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Looking for a Gay-Affirming Therapist in Los Angeles You Can Trust? Request A Call Back

Looking for a Gay-Affirming Therapist in Los Angeles
You Can Trust?

about me

Dr. Harel Papikian

Psychologist, PsyD

Dr. Harel has over 15 years of experience supporting gay men and couples through complex identity and relationship challenges. He is skilled in addressing issues like religious trauma, internalized shame, and societal pressures.

Clients often report improvements within 2–4 months, gaining emotional clarity and practical strategies to navigate daily life.

Benefits Reported by Gay Clients:

  • Felt fully heard,understood and validated
  • Gained comfort in being my authentic self
  • Worked through and resolved past trauma
  • Improved communication and connection in my relationships
  • Established practical strategies for dating and social life

Dr. Harel’s telehealth video-sessions are  easily accessible from anywhere in Los Angeles and California, including West Hollywood, Echo Park, and Downtown LA, and Dr. Harel participates in local Pride and LGBTQ mental health events.

about me

Dr. Harel Papikian

Psychologist, PsyD

Dr. Harel Papikian
Dr. Harel is truly remarkable! The most productive work I’ve done with any therapist. Grateful for his approach and expertise. So much clarity after each session. Easy to communicate and schedule appointments with. Highly recommend!! Thank you Dr. Harel for everything!
Response from the owner 18:33 18 Dec 24
Thank you, Nayri!
Tetiana Kyryienko
05:37 09 Dec 24
Dr.Harel is the best! I am participating in his Soul to Soulmate program and it’s life changing!!!
Thank you so much for all you are doing !!!
Response from the owner 05:54 09 Dec 24
Tetiana, thank you 🙏🏼
Tanya Lishchenko
05:48 03 Nov 24
Dima Korniychuk
22:53 13 Sep 24
I can’t recommend Dr. Harel enough. He made me feel truly heard and understood. He helped me gain new perspectives and make real progress in my personal growth and overall wellbeing. Dr. Harel is compassionate, skilled, and genuinely invested in helping me navigate life’s challenges. Deeply thankful.
Response from the owner 22:58 13 Sep 24
Thank you, I appreciate the kind words
guillermo fornillo
05:43 14 Aug 24
The professionalism of Dr. Harel helped me to navigate challenging situations related to myself and my relationship, He made me realized that communication is the key that can open doors of understanding and love
I highly recommend his sessions, pure gold !
Thank you so so much
Guillermo
Response from the owner 21:53 28 Jul 24
🙏🏼
Steven Binns, Jr.
00:20 06 Aug 24
Dr. Harel is an insightful, attentive therapist who has the experience and wisdom to provide exceptional care. Trust, patience and competence are some of the top virtues he possesses. I can say with confidence he is the right therapist for you.
Response from the owner 00:24 06 Aug 24
Thank you Steven for the warm endorsement!
Gilberto Correa
22:09 28 Jul 24
Dr. Harel has really helped me navigate through the “constantly changing waters” of a relationship turning every crisis into a growth opportunity. I am always learning about me, my relationship and my partner. A great psychotherapist and relationship coach which I recommend without hesitation.
Response from the owner 22:13 28 Jul 24
Thank you Gil 🙏🏼
David Bagdasaryan
05:22 23 Jul 24
Dr. Harel’s guidance and expertise were exactly what I needed to find healing and growth. For anyone in Los Angeles needing couples therapy or relationship coaching, Dr. Harel is the ideal choice.
Response from the owner 05:42 23 Jul 24
Thank you, David 🙏🏼
irina rudenko
20:37 14 Jul 24
I reached out to Dr. Harel during significant challenges in my life. His support, guidance and skill were what I needed to heal and grow. Anyone who is looking for a couples therapy or relationship coaching in Los Angeles - he is your guy.
Response from the owner 20:57 14 Jul 24
Ira, I appreciate your warm and generous words.
Oleksandryna Denysenko
20:37 14 Jul 24
Dr. Harel is an exceptional coach and couple therapist. During our conversations he guided me in developing strategies for progress in both my personal life and my relationships. He met me with empathy and understanding, highlighting areas for improvement and offering processes and tools for me to reach my goals. It has been transformational. He is the best!
Response from the owner 20:58 14 Jul 24
I am touched, thank you.

Dr. Harel’s transformative ARM Method for LGBTQ+ Clients

Dr. Harel’s ARM Method—Awareness, Release, Mastery— helps LGBTQI+ people  address unique internal and external challenges related to their identity:

  • Awareness

    What is the current landscape of our life and how our past experiences contributed to our current circumstance? What baggage do I need to let go of to become my most authentic and powerful self?

  • Release

    Letting go of the past unresolved negative emotions and trauma, as well as changing the negative beliefs about ourselves, other people and the world - beliefs that have been limiting our potential and dimming our brilliance.

  • Mastery

    Learning the necessary tools, skills and strategies to live our best, most powerful and happiest life.

CBT, Mindfulness, NLP and Hypnotherapytechniques are incorporated to alleviate  identity-based anxiety, improve mood, create a healthy sense of self-worth, infuse our life with joy and empower queer professionals to masterfully navigate —]life in a competitive city like Los Angeles.

What to Expect in Gay-Affirming Therapy with Dr. Harel

First Session – Safe, Grounded, and Confidential
Sessions start with a warm welcome. The focus of the first meeting is to draw a map of current challenges and desired outcomes. Dr. Harel will focus on building a therapeutic connection with you and will ask questions to deepen his understanding of your experience. Here the initial map of the therapeutic journey will be drawn through an open conversation and exploration. 

Custom Treatment Plan
Therapeutic journeys are as different as the people who undertake them. Your personal treatment plan will focus on addressing your specific concerns and on helping you achieve your desired results.

Session Frequency & Growth Timeline

What is Gay-Affirming
Therapy and Why Does It Matter?

Gay-affirming therapy is counseling designed for LGBTQ+ clients, recognizing and integrating their identities into healing. Many seek therapy due to social, cultural, religious, or family pressures, which can lead to internalized shame or homophobia. Common challenges include bullying, microaggressions, dating and relationship struggles, career pressures, and feelings of inadequacy. This therapy helps turn these experiences into personal growth, empowerment, and transformation. How it helps:

Understanding Your Experience

Identify how family, cultural, or societal messages influence thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.

Managing Identity-Based Stress

Learn practical strategies for coming out, handling rejection, or navigating workplace and social pressures.

Strengthening Relationships

Develop communication skills, set boundaries, and foster authentic connections.

Integrating Your Sense of Self

Work through past negative emotions and trauma linked to growing up being different, restructure your self perception and step into the full and powerful version of who you truly are.

In Los Angeles places like West Hollywood, Silverlake and Downtown (DTLA) offer ample of gay friendly spaces, however, hookup culture and social isolation can amplify feelings of loneliness and not belonging. . Gay-affirming  therapy is a powerful tool to create connection and wellbeing in the city glitter and dreams.

FAQs About Gay-Affirming Therapy in Los Angeles

A gay-affirming therapy is about supporting you in affirming and integrating your own identity, helping you become the fullest, most brilliant and powerful version of you. Dr. Harel recognizes sexual orientation and gender identity as central to our experience, integrating it into the process of healing and transformation. Is Dr. Harel Experienced with LGBTQI+ Clients? 

Yes. He has extensive experience supporting LGBTQ+ clients, focusing on identity challenges, relationship stress, trauma, and navigating Los Angeles’ cultural pressures. Throughout past years of clinical work Dr. Harel has worked with same-sex male and female couples, trans-couples, as well as cis-individuals in a variety of monogamous and non-monogamous relationships.

Yes. Sessions address communication, trauma, conflict resolution, intimacy, and challenges unique to gay relationships, including coming out differences and external pressures.

Internalized homophobia, family or religious rejection, bullying, dating anxiety, and societal pressures, as well as more traditional definitions of trauma related to experiences of sexual and physical violence and life-threatening events. Dr. Harel uses hypnotherapy as well as cognitive models of trauma work (Cognitive Processing Therapy) to alleviate the post trauma symptoms and restore wellbeing.

Yes. Sessions support reconciling faith with sexual identity, managing guilt, and aligning personal values with authentic self-expression.

Absolutely. Confidentiality is strictly maintained across the board. Anything you disclose in therapy is confidential, which means it will not be shared with anyone else without your written consent. There are few exceptions related to personal safety or safety of other people: If you disclose being a danger to self or others, or, if you report abuse or neglect of a child, an elderly or a disabled person, confidentiality will no longer be a priority and we will have to make sure you and others are safe.

Yes. Therapy addresses pressures from social media, nightlife, and dating apps, teaching strategies to approach dating and relationships confidently.

Fees vary by session type. Contact the office for details and sliding scale or package options.

Many plans cover sessions. Your insurance carrier can provide further clarity.

Yes. Mornings, late evenings and occasionally even weekends are available.

Yes. Dr. Harel creates a safe, structured environment where your identity is respected and growth is practical and measurable. You can start with a complimentary phone consultation – call Dr. Harel and present any questions you might have to assure you are a good fit for each other.

Yes. Therapy explores communication, boundaries, consent, and emotional management in non-monogamous  relational structures, along with other concerns that come up.

Most clients notice meaningful change within 8–10 weekly sessions, including reduced anxiety, improved relationships, and increased confidence in personal and professional life.

Book a free consultation with Dr. Harel