Married queer couple with curly hair and light skin awkwardly smiling with faces smushed together, wearing denim jackets and casual shirts, against a plain background. 
Butting heads?

Queer Couples & Polyamorous Relationship Counseling

LGBTQ+ Affirming Virtual Couples Counseling in California & British Columbia

Therapy That Actually Works for Queer Couples and Polycules

At Transparent Talk Therapy, we provide affirming, skilled therapy for queer and trans couples, as well as polyamorous relationships in all their forms. Navigating relationships is hard enough without also having to explain your gender, your pronouns, or the basics of non-monogamy.

Affirming Couples Therapy for LGBTQ+, Polyamorous, and Non-Traditional Relationships

We specialize in working with:

  • Queer and trans couples

  • Polyamorous and non-monogamous relationships

  • Neurodivergent couples and mixed neurotype partnerships

  • Families navigating parenting, co-parenting, or restructuring

  • Relationship transitions, including breakups and commitment shifts

  • Communication and repair after ruptures or boundary violations

We understand the complexities of navigating non-monogamous, polyamorous, and queer and trans relationships. Maybe things just feel tense and stuck, and you don’t know why or maybe you know exactly what needs attention but no one has been able to help you shift things yet. We’d be honored to work with your family to help you find relief.

When to Seek Couples or Relationship Therapy

You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Some common reasons people come to us include:

  • You’re having the same argument on repeat and can’t break the cycle

  • You’re navigating a rupture, betrayal, or broken agreement

  • You’re moving in together, opening your relationship, or becoming parents

  • One or more partners feels unseen, disconnected, or unsupported

  • You’re in the process of separating but want to do it with care

  • You’re exploring long-term commitment and want a strong foundation

Do you work with straight couples?

Yes! We work with lots of straight couples, especially those who want a therapist who shares their values around equity, communication, and respect. Some are exploring opening their relationship or are part of the kink community, and others just want support navigating the everyday stuff, like division of labor, parenting stress, or fights that go round and round.

FAQs

What if we just fight every time we try to talk?

That’s actually perfect for therapy. If you fight in session, we get to see what’s really going on and help you work through it in real time. Healthy relationships include fights, it’s about learning how to make them more productive by staying connected and still speaking your mind.

What if one of us wants therapy and the other doesn’t?

Happens all the time. If your partner is still a no-go after the consultation, we can switch to individual therapy. Working on yourself and your part of the relationship can still create big shifts. Sometimes, partners get curious and join in once they see the changes.

What to Expect in Relationship Therapy with Us

We don’t take sides. We do slow things down, help each partner feel heard, and work collaboratively to get you unstuck. Our style is direct, warm, and highly engaged. We’re not passive therapists who nod silently, we ask uniquely crafted questions, challenge stuck patterns, and help you clarify what really matters to you.

We draw from narrative therapy, emotionally focused therapy (EFT), and trauma-informed practice. Our work is grounded in queer theory and lived experience, not textbook assumptions.

Meet Your Couples Therapists

A smiling trans and queer therapist wearing glasses, a patterned cardigan, an orange polo shirt, and brown pants, standing against a plain background.
Portrait of a smiling queer therapist with curly short hair, wearing a light-colored jacket over a colorful patterned shirt, standing against a plain light background.

Transparent Talk Therapy is a small group practice led by two queer, neurodivergent therapists: Aubrey Grande-Strathdee (they/them) and Julie Grande-Strathdee (they/she). We are both trauma-informed and deeply experienced in working with LGBTQ+ clients, including those navigating complex family and relationship systems. Yes, we are actually a married couple. No, you wouldn’t work with both of us, just one!

Aubrey specializes in couples and relationship work, and currently has openings for new clients. They’ve worked extensively with queer and polyamorous partnerships across a wide range of issues, from sex and intimacy to parenting and structural change.

We offer virtual therapy for couples across California and British Columbia.

Ready to Connect?

Let’s see if we’re the right fit. We’d love to hear from you! Contact us to schedule your free 15 minute consultation.