Kathryn Heltzel

My name is Kathryn and my pronouns are she/they. I mange a therapy practice in Phoenix Arizona that specializes in gender identity and overall mental health therapy. We are a team with several therapists and you can read about us here: www.genderidentitycenter.com I have worked with those struggling through gender identity exploration for the last 6 years. This population is my passion, and I have my own unique journey with gender identity. I believe being gender queer is being expressed more today than ever, but not many professionals are coming along side individuals and helping them explore this confusing journey. I went to graduate school in Denver, Colorado and got my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. During my time there, I focused much of my research on gender. After school I spent a year working under the supervision of a seasoned psychodynamic therapist, and that valuable training deeply shaped my current work as a therapist. I have also invested a great deal of time and energy into my own growth through therapy. This allowed me to heal from my own struggles, and it’s provided me with a unique understanding of what others may be experiencing in therapy. At GIC, I value creating a safe place for kids or adults to dive deep and explore what our individual masculinity and femininity mean to us, what fits and what doesn't fit, how to feel okay about who we are, and how to connect to others in a healthy way.