SMYAL Mental Health Services

LGBTQ+ youth deserve mental health counseling that is affirming, empowering, and accessible.

Are you an LGBTQ+ youth looking for support on your mental health journey?

SMYAL’s free mental health counseling services are tailored to meet your unique needs and provide a safe and inclusive space for you to explore your emotions and experiences. We know that finding a therapist who understands you and your community can be frustrating, expensive, and nerve-wracking. At SMYAL, we’re working to remove these barriers.Our team of compassionate and understanding therapists are well-versed in the challenges that LGBTQ+ youth face, and we are here to help you navigate those challenges with confidence and resilience. Whether you’re struggling with self-acceptance, coming out, or dealing with discrimination, SMYAL is here for you.

Mental health services are open to queer and trans youth ages 6-24

If you are interested in getting connected to SMYAL’s mental health services, please fill out a referral form and email it to [email protected] or call 202-617-5645.

You can fill out the form yourself or have another healthcare provider refer you.

What Our Clients are Saying

For me, it has always been a priority for my child to express her authentic self and I really appreciate your role in contributing to this. Over the past year, my child's ability to self advocate and share what she needs has increased tremendously. So thank you for all of your contributions to this growth and much more (that I don’t even know about right now!).

Thank you so much for all you have done for my child - the intervention and therapy has been so helpful for her to process all her feelings, and to have a safe place where she could be herself and express her thoughts without any filter. We really appreciate all the support that you have given us as a family as well - the sustainability plan will be a great resource to make sure that we continue to maintain all the good supports and coping strategies that you helped put in place. I also really appreciate the list of additional providers in case my child needs more support. I hope that you are able to help more kids and families through SMYAL, the way that you have helped us. We appreciate all your work!

SMYAL has really helped me through some really challenging times in my life with love and care. I'm so grateful for SMYAL services and everything that they do for LGBTQ+ youth.

The services I received through SMYAL were instrumental in building my ability to accept my sexuality and to learn to trust myself through several life transitions. I am so grateful for the work done at SMYAL!

Therapy helped me with figuring out some things about myself. I didn’t know these things before and learning coping skills helped me to realize what I want. I want to get my diploma, I want to get a job, it helped me realize everything.

Before I started therapy, I didn't have motivation. SMYAL helped me get through tough times. Thank you for your help.

Queer and trans-focused mental health support
Cost-free counseling
Individual and group therapy for LGBTQ+ youth ages 6-24
Play therapy for ages 6-12
Support for families and caregivers
Bilingual support in English and Spanish

Current Group Offerings

Mosaic Parent and Caregiver Support Group
Wednesdays at 6 pm ET
Hosted Virtually

Mosaic is a support group for parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth. Facilitated by therapists at SMYAL, Mosaic sees the family as a large mosaic that is now more colorful than it might have been before.

This support group is for parents, caregivers, friends, and family of LGBTQIA+ individuals. We understand that having a safe place to explore your thoughts, get a better understanding, or just connect with others who may be going through similar transitions is important to have. Our goal is to provide that safe space for you weekly to safely navigate your thoughts and build your own community of support as it relates to your loved one who is a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Our Team

We understand the importance of creating an inclusive and affirming environment where you can freely discuss your experiences, emotions, and concerns. If you are interested in working with a particular therapist, please indicate this when you request an appointment.

Brittni Dash, MSW, LICSW

she/her
Director of Clinical Services

Brittni’s areas of work include providing therapy to individuals, groups, families, and couples who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, grief & loss, mental health, trauma/abuse, sexuality, and life transition challenges. Her experience also includes providing clinical supervision to individuals who are attempting to develop their clinical skill set in the social work field.

She prides herself on being the clinician that helps clients identify practical ways to enhance their quality of life based on their views. Brittni believes that real change happens when people are given the support they need to draw on their own strengths and realize their potential to live fulfilling and happy lives.

Matresa Flowers, LGSW, LMSW

she/her
Child and Adolescent Play Therapist

Matresa Flowers is a mental health therapist with seven years of experience located in the DMV area. She specializes in working with adolescents, families, and young adults from historically marginalized groups (BIPOC, LGBTQ+).

Her work focuses on Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar disorder, as well as other personality disorders. She focuses on a systematic approach to care and understands that families, communities, and other social aspects play a large role in mental health and healing. Some modalities she uses are Trauma Based CBT, DBT, Internal Family Systems, and Somatic based interventions.

Nashae Woods

she/her
Child and Adolescent Therapist

Greetings! You may call me Ms. Woods or feel free to call me Nashae as well. I have been providing therapy for nearly six years to youth, adults, families, and couples as well. While I love working with all different people of varying cultures and backgrounds, I have a special desire to serve individuals that look like me. I believe representation is critical and my specialty populations include women of color and the LGBTQAI community.

I utilize CBT, reality theory, solution-focused, and systems approaches in my therapeutic work. I look forward to connecting soon!

Our Therapy Space

SMYAL’s mental health counseling center is housed in our main Capitol Hill youth center. We strive to create a warm, welcoming environment where you can come relax, take a breath, and unload the weight of your day.

Questions?

Check out our FAQs page or reach out to our mental health counseling team by emailing [email protected] or calling 202-617-5645.

Thank you to our partners at the Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C. and CareFirst for providing critical funding to ensure the SMYAL Clinical Services Department remains cost-free for LGBTQ+ youth.