In this episode, OSTC therapist Allison Smith, LCSW (she/they), kicks off our new series on LGBTQ+ Neurodiversity by exploring what it really means to live at the intersection of queer and neurodivergent identities. From ADHD and autism to dyslexia and beyond, we dive into how neurodivergence shapes experiences, relationships, and access to care—while also celebrating the strengths, creativity, and resilience of neurodivergent folks.

We’ll cover the history of neurodiversity, the ways societal barriers create real challenges, and why shifting the conversation from “disorder” to difference is crucial. Allison highlights the dual minority experiences many queer neurodivergent people navigate, the systemic biases that affect diagnosis and treatment, and the contributions neurodivergent individuals make to communities and advocacy.

Whether you’re neurodivergent, an ally, or just curious, this episode offers a thoughtful, compassionate, and sometimes surprising look at identity, stigma, and the power of inclusion.

Takeaways

Neurodivergence includes conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more.

The term neurodivergence was popularized in the 1990s by Judy Singer.

Neurodiversity shifts the focus from pathology to inclusivity.

The social model of disability emphasizes societal barriers over individual deficits.

Neurodivergent individuals often face stigma and misinformation.

Historical treatment of neurodivergent individuals has been tied to eugenics and ableism.

Women and people of color are often underdiagnosed due to systemic biases.

Neurodivergent individuals may experience dual minority status in the queer community.

Access to mental health care can be prohibitively expensive and difficult to obtain.

Many neurodivergent individuals contribute significantly to society and advocacy.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Judy Singer — sociologist with autism, popularized the term “neurodivergence”

Jim Sinclair — activist, known for anti-cure position

Greta Thunberg — activist, autism and environmental advocacy

Queer Moment of Joy Guests:

Jimmy Chen @itsjimmychen

Stuart Stock-Tucker He/Him @stuartstocktucker24

Host Bio:

Allison Smith LCSW (she/they) is a Clinical Social Worker at Open Space Therapy Collective. Allison specializes in working with teens and adults. Allison integrates trauma-informed, abolitionist, and anti-colonial frameworks into their practice, supporting clients in exploring identity, relationships, ENM dynamics, and cultural connections.

🌈 About Open Space Therapy Collective

Open Space Therapy Collective (OSTC) is a queer- and trans-led mental health collective built on the belief that therapy should feel like a place where every part of you belongs. Our team of LGBTQ+ and QTPOC therapists create space for healing that is affirming, justice-driven, and rooted in community care. From navigating identity to unpacking trauma to celebrating joy, OSTC is here for the full spectrum of queer experience.

To find more from us visit:

Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com

Instagram: @openspacetherapycollective

TikTok: @openspacetherapy

Spotify: @MyTherapistisOut

Apple Podcasts: @mytherapistisout

YouTube: @openspacetherapycollective

Keywords: neurodivergence, ADHD, autism, mental health, queer community, stigma, neurodiversity movement, intersectionality, access to care, historical context, LGBTQ mental health

In this episode, Renae Johnson (they/them) sits down with Charlie Sprinkman (they/he), founder of Everywhere is Queer, to talk about what it really means to build and sustain queer safe spaces. From Charlie’s journey out of a conservative upbringing to becoming a leader in queer visibility, this conversation dives into the power of community, the challenges of creating inclusive businesses, and why visibility matters now more than ever.

We’ll explore how queer-owned spaces aren’t just about safety—they’re about joy, representation, and fueling a broader queer economy. Charlie brings honesty, humor, and insight to the realities of running a queer-centered platform, the pushback that comes with it, and the growth that happens when community shows up for you.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to create a world where we can live more authentically—and why those spaces are essential to our survival and our joy—this episode is for you.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Camp Brave Trails

Dylan Mulvaney’s TikTok

Queer Moment of Joy Guest:

Queer Moment of Joy Guest 1: Julian Montanez He/Him from DTLA Proud @dtlaproud

Queer Moment of Joy Guest 2: Neverending Nina She/Her @neverendingninanotes

Guest Bio : Charlie Sprinkman (he/they) is the founder of the free Everywhere Is Queer App. EIQ is becoming one of the largest queer-owned organization directories in the world, if not the largest! EIQ hosts over 16,700+ queer-owned organizations globally. EIQ's mission is to connect the queer, trans and ally community with safer spaces, all while supporting queer entrepreneurs. EIQ's app is free and available globally!

Links:

App - iOS and Android

Instagram: @everywhereisqueer (158K)

TikTok: @everywhereisqueer (115K)

Website: www.everywhereisqueer.com

Host Bio:

Renae Johnson, LPCC, ATR-BC (they/them) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Board-Certified Art Therapist, and the Founder of Open Space Therapy Collective, a group practice offering affirming, social justice-driven mental health care for the LGBTQ+ & QTPOC community. With clinical expertise in complex trauma, identity development, and creative expression, Renae blends therapeutic depth with a commitment to equity and inclusion.

In addition to their clinical work, Renae produces community wellness events like Queerly Connected and is a founding member of the LA Queer Coalition, creating spaces where queer and trans people can gather, heal, organize, and celebrate.

As a speaker, consultant, and activist, Renae is passionate about building systems of care that honor the full humanity of queer and trans individuals—and equipping healthcare and wellness providers with the tools to do the same.

To find more from us visit:

Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com

Instagram: @openspacetherapycollective

TikTok: @openspacetherapy

Spotify: @MyTherapistisOut

Apple Podcasts: @mytherapistisout

YouTube: @openspacetherapycollective

Keywords: Queer Community, Safe Spaces, LGBTQ+ Mental Health, Inclusivity, Queer-Owned Businesses, Community Building, Visibility, LGBTQ+ Support, Queer Economy, Personal Transformation, Authenticity

Sometimes it’s not just rest you need. Sometimes, it’s a radical reimagining of what you’re carrying—and what you need to set down for good.

In this mini summer check-in episode, Kristen Crowe (they/them), therapist and dance/movement therapist at Open Space Therapy Collective, drops in with a soft but honest reflection on what it means when rest stops working. They explore the emotional labor so many LGBTQ+ folks are holding, especially in this political moment, and the difference between being tired and being over-capacity.

Together, we ask: What if your exhaustion isn’t just about needing a nap, but about needing to renegotiate the expectations you’ve internalized about what you should be able to do?

This is your permission slip to get honest about your limits, make sustainable choices, and remember you’re not meant to carry it all alone.

🌀 For more mental health support and reflection, catch up on past episodes of My Therapist is Out! while we take our summer rest. We’ll be back soon.

Host Bio:

Kristen Crowe LPCC, BC-DMT (they/them) Is Licensed Therapist, Dance Therapist, and Clinical Supervisor with Open Space Therapy Collective. Kristen specializes in working somatically with adults and partners to help heal the mind-body connection so you can feel more grounded and vibrant every day.

To find more from us visit:

Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com

Instagram: @openspacetherapycollective

TikTok: @openspacetherapy

Spotify: @MyTherapistisOut

Apple Podcasts: @mytherapistisout

YouTube: @openspacetherapycollective

While My Therapist is Out! is on a summer break, we're still popping into your feed with bite-sized mental health moments to keep you grounded and connected. In this mini check-in, therapist Terra Friedman (she/her) invites you to rethink how you're resting—and whether it's really working for you.

Drawing from Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s 7 types of rest, Terra offers a compassionate reminder that not all rest is created equal. If you're emotionally exhausted but spending your downtime doom-scrolling, you're probably not giving your nervous system what it actually needs. In just a few minutes, Terra walks you through how to recognize different kinds of fatigue and tune into the kind of rest that nourishes your queer, brilliant self.

Because for LGBTQ+ folks, intentional rest isn’t just self-care—it’s resistance.

💤 Emotional rest. 🎭 Social rest. 🧠 Mental rest. 🎨 Creative rest. 💡 Sensory rest. 💪 Physical rest. 💫 Spiritual rest.

Whether you’re in the middle of protest season, planning queer joy events, or just trying to stay afloat in a chaotic world—this is your gentle nudge to pause with purpose.

🎙️ Take five minutes with us. You deserve it.

Host Bio:

Terra Friedman AFMT (she/her) is an Associate Therapist with Open Space Therapy Collective. Terra specializes in working with high achieving womxn who experience anxiety. Terra also works with couples and partners who are currently in or exploring non-monogamous relationships.

To find more from us visit:

Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com

Instagram: @openspacetherapycollective

TikTok: @openspacetherapy

Spotify: @MyTherapistisOut

Apple Podcasts: @mytherapistisout

YouTube: @openspacetherapycollective

While My Therapist is Out! is on summer break, we’re popping into your feed with a mini mental health check-in. This bite-sized episode features therapist Ernesto Martinez (they/he), offering grounded reflections on what it means when anger begins to surface — especially for LGBTQ+ folks in healing.

Sometimes when we’re reconnecting to parts of ourselves that have been shut down by trauma, grief, or survival mode, anger shows up first. Ernesto breaks down why that’s not something to fear — but something to get curious about.

Whether you're resting, protesting, or somewhere in between this summer, this episode invites you to reflect:

• Is your anger trying to tell you something?
  

• What boundaries are you ready to reinforce?
  

• Where is your body asking for agency or care?
  

This check-in is a reminder that healing isn’t always soft — and that sometimes, anger is a sign we’re coming back online.

Tap in, take a breath, and remember: your rage is worthy of tenderness too.

Queer Moment of Joy Guest: Celia Mandela (she/her) @celiamandela, Hannah Hewes-Clark (she/her) @hannah.holding.space, Jamie Kaufman (he/they) @jamiekaufmanphoto

Host Bio:

Ernesto Martinez APCC, AMFT (they/elle/he/el) is an Associate Therapist with Open Space Therapy Collective. Ernesto specializes in working with Adults, Teens, & Parents of Gender Expansive Children, Adult Children of (im)Migrants to transform challenges into stepping stones towards self-compassion, fulfillment, and confidence.

To find more from us visit:

Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com

Instagram: @openspacetherapycollective

TikTok: @openspacetherapy

Spotify: @MyTherapistisOut

Apple Podcasts: @mytherapistisout

YouTube: @openspacetherapycollective

My Therapist Is Out! is taking a little summer break — but don’t worry, we’re not leaving you hanging.

Every two weeks, our queer therapists will still be sliding into your feed with bite-sized mental health check-ins.

Think of it as your gentle reminder to pause, breathe, and take care of your sweet self.

And if you're out there organizing, protesting, showing up in your full activist heart — we see you. Just a reminder: rest is part of the work. You don’t have to burn out to prove your commitment. Breaks are necessary. Breaks are allowed. You deserve sustainability, not just survival.

New full episodes return soon — but until then, we’ve got you.

Queer Moment of Joy Guest: Kyle Flentie @kyleflentie, Jennifer Messina @jennifercmessina, Jak Tafalla-Vargas @igobyjak

Host Bio:

Renae Johnson, LPCC, ATR-BC (they/them) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Board-Certified Art Therapist, and the Founder of Open Space Therapy Collective, a group practice offering affirming, justice-driven mental health care for the LGBTQ+ community. With clinical expertise in complex trauma, identity development, and creative expression, Renae blends therapeutic depth with a commitment to equity and inclusion.

In addition to their clinical work, Renae produces community wellness events like Queerly Connected and is a founding member of the LA Queer Events Coalition, creating spaces where queer and trans people can gather, heal, and celebrate. They also host the podcast My Therapist is Out!, exploring mental health through a queer lens.

As a speaker, consultant, and activist, Renae is passionate about building systems of care that honor the full humanity of queer and trans individuals—and equipping providers with the tools to do the same.

To find more from us visit:

Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com

Instagram: @openspacetherapycollective

TikTok: @openspacetherapy

Spotify: @MyTherapistisOut

Apple Podcasts: @mytherapistisout

YouTube: @openspacetherapycollective

What happens when you mix scissors, stories, and queer magic? You get Folklore—a radically warm and inclusive salon built by community, for community.

In this heartfelt episode of My Therapist is Out!, host Renae Johnson (they/them) sits down with artist, stylist, and community organizer Pony Lee Musgrave (he/they). From cutting hair to cutting through social norms, Pony shares their journey of creating Folklore, a queer-affirming space rooted in softness, storytelling, and collective resilience.

Takeaways

• Building intentional spaces that celebrate queer identity

• The emotional labor and joy of community care

• Why vulnerability is a superpower, not a weakness

• Honoring our queer ancestors and holding space for our history

• The small, everyday rituals that keep us connected and grounded

• Leadership involves vulnerability and allowing oneself to fall apart.

• Community support is crucial during times of crisis.

• Local actions can lead to significant change.

• Honoring queer ancestors is essential for future generations.

• Storytelling helps preserve queer history and culture.

• The Butch Barber chair symbolizes a connection to queer activism.

Queer Moment of Joy Guest: Hannah @hanxperez and Mandoh @Mandoh

Guest Bio :

Pony Lee Musgrave(they/he) is born and raised in East LA, Pony is a multidisciplinary Artist , barber, leather Person and owner of Folklore Salon & Barber. Pony has had an active part of community organizing for the Los Angeles Queer community since 2009.

Salonfolklore.com

IG: folklore.la

New Project: The restoration of Nancy Valverde’s Barber Chair . Known as The Butch Barber of East LA who was jailed and harassed by LAPD for wearing men's clothing. This project will have a collection of performances, stories of resistance and queer perseverance while rebuilding the chair. All archived. Maybe a book? Who knows. Here is her history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Valverde

Host Bio:

Renae Johnson, LPCC, ATR-BC (they/them) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Board-Certified Art Therapist, and the Founder of Open Space Therapy Collective, a group practice offering affirming, justice-driven mental health care for the LGBTQ+ community. With clinical expertise in complex trauma, identity development, and creative expression, Renae blends therapeutic depth with a commitment to equity and inclusion.

In addition to their clinical work, Renae produces community wellness events like Queerly Connected and is a founding member of the LA Queer Events Coalition, creating spaces where queer and trans people can gather, heal, and celebrate. They also host the podcast My Therapist is Out!, exploring mental health through a queer lens.

As a speaker, consultant, and activist, Renae is passionate about building systems of care that honor the full humanity of queer and trans individuals—and equipping providers with the tools to do the same.

To find more from us visit:

Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com

Instagram: @openspacetherapycollective

TikTok: @openspacetherapy

Spotify: @MyTherapistisOut

Apple Podcasts: @mytherapistisout

YouTube: @openspacetherapycollective

Keywords: queer community, leadership, resilience, activism, Folklore, Butch Barber chair, LGBTQ+ history, community building, personal journey