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Queer, I Therapy Team

Therapy by and for LGBTQIA+ folks

The mission of our Queer, I team is to provide comprehensive, affordable, and inclusive mental health services to Queer folks by Queer folks. We strive to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals and their family members or partners can access the care they deserve, tailored to their unique experiences and needs. Our goal is to foster mental well-being, connection, authenticity, inclusivity, and empowerment within the Queer community, promoting a sense of belonging, resilience, and growth.

 

We see our team’s name as a metaphor. As our community is reclaiming and exploring all that queer can mean, we hope your therapeutic journey will empower you to reclaim and explore your own identities and the shape of your life, goals, and relationships.

Meet our team below—we work with couples, adults, and youth aged 8 and older. We are in-network with Aetna, Meritain, UMR, Continental, Cigna, Horizon, BCBS, Anthem, Empire, United Healthcare, Optum, Oxford, Medicare, Oscar, and 1199 plans. We offer daytime, evening, and weekend appointments.

 

Click the "book now" button for any clinician to see their open weekly times and request your first appointment.

BOOK A THERAPIST

Use our filtering tool to choose your Queer, I team therapist.

 

Click “book now” to request an appointment in their live calendar.

VANESSA MORALES (she/her)
MSW, LSW

VANESSA MORALES (she/her)
MSW, LSW

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Vanessa supports kids, teens, & adults with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, & neurodivergence. Using interventions informed by ACT, CBT, DBT, & somatic therapy, she tailors sessions to help clients enhance emotional regulation, feel more grounded, & cultivate a greater sense of well-being.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• LGBTQIA+ Care
• Anxiety & Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Mindfulness
• Trauma & PTSD

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Kids 8-12 yrs, Teens 13-18 yrs

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Bloomfield, Telehealth: NJ

Tuesday - Saturday, Evenings, Weekends

IZZY PICO (she/her)
MSW, LSW

IZZY PICO (she/her)
MSW, LSW

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Izzy is a compassionate therapist who specializes in helping kids, teens, couples & adults with challenges such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, self-harm & more. Izzy draws on an eclectic approach using CBT & DBT techniques, mindfulness, and a humanistic perspective to promote healing.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• Relationship Issues
• LGBTQIA+ Care
• Anxiety & Depression
• Life Transitions
• Bipolar Disorder

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Couples, Kids 8-12 yrs, Teens 13-18 yrs

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Bloomfield, Telehealth: NJ

Sunday - Thursday, Evenings, Weekends

CECIL GAUER (he/his) MSW, LCSW

CECIL GAUER (he/his) MSW, LCSW

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Cecil supports clients with strength-based, person-centered, & solution-focused techniques while drawing on his experiences as a bisexual transgender man. With couples, he utilizes the Gottman Method to strengthen all relationship styles, including traditional, non-monogamous, & kink-oriented relationships.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• Anxiety & Depression
• LGBTQIA+ Care
• ADD & ADHD
• Trauma & PTSD
• Poly Relationships

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Couples

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Millburn, Telehealth: NJ, Telehealth: NY

Monday - Friday, Evenings

HERLIDE JOSEPH (she/her)
LAC

HERLIDE JOSEPH (she/her)
LAC

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Herlide works with adults, couples, & co-parents facing anxiety & depression, relationship issues, self-esteem, & codependency. She offers LGBTQIA+ Care, creating a space where clients feel safe and supported. Using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), she helps clients break patterns & create meaningful change.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• ADD & ADHD
• Couples Counseling
• LGBTQIA+ Care
• Anxiety & Depression
• Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Couples, Seniors

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Jersey City, Telehealth: NJ

Sunday - Thursday, Evenings, Weekends

RACHEL ALTOUNIAN (she/they)
MS, LAC

RACHEL ALTOUNIAN (she/they)
MS, LAC

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Rachel harnesses the transformative power of self-actualization and the mind-body connection in her work. She draws on CBT, DBT, and IFS to help youth, adults, and couples through anxiety, depression, ADHD, and relationships. She has a specialty in LGBTQ identity and community stressors.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• LGBTQIA+ Care
• Life Transitions
• Poly Relationships
• Dialectical Behavioral (DBT)
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Kids 8-12 yrs, Teens 13-18 yrs

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Jersey City, Telehealth: NJ

Sunday - Thursday, Evenings, Weekends

MAX LAFFEND (they/them)
MSW, LCSW

MAX LAFFEND (they/them)
MSW, LCSW

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Max specializes in work with couples & individuals to maximize strengths & develop strategies for progress. Their work emphasizes evidence-based practices & customized treatment plans to help clients. They use Gottman Method with couples, & CBT & solution-focused modalities with individuals.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• LGBTQIA+ Care
• Relationship Issues
• Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
• Anxiety & Depression
• Cancer, Pain, Chronic Illness

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Couples

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Jersey City, Telehealth: NJ, Telehealth: NY, Telehealth: VT

Tuesday - Saturday, Evenings, Weekends

CAITLIN MORGAN (she/her)
MSW, LSW

CAITLIN MORGAN (she/her)
MSW, LSW

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Caitlin is passionate about guiding teens & young adults through life’s journey. Clients seek her support for life transitions, anxiety, grief & professional challenges. She helps teens manage emotions & daily struggles, creating a safe space for growth, resilience & change through a personalized approach.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• ADD & ADHD
• Anxiety & Depression
• Grief & Loss
• Life Transitions
• Young Professionals

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Teens 13-18 yrs, Seniors

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Jersey City, Telehealth: NJ

Tuesday - Saturday, Evenings, Weekends

KIRSTEN KENNEDY (she/her)
LAC

KIRSTEN KENNEDY (she/her)
LAC

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Kirsten works closely with kids, teens, couples, & anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community who are navigating family conflict, anxiety, depression, LGBTQIA+ care, relationship issues, & the transition to adulthood or from school to working life. She utilizes mindfulness, play therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), & Gottman Method couples therapy to help clients heal & thrive.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• Anxiety & Depression
• LGBTQIA+ Care
• Young Professionals
• Women's Issues
• Life Transitions

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Couples, Kids 8-12 yrs, Teens 13-18 yrs

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Jersey City, Telehealth: NJ

Sunday - Thursday, Evenings, Weekends

KENDALL MARQUARD (she/her)
MSW, LSW

KENDALL MARQUARD (she/her)
MSW, LSW

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Kendall works with kids, teens, & adults facing relationship issues, anxiety, grief, bipolar disorder, as well as social & school issues. She is focused on helping you feel safe, supported, & empowered. She uses CBT, DBT, play therapy, & motivational work to help you gain insight and bring about change.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• Relationship Issues
• Grief & Loss
• Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
• Bipolar Disorder
• Dialectical Behavioral (DBT)

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Kids 8-12 yrs, Teens 13-18 yrs, Seniors

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Jersey City, Telehealth: NJ

Sunday - Thursday, Evenings, Weekends

SUMMER BROWN (she/her)
MSW, LCSW

SUMMER BROWN (she/her)
MSW, LCSW

Site Director

APPROACH

Summer supports clients & couples who identify within gender, sexual, or racial minorities to explore generational patterns, trauma healing, boundary-setting, healthy sexual lives, & to ask the question “Who am I living for?” She uses art, music, CBT, DBT, the Gottman Method, & mindfulness.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• Codependency
• Life Transitions
• Race & Cultural Coping
• Sex Therapy
• Trauma & PTSD

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Couples

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Millburn, Telehealth: NJ, Telehealth: NY

Monday - Friday, Evenings

PIERCE BOURGET-PLAAG (they/them)
MSW, LSW

PIERCE BOURGET-PLAAG (they/them)
MSW, LSW

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Pierce is a gay & nonbinary person who works with clients navigating issues such as poly relationships, ADHD, anxiety, depression, substance use, & LGBTQ+ identity & experience. They employ a person-centered & trauma-informed approach using Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) & Gottman Method with couples.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• LGBTQIA+ Care
• ADD & ADHD
• Anxiety & Depression
• Poly Relationships
• Recovery & Sobriety

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Couples, Teens 13-18 yrs, Seniors

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English
SESSIONS

Jersey City, Telehealth: NJ

Monday - Friday, Evenings

MARGARET BOLANOS (she/her) MSW, LCSW

MARGARET BOLANOS (she/her) MSW, LCSW

Psychotherapist

APPROACH

Margaret is a queer Latina therapist passionate about helping clients navigate anxiety, trauma, interpersonal violence, first-generation experiences, sexual orientation, sexual relationships, & gender identity. She uses DBT, trauma-focused techniques like IFS, & provides sessions in English and Spanish.

TOP SPECIALTIES

• LGBTQIA+ Care
• Trauma & PTSD
• Anxiety & Depression
• Poly Relationships
• Relationship Issues

DEMOGRAPHICS

Adults, Couples, Teens 13-18 yrs, Seniors

LANGUAGE SPOKEN
English, Spanish
SESSIONS

Millburn, Telehealth: NJ

Monday - Friday, Evenings

Jersey City  |  Bloomfield  |  Millburn

office@resolutioncc.com

Phone: (201) 632-5554 • Fax: (844) 866-6790

Come work with us!

©2025 Resolution Counseling Center.

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