In June 2024, Healthy Minds clinicians celebrated Pride Month by volunteering at the annual Alexandria Pride Festival. We were excited to volunteer again this year! The city of Alexandria hosts a Pride festival to “offer residents a variety of events and opportunities to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer + (LGBTQ+) Pride Month in June and to recognize LGBTQ+ people and their contributions to Alexandria’s diverse community and the nation.”
Healthy Minds hosted a booth to meet community members and facilitate creative mindful activities. Festival goers created their own stress balls and painted affirmations on stones to spread positivity to fellow community members. It was a wonderful way to meet people in the community and create a mindful moment amidst the hustle & bustle of the festival. Check out our post about Pride via our Instagram for craft inspiration, especially if you are craving a mindful moment!
If you missed this year’s Pride event and are looking to build connections in the LGBTQIA+ community, don’t worry! Healthy Minds is currently offering a weekly, virtual support group for queer & trans adults. This group strives to serve as a safe space for you to explore challenges related to identifying as queer in a heteronormative and cisnormative society. If you’re looking for a safe space to build community and strengthen your relationship with yourself, I encourage you to consider joining this group. While joining a support group might sound intimidating, going into a group with an open mind will typically allow you to learn that other folks have experienced similar things to you, and that you are not alone. Find out more on our website using this link.
Other significant resources for queer and trans people include:
- The Trevor Project
- Features a 24/7 hotline for LGBTQIA+ folks experiencing a mental health crisis
- PFLAG
- “The nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.”
- The Transgender Education Association
- Based out of Falls Church, VA and offers in-person support groups
- The Human Rights Campaign
- Offers additional hotline resources for LGBTQIA+ youth in crisis
As Pride Month comes to a close, I am reminded of the strength, resilience, and joy of the queer and trans communities. I am glad that I got to celebrate at the Alexandria Pride Festival with other HMT clinicians this year and look forward to doing so again in the future. Let’s continue to push this energy forward towards a joyous and bright world for the LGBTQIA+ community. Happy Pride!
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About Kristin Ninosky:
Kristen Ninosky (she/her) is a Resident in Counseling at Healthy Minds Therapy, PLLC. Kristen utilizes a person-centered and trauma-informed approach to provide a safe space for all clients to feel comfortable while navigating the therapeutic process. She uses a variety of evidence-based counseling interventions in sessions, pulling from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Adlerian Counseling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). She enjoys using creative therapeutic interventions as well, such as art, music, writing, and play. Learn more about Kristin HERE.