Highsmith Rich (she/they)

Highsmith is well-versed in non-binary/trans-specific needs, BDSM & kink culture, non-monogamous and polyamorous relationship structures, pronouns & presentation changes, dysphoria and body image concerns, asexuality spectrum considerations, and understanding how heteronormativity and discrimination impact the lives of queer folks of all ages.

Through mindfulness-based CBT, clients will learn skills and strategies to address both everyday stressors and difficult life events through a compassion-based lens, and free themselves of their internal judgement. When clients understand the cues from their bodies that let them know something isn’t right, they can more accurately address the root causes of our problems, not just the symptoms.

A core technique of Relational-Cultural work is naming systems of oppression present in everyday life and to uplift the voices of marginalized populations. Mental health, relationships, and crisis do not exist in a vacuum: identity plays a large role in how experiences will impact us. By utilizing RCT, clients should expect to explore how their identities, both visible and not, have influenced their development, temperament, and expectations for themselves.

Power is present in all areas of life, often in ways we are unaware of. Through feminist therapy the client learns to identify where pressure to act in certain ways comes from, whether it be from society and societal norms, family and friends, or internally. Feminist therapy allows the client to move away from how they feel they “should” act and instead focus on how they truly want to act.

Middle and high school are a time of great change and exploration, and having outside support can be essential for teens struggling with identity development, mental health, or life changes. Highsmith provides relatable, empathetic, and compassionate support that meets them where they are, and competently addresses concerns of academic pressure, family stress, peer relationships, gender and sexuality identity development, emotional regulation, and changes in circumstance (e.g. parental divorce).

Exploring the beauty and complexity of queer identities is Highsmith’s passion and purpose, and her therapy and style reflect this in every session. As a queer gender non-conforming individual, she is able to provide an empathic, safe, celebratory environment that understands how the nuances of gender and sexuality are woven into daily life.