Damien Alexander Beauchemin
I've been a therapist dedicated to supporting diverse communities for over a decade. My firsthand experience with the foster care system, along with my own identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, shapes my approach to therapy. I understand the unique challenges of navigating different cultures, family structures, and personal identities.
My firsthand experience with the foster care system, along with my own identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, shapes my approach to therapy.
In my sessions, expect a touch of... quirkiness. I bring a lot of humor into my sessions because sometimes you need to be able to laugh at the dark.
First session
In our first session, we'll take some time to get to know each other and build a comfortable rapport. This will involve exploring your background and history, answering any questions about therapy and what it entails, and, most importantly, setting some goals we can work towards together in our future sessions.
Strengths
My strength as a provider seems to be my ability to approach people's issues from a different angle. I've had many odd life experiences myself, and there have been a lot of twists and turns. Sharing knowledge and adaptability with clients tends to be very helpful. I'm also very accepting of a wide range of people. My general philosophy in life is, as long as you're not harming someone else, let your freak flag fly.
Ideal clients
I found that I work best with clients who are a little quirky and a little different and who don't always respond to a more formal or traditional therapist. An old supervisor said that I work great with the Freaks and Geeks of the world, and I am OK with that terminology because it describes who I am and my people well. I also enjoy immensely working with people who are not neurotypical, as well as people from the kink and LGBTQ communities.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is good for reframing thoughts and learned behaviors that are no longer helpful for a client
Feminist
It's important for women to be able to take back for themselves and men to learn that doesn't mean it's a threat to their masculinity.
Couples Counseling
I have worked with many couples with many different dynamics, from the vanilla to the kink, from the LGBTQ community and hetero, from the monogamous and poly.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing is an excellent way to examine what motivates people and what changes they can make to feel authentic to those values.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
SFBT looks at what small steps a client can take to improve their life. It focuses on the future and less on the mistakes of the past.
Location
Virtual sessions