Miriam Geiger
LGBTQ Psychotherapist

Hello and welcome.

I’m Miriam (she/her), an online LGBTQ+ therapist serving people in California and Illinois.

Since 2013 I’ve been helping LGBTQ+ people overcome their challenges and have fulfilling lives and relationships.

I became a therapist after a decade of working in the corporate sector. I witnessed first hand how the incessant pressure to keep striving, producing, and reaching for perfection wore on folks. I saw how the need to conform, shrink smaller, and constantly produce led to frustration, confusion, anxiety, hopelessness and so much more.

I’m dedicated to creating a place where you can step away from productivity-driven culture to slow down and check-in with deeper aspects of being alive.

If you’re ready to dig in and get to know every part of yourself, let’s get started.

Am I the right therapist for you?​

  • You're ready for healthy, fulfilling relationships
  • You want to cope better with life's challenges
  • You're hoping to understand yourself better and live authentically
  • You want to understand your emotions, even the big ones
  • You find yourself questioning the norms and traditions of your family or culture
  • You tend to be very self-reliant but are realizing that it's not always sustainable
  • You're OK to feel a little uncomfortable, especially if what is uncomfortable is being kinder to yourself and focusing on you
schedule a consultation here

The good news is that you don't have to do it all on your own.

How I Work

Therapy is custom fit to you and your needs, but there are a few things that hold true for all of my sessions:

  • I’m going to get to know you really well. 
  • I ask a lot of questions and listen very closely to what you say and how you say it.
  • I will offer reflections or new perspectives to think about.
  • I will frequently bring your attention back you your feelings, your somatic experience, and the present moment.
  • I’m patient, warm, and transparent.
  • I want to know when I get something wrong.
  • I’m not particularly chipper or cheerful but look forward to celebrating your successes with you with genuine enthusiasm. 
  • I’m going to let you “drive” – therapy is much more effective when you are the one leading the direction of our sessions. If you get stuck I’m there to give you directions and be a companion, not to take the wheel. (This is a little different for couples work which tends to be a bit more structured.)
  • If you like technical terms, the therapeutic methods that inform my work the most are Psychodynamic Theory, Psychoanalytic Theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Trauma Informed Therapy, and Attachment Theor

Licenses

  • California Licenses: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #120935 & Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor #9774
  • Illinois License: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #166.001516

Education

  • Master of Arts in Integral Counseling Psychology from The California Institute of Integral Studies
  • Traineeship and Advanced Traineeship completed at The Pacific Center for Human Growth, an LGBTQ+ Mental Health Clinic

Certifications

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples, Externship Completed
  • Certificate in Dream Work Teacher Training from Atlantic University

Affliations

  • Gaylesta: The Psychotherapist Association for Gender & Sexual Diversity
  • The Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California
  • The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists