
Minority stress and trauma
The cumulative weight of being misread, misgendered, or unsafe. Religious trauma. Family rejection. The grief of being out at work but not at home.
Anxiety, depression, ADHD
The everyday mental health work that does not stop because of identity. Daniella works with anxiety, mood, and ADHD as primary presentations alongside affirming care.
Healthcare repair
Rebuilding trust with healthcare after harm. Slowing down. Choosing pace. Naming what you do and do not want.
How sessions work
A typical course.
- First session. An hour to talk about what is happening now and what you want therapy to help with. You can ask anything about how the clinician works.
- Following sessions. A mix of talking, noticing what is happening in your body, and small experiments between sessions. Your pace.
- Modalities used. Attachment theory, EFT, CBT, somatic therapy, mindfulness, psychodynamic, and solution-focused approaches, drawn on as needed.
- Frequency. Weekly is common for the first 8 to 12 weeks. Many clients move to biweekly as patterns settle.
- Format. Online video sessions through Jane, a PHIPA-compliant Canadian platform.
- Length. 50 to 60 minutes.
Who offers this
The clinician you would work with.
Daniella Simas Medeiros, RP (Qualifying)
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) · Yorkville University MA Counselling Psychology
Daniella works specifically and explicitly with 2SLGBTQIA+ clients. She also holds space for neurodivergent and BIPOC clients, with respect for how identities overlap. Her clinical supervisor is Katelyn Matias, RP (CRPO #10340).
About DaniellaCommon questions about 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming therapy.
What does "2SLGBTQIA+ affirming" mean in practice?
It means you do not need to educate the therapist on your identity, your relationship structure, or your community. Sessions take your reality as the starting point. Therapy can focus on what you actually came to work on.
Do I have to talk about being queer or trans every session?
No. You bring what is alive for you. Some sessions are about identity. Some are about a stressful week at work, an argument with a partner, family stuff, or grief. Therapy is about you, not your identity category.
Are you affirming of polyamorous, kinky, or other non-traditional relationship structures?
Yes. Sessions are non-judgmental about ethically non-monogamous, polyamorous, kink-aware, and other relational structures. We will not treat your relationship style as the problem to be solved.
I am exploring my gender or sexuality. Can therapy support that?
Yes. Exploration is welcomed and supported, at your pace, with no pressure toward any particular outcome.
I have had bad experiences with healthcare. How is this different?
Many 2SLGBTQIA+ clients arrive with healthcare wounds. We name that early. Sessions move slowly, consent is built in, and you can stop or change direction at any point.
Is online therapy private and secure?
Yes. Sessions are held through Jane, a PHIPA-compliant Canadian platform. Notes are kept securely in line with Ontario health information law.
How much do sessions cost?
Individual sessions are $180. Most extended health benefit plans through Canadian employers cover Registered Psychotherapist services. Psychotherapy is exempt from GST/HST as of June 2024.
For plan-by-plan coverage details, direct billing notes, and how to submit a claim, see Fees & Insurance.
Further reading
Trusted Canadian and clinical resources.
For information on 2SLGBTQIA+ mental health in Canada, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Canadian Mental Health Association publish accessible resources.
Egale Canada offers advocacy resources and links to community supports across the country.
For information on the regulation of psychotherapists in Ontario, see the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
Related services
What often pairs with this work.
Start with a free conversation.
A 15-minute consultation to ask questions and decide if the fit feels right.