Finding care where you don’t have to explain yourself
What affirming, integrative psychiatry looks like, and the questions to ask a new provider.
Earl Johns, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of Wellthy Psychiatry & Wellness
✓ Medically reviewed by Earl Johns, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Felt judged for your identity or your interest in holistic care? Here’s what affirming, integrative psychiatry looks like, and how to find it.
When care hasn’t felt safe
Many LGBTQIA+ people have sat across from a provider and felt they had to explain, defend or hide parts of themselves. Others have mentioned yoga, supplements or meditation and been brushed off. Either experience can make it hard to try again, and that hesitation makes sense.
What affirming care looks like
You don’t have to educate your provider about your identity, your relationships or your community. Your name and pronouns are used without fuss. Your goals, not assumptions about you, shape the plan.
Holistic and medical care can work together
Integrative psychiatry looks at sleep, nutrition, movement, stress and relationships alongside therapy and medication. Curiosity about mind-body practices is welcome, and we talk openly about what the research supports and what it doesn’t.
Questions to ask a new provider
Have you worked with LGBTQIA+ patients? How do you include lifestyle and holistic approaches? How do we make medication decisions together? A good fit will welcome these questions.
A gentle next step
At Wellthy Psychiatry, care comes from an LGBTQ+ provider in an LGBTQ-owned practice. A free 15-minute phone consult is an easy way to see if it feels right for you.
This article is for general education and isn’t medical advice. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.
About the author
Earl Johns, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner · UCSF-trained · Founder of Wellthy Psychiatry & Wellness
Earl provides LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent-affirming psychiatric care, blending medication management, therapy and whole-person approaches. He sees clients in San Francisco and by telehealth across California.
Keep reading
Related posts
Feeling stuck? Where to start when you’re tired of feeling this way
Small, real first steps for when you feel stuck, anxious or far from yourself.
Substance use, party culture and mental health: a judgment-free guide for gay men
Nightlife and community can include alcohol and substances. Here’s how to tell when use is affecting your mental health, with no shame.
Depression in gay men: signs that are easy to miss
Depression in gay men doesn’t always look like sadness. Here are the quieter signs, why they’re so common, and how to find affirming support in San Francisco.
Minority stress: why depression is more common in LGBTQ+ communities
Being LGBTQ+ isn’t a mental health problem. Living with stigma can wear you down. Here’s how minority stress works and what actually helps.