LGBTQIA+ Experiences after Catastrophe
While disaster does not discriminate, relief and recovery do (The Climate Reality Project, n.d.). Even when the worst possible scenario strikes the same geographic community, resources and relief can look very different based on marginalized experiences beforehand. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people experience the impacts of disasters differently than heterosexual, endosex and cisgender individuals.
In The Aftermath of Disaster
The experiences of the 2025 wildfires inspired our commitment to providing relief to LGBTQIA+ people impacted by disaster and emergency. “Impacted” does not mean that someone needs to have lost housing. In LA County, we were all impacted by dangerous air quality, fear of losing housing, grief of lost neighborhoods and memories, and worry for friends and loved ones closer to evacuation zones in the 2025 fires. To that end, Out Couch Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy can provide telehealth therapy throughout the state of California in response to this crisis.
Brief and Free Therapy
We have created 3 pro-bono spots for LGBTQIA+ community in need for 6 sessions by those impacted by the Los Angeles County Wildfires (including Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, Sunset, and related fires). Each clinician/client dyad may determine to continue treatment beyond the initial crisis period at sliding scale rates.
Available Clinicians
Melissa Dellens, MA, LMFT, TRM–1 has a specialization in Applied Community Psychology and is trained in the Trauma Resilience Model. She partnered with the Wildland Firefighter Guardian Institute during her associateship to provide low fee therapy to wildland firefighters. This professional development complements her upbringing in rural communities with active annual fire seasons, and her respect and admiration for the firefighters in her personal life. – 1 opening
Leigh Huggins, MA, AMFT, has training in LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy from Antioch University Los Angeles. Leigh identifies as neurodivergent, pansexual, and gender expansive, and serves clients of all sexual, relational, and gender identities. She has personal experience with traumatic grief and loss and provides compassionate spaces for processing crises. –2 openings