Peta Brendel

I specialize in working with adults — especially folks in the LGBTQ+ community — who want to feel more grounded, self-assured, and at peace in their identity.

If you’ve spent years masking parts of yourself, overthinking, or surviving under pressure: in therapy with me, you will find a safe space to pause, breathe, and explore what it really means to belong to yourself.

I bring warmth, authenticity, and deep respect to every session. I believe in collaboration: together, we’ll reflect on what feels stuck, clarify what matters most to you, and lean into the parts of you that are waiting to be seen — without judgment, pressure, or needing to explain yourself to “justify” who you are.

My approach is integrative, gentle yet purposeful. I draw on modalities like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, and psychodynamic work, shaped by compassion and curiosity.

I focus first on making space for your story — not just your symptoms. Therapy isn’t “one size fits all.” Instead, I tailor our work to your values, goals, and pace.

We’ll explore patterns keeping you stuck, gently unearth wounds or internal messages that no longer serve you, and gradually build self-understanding, self-compassion, and grounded coping strategies.

Many clients come seeking relief from anxiety, identity-related pain, inner conflict, or the weight of having to “perform” themselves. I offer a relational, collaborative container — where therapy becomes less about “fixing” and more about reclaiming your wholeness, strength, and authentic voice.

• A welcoming, non-judgmental space — a chance to talk about what brought you to therapy, what feels heavy or confusing, and what you hope to change or understand.
• A gentle conversation about your story, identity, and values, so we can get a fuller sense of who you are and what you need.
• An opportunity to ask any questions about how therapy works — what to expect from our sessions, how often we’ll meet, confidentiality, and collaboration.
• Together, we’ll start to build a tentative roadmap: what issues feel most urgent to you, what your short-term and long-term goals are, and how therapy could support you in getting there.
• Most of all — you’ll leave the session with a sense of being heard, seen, and accepted, not “diagnosed” or “fixed.”

If we seem like a good fit, we’ll talk about scheduling, frequency, and next steps. If not, I’m happy to help you find someone who might be — because I believe therapy should feel like belonging, not just another task.