Trauma Therapy for Queer People in San Mateo California

If you’re navigating the aftermath of trauma as a queer person, you already know how exhausting it can be to carry emotional wounds in a world that doesn’t always see or affirm you. You might feel stuck in old patterns, anxious in your body, or simply worn down by the day-to-day strain of surviving. It’s not just the trauma itself; it’s the layers of invisibility, microaggressions, and chronic stress that pile up over time.

I see you. And I want you to know: healing is possible.

My name is Lorine Bay, and I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) serving clients in San Mateo, California, and beyond. At California Dreamin’ Expressive Arts Therapy, I offer trauma-informed therapy designed especially for queer and LGBTQIA+ folks, because your story, your identity, and your healing process deserve to be held with care, creativity, and deep respect.

Who I Am and How I Work

As a queer-identifying therapist with years of experience supporting LGBTQIA+ clients, I bring both professional expertise and lived understanding to our work together. I specialize in expressive arts therapy, Jungian psychology, and somatic trauma healing, blending evidence-based techniques with intuitive, heart-centered care.

Therapy with me is not one-size-fits-all. I believe in collaboration, curiosity, and following your inner wisdom. Whether we’re working with dreams, movement, creativity, or breath, our sessions are grounded in a nonjudgmental, affirming space where all parts of you are welcome.

What You’re Carrying Matters

Queer clients I work with often come in feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck. Many are dealing with:

• Trauma from past relationships, family rejection, or systemic discrimination
• Anxiety, panic, or chronic stress responses in the body
• Perfectionism, people-pleasing, or feeling like they have to “prove” their worth
• Emotional numbness or shame
• Struggles around self-expression, identity, or feeling truly seen

You don’t have to navigate these struggles alone. Whether you’re dealing with trauma as a queer person in San Mateo, or processing complex emotions that don’t yet have words, our work together can help untangle what’s been too heavy to carry by yourself.

What Therapy Looks Like

Each session is designed to meet you exactly where you are. We’ll move at your pace and explore what feels most supportive and effective for your nervous system and your story.

Some of the approaches we may use include:

• Expressive Arts Therapy – using creativity to access, process, and express what words alone can’t reach
• Somatic Experiencing – gently connecting to sensations in the body to release stored trauma
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – a research-backed method for healing trauma and reducing emotional distress
• Jungian techniques – working with dreams, archetypes, and the unconscious to deepen self-understanding

I also offer psychedelic integration therapy for those exploring or reflecting on expanded states of consciousness. Whether you’re curious about these practices or have had past experiences you want to make sense of, I’m here to support your journey in a grounded, ethical, and safe way.

What Healing Can Feel Like

Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you, it’s about helping you return to yourself. Through our work, many clients experience:

• Greater self-compassion and acceptance
• Reduced anxiety and improved emotional regulation
• Deeper understanding of their trauma and how to heal from it
• A stronger connection to creativity, purpose, and intuition
• The ability to speak their truth and feel seen in their full identity

If you’re in or around San Mateo, and you’re searching for a queer-affirming trauma therapist who gets it, you’ve come to the right place. This is your space to breathe, to feel, and to rebuild from the inside out.

Let’s Take the First Step—Together

Reaching out for support takes courage, especially when you’ve had to be strong for so long. I’m here to offer a different kind of strength, the kind that meets you with softness, presence, and unconditional respect.

If you’re ready to begin trauma therapy in San Mateo with someone who truly understands the queer experience, I invite you to reach out. Let’s have a free consultation to see if we’re a good fit.

Your healing matters. Let’s begin.