Becs Lais

Hi there! My name is Becs (they/them), and I'm a nonbinary, queer, and neurodivergent therapist who lives in Minneapolis with my beloved cat, Christina Ricci. I have an Independent Clinical Social Work license (LICSW), and I've primarily worked with children and families experiencing trauma and crisis. Recently, I've begun working in Comprehensive Gender Care, supporting folx seeking gender affirming surgery.

I think that therapy has to be relational in order to actually feel that it's worth your energy, time, and money. I tend to use humor to connect with folx, and I approach my work with curiosity, openness, and transparency. It's my responsibility to earn your trust, and it's okay for that to take time.

I try to adjust my communication and support to best match what you're looking for in therapy. I do my best to balance both being supportive and being direct, depending on what is most needed in that moment.

I'm especially passionate about working with queer, transgender, nonbinary, gender fluid, and gender nonconforming folx, because I know how much of a relief it is for me to feel safe with my queer therapist and to have similar shared experiences.

My areas of experience have focused on anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, trauma, relational conflict, family conflict, crisis intervention, and identity. I'm always open to new areas of mental health, and I will also be honest with you if I feel that my current experience and knowledge do not best meet your current needs.

I'd love to have the opportunity to meet you, but what I'd love even more is for you to find the therapist that most genuinely honors both your identity and what you're searching for at this moment. If that's me, then swell! I can't wait to meet you!

Based on my experience in my first sessions with therapists, I want to be as intentional as possible when we first meet. Each person seeking therapy deserves to find the therapist who best supports what they need, so this is an opportunity for you to ask me the questions that are important to you and to take the time to reflect on whether this is a good fit for you. I'll also be asking questions to determine if this is a good fit for both of us, and I'll help refer you if I think there's a better option!

Here's what you can expect during our first session:

• -I'd love to hear more about why you're interested in therapy, what you've tried in the past (if any), what's worked and what hasn't, and what you're hoping is different after our time together.
• -We'll discuss my style and if that feels supportive for you. This is also a great time for you to share with me if there are any activators or "icks" (for lack of a better word) so I can be mindful in how I communicate with you.
• -We'll compare our schedules based on how often you'd like to meet and ensure our availabilities align.
• -We'll discuss insurance, copays, etc. to ensure you feel informed and comfortable with the financial piece (because that's very real for a lot of us).
• -We'll also decide if we want to dive into the intake/treatment plan during our first appointment or if we'd like to wait until our 2nd or 3rd to ensure this is a good fit, and then we'll go from there!