Not Half. Not a Phase.

Bisexual-affirming therapy in Florida

Part of The ShieldMee Guide: Identity & LGBTQ+ →

“So you’re gay now?”

“It’s just a phase.”

“You’ll pick one eventually.”

“But you’re with a man, so…”

“You’re just greedy.”

If you’re bisexual, you may have heard some of these.

Maybe from family.

Maybe from friends.

Maybe from people in the LGBTQ+ community.

Maybe you’ve even said some of them to yourself.

The questions nobody asks straight or gay people

Nobody asks a straight person to prove they’re straight.

Nobody tells a gay person they’ll grow out of being gay.

Bisexual people can get asked both.

Are you sure?

Which one are you really?

How do you know?

But you’re dating a man.

But you’re dating a woman.

After enough of those questions, you can start wondering whether you’re allowed to take your own identity seriously.

You are.

Left out of both rooms

Some bi people know this feeling well:

Not straight enough for straight spaces.

Not gay enough for LGBTQ+ spaces.

Researchers sometimes describe this as double discrimination or minority stress from multiple directions.

Some straight people see bisexuality as a step toward being gay.

Some gay and lesbian people may see it as a step toward being straight.

Neither assumption describes bisexuality.

But when you hear them often enough, they can start to get inside your head.

That’s part of what people mean by bi erasure.

Your identity gets treated as temporary, confused, or not real.

Your identity doesn’t change with your partner

If you date a man, people may assume you’re straight.

If you date a woman, they may assume you’re gay.

But your partner doesn’t determine your sexual orientation.

A bisexual woman married to a man is still bisexual.

A bisexual man dating a man is still bisexual.

Who you’re with today doesn’t erase who you are.

Your identity isn’t a relationship status.

When the stress follows you home

Being misunderstood over and over can wear you down.

You may start editing what you say.

You may stop mentioning that you’re bi because you don’t want another conversation about whether it’s “real.”

You may avoid coming out because you’re tired of having to explain yourself.

You may feel like you have to prove your identity differently depending on who you’re talking to.

That can create a strange kind of loneliness.

People know you.

But they don’t necessarily know all of you.

And sometimes you start hiding parts of yourself even when nobody is asking you to.

What the research shows

A review of 52 studies found that bisexual people report as much or more depression and anxiety than gay and lesbian people, and more than straight people.

That doesn’t mean being bisexual causes depression or anxiety.

It means bisexual people can face stressors that other people don’t.

Being questioned about your identity.

Being stereotyped.

Feeling excluded.

Hiding parts of yourself.

Worrying about how family, friends, or partners will react.

Researchers often describe these experiences through minority stress: the idea that stress from stigma, discrimination, and concealment can affect mental health.

So when a bisexual person comes into therapy with anxiety or depression, I don’t want to look only at what’s happening inside them.

I also want to ask:

What have you been carrying because of how other people respond to you?

Being bi in your family

For some people, family is where this gets hardest.

Especially when sexuality is tied up with religion, tradition, culture, or familismo.

A parent may say:

“It’s confusion.”

“You’ll grow out of it.”

“Just don’t tell your grandmother.”

Sometimes the family doesn’t reject the person.

They simply avoid the subject.

Nobody says anything.

Everybody knows.

And that can still hurt.

Family acceptance matters. Support from the people closest to you can make a real difference in how safe and connected you feel.

Families can also learn.

People can change their understanding.

Sometimes the conversation that felt impossible five years ago becomes possible later.

What therapy looks like with me

I won’t ask you which one you really are.

I won’t treat bisexuality as a phase.

I won’t assume your partner tells me your orientation.

And I won’t push you toward a label you’re not ready to use.

I’m comfortable working with bisexual, pansexual, and other bi+ clients, as well as couples of any gender makeup.

We’ll look at more than your symptoms.

We’ll look at the stress you carry from how other people respond to you.

We’ll talk about relationships.

Family.

Coming out.

Boundaries.

Jealousy.

Identity.

Sexuality.

And whatever else is actually happening in your life.

I affirm LGBTQ+ people. I do not practice conversion therapy.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to be “out” to start therapy?

No. You can be out to everyone, to no one, or somewhere in between. What you share, and when, is up to you.

What if I’m not sure I’m bi?

That’s okay. You don’t need to arrive with a label. We can explore your questions at your pace, without pushing you toward any particular answer.

Can my partner come too?

It depends on your insurance plan. Most clients pay a copay or coinsurance. You’ll see your estimated cost on my Headway page before you book.

Do you offer therapy in Spanish?

Yes. Sessions can be in Spanish, English, or both.

How much does therapy cost?

It depends on your insurance plan. Most clients pay a copay or coinsurance. You’ll see your estimated cost on my Headway page before you book.

Do you take insurance?

Yes. I’m in-network with Aetna, Cigna, Florida Blue, UnitedHealthcare, Oscar, and other plans through Headway. Check your coverage and book on my Headway page.

When can I start?

Appointments are generally available the next day or within the same week, every day except Saturday.

Related reading: LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy · We Don’t Talk About That · Kinsey: Orientation as a Spectrum