In her experience, licensed clinical social worker Dani Terry finds her work works best when there's a blend of approachability and professionalism with her clients. “You always want to be approachable,” she said. “You want people to be able to feel like they can talk to you because if they can’t, why are they seeing you? They’re not going to get anywhere.
” Through her private practice, True Colors Counseling based in South Lake Tahoe, she helps people navigate depression, anxiety, PTSD and a number of other trauma-centered obstacles. She also intentionally crafts care to adhere to the unique needs of people within the LGBTQ+ community – a community she identifies with herself. "I have felt called to this work for a very long time,” she said.
“I do get a lot of joy out of it – queer joy maybe one could say.” According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, research shows people within the LGBTQ+ community are at an increased risk of experiencing a mental health condition, especially depression and anxiety. Terry always keeps the community in the back of her mind, she explained, when not only developing treatment plans for people but also in how she runs her business.
For example, she is careful to use inclusive language in her marketing, on her website and forms. “To me it touches almost every aspect of my business,” she said. “I think I’ve been thinking about how to be a really good fit for helping the queer community since before I even gr.
