trauma therapy for queer and trans people

The Unapologetic Practice offers telehealth trauma therapy for queer and trans adults in Illinois, Maine and Oregon. Sessions are with Marina Callozzo, LCSW, a nonbinary (they/them) therapist trained in EMDR, who does long-term trauma work using EMDR, narrative therapy, CBT and interpersonal therapy.

You've spent enough time shrinking to fit other people's comfort. This is where that stops.

Who this is for

You learned early that being yourself had a cost, so you got good at paying it. Now it shows up as:

Anxiety that runs the show, or depression that flattens everything
Staying in relationships, jobs or families that hurt you, because the familiar feels safer than the unknown
Not being able to ask for what you need, then apologizing for needing anything at all
Thoughts of suicide that come and go, or don't go
Religious trauma, family rejection, and children of a Borderline parent.

Most of the people I work with are queer, trans or nonbinary. You don't have to be. You also don't have to be kinky, though if you are, you won't have to explain or defend it here.

Schedule A Free Consultation

What’s different about therapy here

A lot of mainstream therapy was built to help people fit back into the systems that hurt them. I'm not interested in that. My politics and my values shape how I practice, and I'd rather you know that before your first session than find out halfway through.

In practice, that means:

Your identity isn't the problem we're treating. The harm done to you is.
Context counts. Racism, transphobia, poverty, colonialism and family systems are part of your story, not background noise.
You take up space. Too loud, too much, too extra: none of those are diagnoses. Finding your voice is the work.
I'm a person in the room, not a blank wall. I'm direct, I'll be honest with you, and I'll go gentle when gentle is what you need.

Two cats, Agnes and Lulu, sit in on most sessions. They're the interns.

How Trauma Therapy works here

Trauma work here is long-term. We aren't aiming to manage symptoms for eight sessions and call it done. I draw on four approaches and use what fits you.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). EMDR helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they lose their grip. The World Health Organization's 2013 guidelines recommend EMDR and trauma-focused CBT for adults with PTSD. EMDR always gets its own session, never squeezed in alongside talk therapy. While you're actively reprocessing, we meet twice a week: one EMDR session and one talk-therapy session. I'm EMDR-trained, not EMDR-certified, and I'll always tell you that straight.

Narrative therapy. You are not your trauma, and the story you've been handed about yourself isn't the only one available. We pull apart the stories that keep you small and write ones that fit.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). Practical tools for the thought patterns that keep you stuck, especially the ones that tell you you're asking for too much.

Interpersonal therapy. Trauma lives in relationships. This is where we work on boundaries, conflict, and what you'll no longer tolerate.

Intensives. One hour intake, 2-3 days of intense EDMR, about 3 hours each day, 1 hour Integration session. More information under Services.

the details.

Format: Telehealth (secure video)
Where: Clients located in Illinois, Maine or Oregon, plus some international clients
Fee: $200 per session
Session length: 50+ minutes
Insurance: Private pay. I provide a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
First step: A consultation call to see if we’re a fit

Questions people ask before booking

No. Most of my clients are queer, trans or nonbinary, and the practice is built with them in mind. Anyone who wants an affirming, direct trauma therapist is welcome.
No. I'm EMDR-trained, which means I completed EMDR training and use it with clients. Certification is a separate credential from EMDRIA that requires additional consultation and practice hours. I haven't pursued it yet, and I won't let you assume otherwise.
Yes. I do all of my EMDR over video. We'll talk about your setup during the consultation so your space feels private enough to do the work.
No. I'm private pay at $250 per session. I'll give you a superbill each month you can send to your insurer; whether they reimburse you depends on your out-of-network benefits.
If you're in another US state, not yet. If you're outside the US and speak English, possibly. I confirm country by country during the consultation. See International Clients.
Longer than a few months for most people. Long-term trauma took years to build; we'll talk about pacing and what progress looks like for you in the first sessions.
Full FAQ covers cancellations, scheduling and the rest.

Ready when you are

You don't need to have the right words yet. Book a consultation call and we'll figure out if this is the right fit.