Therapy for Life’s Changes: Identity, Relationships & Queer-Affirming Support
Life is full of moments of uncertainty and transformation—whether it’s navigating changes in relationships, career paths, or family dynamics. For LGBTQIA+ individuals, these transitions are often intertwined with the complexities of identity, including the exploration and affirmation of sexuality, gender expression, and self-identity.
If you're facing anxiety, grief, or uncertainty during these shifts, you don’t have to do it alone. I offer a compassionate, affirming space where you can explore your experiences, uncover patterns, and cultivate self-compassion. Together, we’ll work towards building clarity, confidence, and a future that aligns with who you are becoming.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ― Anaïs Nin
Hello, I’m James
I am a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT #154299) located in Los Angeles, California. Raised on a farm in the Midwest I moved west and spent over a decade in human resources and public relations prior to becoming a psychotherapist.
I specialize in supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals through challenges such as grief, modern relationships, life transitions, and related stressors. These focus areas delve into the profound existential questions of identity and purpose that we encounter amidst such difficulties. I aim to help individuals uncover the stories, patterns, and bodily responses that contribute to the expression of oneself. This process of co-investigation helps us understand the meaning we attach to these experiences and guides my therapeutic approach in the counseling room.
I began my training at The Ness Counseling Center, a non-profit providing low-fee counseling to individuals, couples, and families in the LA area, and working closely with the Department of Children and Family Services. I have also served as a volunteer group counselor at Our House, a grief support center serving the Los Angeles community, and I am currently a proud member of the Beyond Psychology Center practitioner network. Finally, I completed my associate training under Michelle Seely, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) #41680, specializing in relational Gestalt and Jungian analysis work.
My interest in how we tell and create stories of ourselves and others led me to complete my Bachelor's Degree in Journalism at the University of Nebraska and my Master's Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy at California State University - Northridge.
I currently provide in-person mental health treatment in Los Angeles (Toluca Lake, California) and offer virtual sessions throughout California via Telehealth.
“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” — Martin Buber
My goal is to meet you where you are by building a foundation of trust and connection as we work together toward your personal growth.
I integrate therapeutic approaches such as Relational Gestalt, Attachment Theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Jungian Analysis, Somatic Experiencing, Hakomi, and Acceptance-Based Psychotherapy to help clients explore identity, relationships, and life’s complexities with depth and curiosity. In our sessions, we will act as co-investigators, focusing on your present experiences and sensations. By cultivating awareness in the moment, we will explore how your body responds to challenges and stressors, using mindful dialogue to uncover patterns, gain insight, and create meaning that supports your healing and self-reflection.
Many therapeutic models weren’t built with queer experiences in mind. My work bridges those gaps by integrating LGBTQIA+-affirming frameworks with deep, exploratory modalities to foster growth and self-trust.
Finally, My practice is rooted in queer-affirmative therapy and is sex-positive, kink-aware, and allied with ethical and consensual non-monogamy. I am committed to ongoing consciousness in my work, creating a space where intersecting identities—including race, gender, sexuality, and class—are recognized, valued, and explored with care.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin
How I work—what you can expect
Clinical Interests for Personal Growth and Well-being
In my practice, I specialize in helping individuals navigate key areas that are essential for thriving in today’s complex world. I focus on several clinical areas that my work and clients often gravitate towards, including:
Gender Expression & Sexual Identity: Explore and affirm gender identity and sexual orientation in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.
Relationships: Build healthier, more fulfilling connections with partners, family, and friends.
Ethical & Consensual Non-Monogamy: Gain tools and insights to navigate open relationships or polyamory with confidence, clear communication, and an understanding of patterns and complexities and projections that may disrupt connection.
Grief & Loss: Find healing and support in the face of loss, whether from death, breakups, or life transitions.
Anxiety: Learn effective ways to meet and tend to anxiety, reduce stress, and cultivate peace of mind when anxiety is high.
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My current rate is $150 per 50-minute session.
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I have a deep clinical interest and evolving specialization in grief and loss, LGBTQIA+ issues, relationships, identity and sexuality, and life transitions. Furthermore, I find engaging in the exploration of existential stress that often comes with such challenges and experiences to be of increasing value to clients in therapy.
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I currently do not work with any insurance companies, however, clients who wish to use insurance for their therapy will be provided with a monthly statement that may be used to submit a claim for out of network coverage.
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The length of therapy varies from person to person. Typically, we start by engaging in weekly sessions and may adjust to every other week or monthly session, depending on how we feel about the therapy progress. However, we will discuss this in collaboration during our initial session and will continue to check in on this topic throughout our work together.
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I work with a variety of people, including adults, older adults, emerging adults, teens and couples. As a queer-identifying clinician, I also enjoy working with individuals who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and the challenges of such intersections, including identity and sexuality, stress, relationships, and depression, among others.
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I have clients that prefer in-person therapy and others that prefer online. As a result, I see clients in person in Toluca Lake, California and online via telehealth throughout the state of California.
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We'll schedule a 15-30 minute consultation to determine if we're a good match. We'll discuss your therapy goals and how I can support you before deciding to move forward. If we do, we'll collaborate on the initial session details so that you feel confident in our future work together.
Commonly Asked Questions
Whether this is your first time exploring therapy or you’re seeking a fresh approach, I welcome you. If you would like to connect and see if we may be a good fit for working together, feel free to send me an email and tell me a little bit about you and what you hope to address in therapy. From there, we’ll schedule a free 15-30-minute consultation on Zoom to learn more about each other. If we are not a good fit, I will help get you to the right place.
Email me at Dvorak.Therapy@protonmail.com or fill out the form below. I try to respond to all messages within 24-48 hours.
“To be human is to need others, and this is no flaw or weakness.” - Dr. Sue Johnson
Schedule Your Free Consultation
“Healing ourselves is a personal movement we embark on to let go of all the conditioning that limits our freedom; in this journey there will undoubtedly be moments of bliss and difficulty. Real happiness and wisdom grow from the reality we experience, not from the fleeting moments of bliss that we feel“ — Yung Pueblo
Recommended Resources
Books
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This book by David Richo offers practical guidance on emotional maturity, focusing on self-awareness, personal growth, and building healthy relationships through responsibility, self-compassion, and mindfulness.
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A collection of poems by Yung Pueblo (Diego Perez) focused on introspection and reflection of self and growth. A book that I come to often for inspiration and connection to self.
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Steeped in meditative practices and guidance, poet and teacher, Stephen Levine, offers a gentle invitation to be with awareness, slowing down and being with with is; presence.
Podcasts
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In the podcast Sounds True: Insights at the Edge, host Tami Simon speaks to Terry Real, a family therapist, to discuss building emotional intimacy and communication skills through relationship challenges.
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In a two-part series, Tara Brach, a psychologist and teacher, discusses our body's language and finding deep connections to our somatic experiences through everyday presence.
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Relationship expert and therapist, Esther Perel, sits down for dinner with a group in various open and poly relationships. What ensues is colorful and insightful dialogue on how relationships work in the modern day Western world.
Videos
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Jeff Foster, a spiritual teacher and author, discusses our negative cycle of internal dialogue and holding and acknowledging the emotions of sadness, hurt, and anger, rather than judging and locking them out aiding in our healing and growth.
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