LGBT therapists in Connecticut

Hi, y'all,

I bring 17 years of experience and believe firmly that nothing shifts in the therapeutic space unless clients feel seen and connected to their clinician.

I am warm and direct, personable and challenging. I move through my life with curiosity and wonder at the natural world and the power of relationships.

I love swimming in fresh water, non-fiction books, spending time with my teenagers and hanging out in my gardens. I specialize in sexual and gender identity and look forward to building relationships with people that are motivated to move forward, begin healing and expanding their world.

You deserve to feel heard, supported, and understood—and if you’re here, you’ve already taken a meaningful step toward change.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s degree from the University of Connecticut, specializing in mental health and substance use. I’ve worked with teens, adults, and families across a range of settings, including outpatient clinics, schools, home-based care, and virtual therapy.

I work with people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, identity exploration, relationship stress, and major life transitions. Many of my clients feel overwhelmed, stuck in patterns they can’t seem to shift, or exhausted from trying to manage everything on their own.

My approach is collaborative, direct when helpful, and grounded in compassion. I use evidence-based practices including CBT, DBT, ACT, and trauma-informed care, but I tailor therapy to what actually fits your life—not just a model. We focus on what’s showing up for you right now, while also working toward longer-term stability and change.

Therapy with me is not about judgment or perfection. It’s a space to slow things down, understand what’s driving stress or emotional pain, and build practical tools that help you feel more steady and in control of your day-to-day life.

You may be feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or stuck in patterns that no longer feel aligned with who you are. Many of my clients are insightful, sensitive, and capable, yet struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment wounds, ADHD, or relationship challenges. You may be used to caring for others, masking your needs, or pushing through instead of feeling supported. You’re looking for therapy that feels safe, real, and validating — not judgmental or distant — and you want to better understand yourself, your emotions, and your relationships.

I offer relational, trauma-informed therapy grounded in attachment-based and emotionally focused approaches. I work collaboratively to help clients understand emotional and relational patterns, regulate their nervous systems, and build self-trust and healthier connections. My practice is affirming of neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ identities.

Therapy doesn’t have to feel cold or clinical. I offer a supportive, honest, and affirming space where you don’t have to mask or explain yourself. Whether you’re navigating trauma, relationships, identity, or emotional overwhelm, you deserve therapy that feels human, safe, and respectful of who you are.

Terence Ching, PhD (he/him) is a Yale-, Dartmouth-, and UConn-trained clinical psychologist licensed in CT.

Dr. Ching has vast academic and clinical expertise in mood, anxiety, and trauma-based disorders, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Dr. Ching is also an Instructor on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. There, he leads psychedelic clinical trials (namely, psilocybin) for OCD, depression, and other disorders in the Yale Program for Psychedelic Science. There, Dr. Ching assumes the role of Director of Psychedelic Training, pioneering the training and supervision of numerous facilitators who work with study participants in psychedelic dosing sessions.

In the psychedelic therapy space, Dr. Ching is an extensively published global leader in culturally attuned, queer- and trans-affirming, and ethically rigorous care of individuals experiencing altered states of consciousness.

Lastly, Dr. Ching is an internationally sought after scientific speaker. He has significant consulting experience in various aspects of psychedelic research and practice, having trained hundreds of study therapists for multiple companies who have achieved FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation in their drug development programs.

I believe therapy should feel supportive, practical, and empowering. Clients often describe me as warm, direct, and easy to talk to. I work with adults who want to better understand their emotions, patterns, and relationships, and I focus on helping clients build skills they can actually use in daily life. You don’t have to have everything figured out to start—just a willingness to show up.

Currently accepting new clients. Are you seeking a natural path to healing and vitality in your life? It's my passion to help you live your one wild and precious life to its fullest. I help clients remember who they are, how to find their power and learn how to bring it as a gift to the world. Through the process of personal exploration, healing in nature and building healthy relationships, I can help you experience more vitality, purpose and meaning in your life.

I have nearly a decade of experience in the mental health field. I combine compassion and my clinical expertise to support the clients I serve. My goal is to help clients navigate and overcome their struggles to support and help regain stability in their lives.

I value building a trusting, authentic relationship with each client. It’s important for clients to feel and recognize the growth and progress that naturally emerge through the process. I believe therapy works best when you feel heard, supported, and empowered every step of the way.