Hello Community, and Happy Pride for the summer!
We, the staff of the Pride Program, wanted to take some time to introduce ourselves and tell you more about us. We started this program to bring more mental health services to LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and families in the Puget Sound area. We coordinate with other supportive agencies in the area to ensure the best care for you when needed. For a list of other LGBTQ+ resources and agencies click here.
Many of the people we work with, staff included, face different amounts of oppression and privilege due to gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, and a variety of other intersecting identities. Unfortunately, this can lead to a build-up of shame and judgement in the queer community, stemming from decades of systemic racism, implicit biases, religious and legal persecution. This accounts for increased rates of mental health concerns, substance use, homelessness and suicide. Our mission is to increase people’s pride in themselves, incorporate healthy skills that fit your needs, and provide a safe space work to be done without fear of being judged.
Growing up, I had no conception for what a family could even look like for me. My spiritual teachings told me there would only be damnation, discriminatory legislature told me I could never get married, and my own thoughts told me that I wasn’t good enough. What I have come to understand is that I am not broken, but the systems that we live in that perpetuate the destruction of our humanity through oppression, ignorance, and judgement are what is flawed. My passion has been to bring this same ability for growth, compassion, and self-acceptance out in others, and that’s why we started the Pride Program. We want everyone in our queer community to know that you have a space here, a place of acceptance and compassion to help you through the hard times.
Here are some of our staff that I take pride working with knowing that they provide just as much heart and passion into this program as I do. – Coleman Frostad, LMFT
Pride Providers
Coleman Frostad, LMFT
“In our culture, we associate vulnerability with emotions we want to avoid such as fear, shame, and uncertainty. Yet we too often lose sight of the fact that vulnerability is also the birthplace of joy, belonging, creativity, authenticity, and love,”
– Brené Brown.
Kathy Silveira, LMFT
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase,”
– Martin Luther King
Jess Bennett, LMFT
“We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity,”
– George Takei
Kirstin Han, LMFTA
“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential,”
– Harvey Milk
“In our culture, we associate vulnerability with emotions we want to avoid such as fear, shame, and uncertainty. Yet we too often lose sight of the fact that vulnerability is also the birthplace of joy, belonging, creativity, authenticity, and love,”
– Brené Brown.
Kathy Silveira, LMFT
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase,”
– Martin Luther King
Jess Bennett, LMFT
“We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity,”
– George Takei
Kirstin Han, LMFTA
“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential,”
– Harvey Milk
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase,”
– Martin Luther King
Jess Bennett, LMFT
“We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity,”
– George Takei
Kirstin Han, LMFTA
“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential,”
– Harvey Milk
“We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity,”
– George Takei
Kirstin Han, LMFTA
“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential,”
– Harvey Milk
“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential,”
– Harvey Milk
