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When Every Mirror Feels Like a Test - Body Image & Gender Identity
Navigating body image, self-perception, and the struggle to see yourself clearly can be a daily challenge. There are days when standing in front of a mirror feels less like looking and more like being judged. The reflection staring back can feel unfamiliar—shaped by expectations, other people’s opinions, by memories of who you were told to be. For many people navigating gender identity, mirrors become emotional battlegrounds: a space where hope, doubt, and longing all meet at

Aren Fitzpatrick, LMHCA


The Courage to Be Seen - Gender Identity in the Workplace
Coming out at work—or even simply expressing your gender identity openly—can feel like standing under a spotlight. For many LGBTQ+ individuals, the workplace isn’t just about earning a living. It’s about navigating a space where identity and professionalism often collide. The courage to be seen for who you are, in a setting shaped by policies, culture, and power dynamics, is immense. It’s not just about visibility—it’s about self-preservation, dignity, and the right to exist

Aren Fitzpatrick, LMHCA


Suffering Discrimination & Exclusion - Gender Identity Journey
Discovering and embracing your gender identity can be one of the most meaningful experiences in your life. It’s a process of self-awareness, courage, and truth. But for many, that same journey can bring countless moments of pain — discrimination, misunderstanding, and exclusion that can leave lasting emotional wounds. When others refuse to recognize or respect your identity, it can quietly shape and distort how you see yourself. You might start to pull back, question your wor

Aren Fitzpatrick, LMHCA


The Broken Self - When Abuse Comes from Within & Destroys Relationships
The hardest part of healing isn’t always the rejection from the outside world — it’s the voice that lives inside, repeating the messages we’ve absorbed over time. The cruel words from childhood, the shame of hiding, the fear of being “too much” — they don’t always leave when we come out. Sometimes they become an inner critic, one that keeps us from feeling safe even within ourselves. This is abuse from within. The Internalized Wound of Rejection Before we could even nam

Aren Fitzpatrick, LMHCA
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