I am a biracial queer woman; my identity is both personally and outwardly rooted in promoting equality inside and outside the therapy office. Being lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gay, intersex, or queer (or questioning) brings unique challenges in the often prejudiced and intolerant mainstream American culture. Although in the big picture we need cultural change, many people need help holding onto or exploring their sexual orientation, examining internalized homophobia, managing external discrimination, or negotiating decisions about whether, when, or how to come out. As your therapist, I am here offer a receptive place to reflect and examine perspectives about partner relationships, coming out, spirituality, family relations, and coping with prejudice. 

For the past 5 years I have been working in the focused field of trauma and eating disorders with adolescents, adults, couples and entire family systems. I have experience working with clients at all levels of care including. Outpatient, IOP, PHP, RES, and IP. Therapeutically I focus on using various psychotherapeutic interventions that help clients and families identify underlying triggers that may have contributed to the development of the eating disorder; Understand why the eating disorder occurred and why it has persisted; Develop a new set of skills to navigate one’s life and effectively cope with emotions and stress. I guide clients to explore vulnerability, courage, shame, and worthiness as it related to the eating disorder and identify new choices and practices that will move them toward more authentic and wholehearted living. 

I embody anti oppression approaches into my work with clients by being sensitive to my own cultural heritage and potential biases; I value and respect differences between myself and my clients/families; I am culturally knowledgeable and blend different styles of therapy based on the unique cultural values of the client and/or family and assist them to acknowledge and celebrate their own heritage, especially those associated with specific life-cycle stages.

Tatum Santacasa MS, LMFT