Pride Therapy DC

03/13/2026

¡Descubre todo lo que PrideTherapyDC tiene para ofrecer en nuestro sitio web!

Mantente informado con las actualizaciones más recientes, explora nuestra amplia gama de ofertas y conéctate con todo lo emocionante que sucede aquí.

Visítanos en https://pridetherapydc.com hoy mismo para conocer todo lo que hay para ti.

Explore supportive therapy services for LGBTQ+ individuals at PrideTherapyDC. Connect with us today for a positive change in your life.

01/31/2026

Went to an art fundraiser for this Lgbt community center that does daily food for the community bought a piece of art and a young playwright that I’m doing to go to his show on Wednesday and I promise him I’ll bring him flowers

01/15/2026

some insight from the purple couch

12/18/2025

Christmas in my new condo live that penthouse Mexican life baby Feliz Navidad

11/14/2025

Healing isn’t linear. It’s seasonal.
Some days you’re blooming.
Some days you’re frost.
Most days, you’re a little bit of both.

This image marks the beginning of something I’ve been building quietly for years — The Purple Couch: my q***r therapist’s take on love, anxiety, and becoming.

In the therapy room, I watch people try to grow even in cold seasons. I watch them return to themselves after years of hiding. I watch them get frustrated when healing feels slow or messy, not realizing that every season has its purpose, its rhythm, its lesson.

What I’ve learned after 25+ years in LGBTQ+ mental health is this:
You’re not supposed to bloom every day.
You’re supposed to stay rooted.

This space — here on Instagram and on Substack — is where I’ll share the ideas, stories, and tools that guide my clients through the seasons of becoming. Thoughtful, q***r, trauma-informed, grounded in research but spoken in a human voice.

If you’re navigating anxiety, reinvention, loneliness, q***r identity, messy relationships, or just trying to feel like yourself again — you’re in the right place.

Welcome to the couch.
Take a breath.
We’re just beginning.

—Michael Mancilla, LICSW
The Purple Couch newsletter now live on Substack — link in bio.

10/15/2025

✨ “If I could shrink myself down to the size of a storybook character, this is exactly where I’d live.”

This little gothic library is the perfect reflection of my comfort zone as an author and former literary agent — surrounded by books, layered stories, and a touch of magic. 📚✨

I can’t take credit for the build — my magician did the intricate work. My hands are a little too clumsy for this level of microsurgery. But I can absolutely admire it. The chandeliers, the spiral of rolled maps, the tiny clock on the wall — every detail makes it feel like a world I could disappear into.

📖

06/21/2025

🏳️‍🌈 DC Healthcare Providers! Is your license renewal coming up? Meet your LGBTQ+ CE requirement and expand your cultural fluency — all in one powerful, on-demand course.

💻 LGBTQ Youth: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know
📍 Taught by Michael Mancilla, LICSW
🕒 Finish in just 2 hours
💵 Only $39.95
🌐 www.pridetherapydc.com

In this DC-compliant training, we go beyond the basics to explore the lived realities of LGBTQ youth today:

✨ Supporting transgender and nonbinary youth
✨ Understanding gay gang members and the juvenile justice system
✨ Challenging the model minority myth in clinical settings
✨ Learning from the Muxe—a third-gender tradition in Oaxaca, Mexico, where gender-diverse children are affirmed, celebrated, and integrated

✅ Identity-affirming tools
✅ Real-world strategies
✅ Meets DC license renewal requirements

📲 Instant access. Easy CEUs. Real impact.

⸻

06/06/2025

WORLDPRIDE IS GOING ON IN D.C.… BUT HOW WORLDLY IS IT, REALLY? 🏳️‍🌈🌍

As someone who’s been active in the LGBTQ+ community for years—both in D.C. and now seeing clients internationally from Mexico City—I’ve been watching WorldPride 2025 with real curiosity.

Having attended truly global Pride events before, I can’t help but wonder:
👉 How have U.S. travel restrictions, visa denials, and systemic exclusions impacted international participation?
👉 Is this WorldPride… or is it just D.C. Pride on steroids?

From my balcony on Reforma Avenue—home to the second-largest Pride parade in the world after NYC—I know what scale and visibility can look like. But visibility without inclusion isn’t the same as representation.

💬 If you’re in D.C. right now, I’d love to hear: Does this year feel international to you?

06/03/2025

LGBTQ Youth: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know

Special Focus: Transgender Youth Support 🏳️‍⚧️

Want to make a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ youth? This powerful, practical training led by Michael Mancilla, LICSW—former Director of LGBT Clinical Education at Children’s National—gives DC healthcare providers the tools to offer safer, more affirming care.

Here’s what you’ll gain:

✔️ Strategies to support LGBTQ+ and trans youth

✔️ Confidence for sensitive conversations

✔️ Tools to meet DC’s training standards and exceed client expectations

Why this training?

Because inclusive care saves lives—and LGBTQ+ youth in DC deserve providers ready to lead with compassion, clarity, and cultural competence.

Course Access: Just $39.99

⏳ Enrollment Closes Soon!

Enroll Today at www.pridetherapydc.com

05/15/2025

Feeling grateful to do work that still feels like a calling.

I just updated my website to reflect the broader services I now offer—still grounded in LGBTQ+ and trans-affirming therapy, but now with added support for those exploring life abroad, starting over, or just seeking more freedom and clarity.

I’m not trying to turn my friends into clients—but if you know someone who’s thinking about therapy, struggling with identity, or planning a move out of the U.S., feel free to send them my way.

www.pridetherapydc.com
(DM me if you want to refer someone confidentially)

—

05/05/2025

Feeling Ignored or Ghosted? You’re Not Alone.

In our digital age, being left on “read” or ghosted can feel surprisingly painful. Recent studies highlight the emotional toll:
• Ghosting and Mental Health: Research indicates that ghosting can lead to increased feelings of rejection and anxiety, especially among young adults.
• Social Rejection Equals Physical Pain: Neuroscientific studies have shown that social rejection activates the same brain regions as physical pain, explaining why being ignored can hurt so much.
• Digital Overload and Communication Gaps: With the rise of digital communication, many individuals feel overwhelmed, leading to delayed or missed responses, which can inadvertently cause others to feel neglected.

🤝 Seeking Support Matters

If you’re feeling unseen or unheard, therapy can provide a safe space to explore these emotions and develop coping strategies. Remember, your feelings are valid, and seeking help is a sign of strength.

🌈 At Pride Therapy DC, we specialize in supporting the LGBTQ+ community through these challenges. Let’s navigate this together.

🔗 pridetherapydc.com