The Center for Healthier Relationships, Individuals, & Sexualities (CHRIS) is a network of inclusive therapists who specialize in providing affirmative care for those in the LGBTQ+ community. This can include processing concerns regarding sexual orientation, gender, community, social stigma, and family matters. While we specialize in LGBTQ+ affirmative care, we work with a diverse population of clients who are not part of the community.
Our team compromises of interns and therapists with multiple years of experience. Our team is unique in that we are all LGBTQ+ providers. Some therapists specialize in working with couples while others focus more on individuals. Some couples therapists specialize in working with consensual non-monogamous (CNM) sometimes known as ethically non-monogamous (ENM) couples. This can include couples who are monogamish, open, and polyamours. Some team members specialize in working with men. This is an important focus area as men are often not given enough space to talk about their feelings openly in the broader society. Additionally, many men can struggle to connect with their emotions, having been encouraged through family and societal messaging to not focus on them, as doing so can be perceived as a sign of weakness.Another area of specialty is sex therapy. This can include working on issues related to sexual intimacy concerns, sexual dysfunctions, gender exploration, and sexual orientation exploration.
To meet the demand for lower fee clinicians, we recently added two new interns. One of our interns, Mitchell has training addiction services. He has an interest in exploring sex therapy as well. Our other intern, Tabs, has experience in working with children and has training in both systems theory and behavioral analysis. Like Mitchell, Tabs has an interest in working in sex therapy.
Many of our providers hold full licenses or teletherapy licenses in various states. All are able to practice in PA. Some providers are able to practice with client residing in: NJ, NY, SC, CA, DE, CT, FL, and VT. Please see mini bios below. For full bio information, please visit the CHRIS website, www.centerforhealthierrelationships.com
The Team
Christopher Wilson, PhD, LMFT, CSST, CST
I am originally from Oregon but I have lived in the beautiful city of Philadelphia for over a decade. I have been working in social services and mental health for over twenty years. I specialize in helping men (cis het and non cis het) and members of the LGBTQ community who are struggling with sex, intimacy, gender, and orientation concerns to better understand themselves and social inequalities they face, to improve the quality of their lives and relationships.
Fee
Individuals $200.00
Couples $225.00
Sliding Scale - Not at this time
Tabs Ulmer, BA, Intern Therapist
I am Tabs, a non-binary femme, student therapist coming to session with a behavioral background and an open mind. As a student therapist I look forward to practicing the various approaches to the presenting issues we uncover together in sessions. I received my undergraduate degree from Edinboro University in Early Childhood Development and Special Education and went onto work as a behavioral therapist for the next 5 years. One approach to issues which I have adopted in my practice is the idea that all behavior is communication, sometimes we need some help finding out what we are trying to say.
Fee
$30.00
Sliding Scale, yes, please inquire
sam Campbell, BA, Intern Therapist
Hi there! I’m sam, a student therapist currently working toward my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. As a clinician, I look forward to holding space and providing support for others as they bravely navigate their journey.
I received my undergrad degree in History and Spanish from Tulane University in New Orleans and am currently attending Touro University for my Masters program. After undergrad, I moved to Los Angeles and then Brooklyn, where I pursued comedy and worked as an Early Childhood Educator. Working as a teacher with small children and their families profoundly impacted the way I understand kindness, listening, meeting people where they are at, and communication. While teaching, I also served as a professional matchmaker, in which I would work with clients to identify dating patterns, hold space for dating struggles, and encourage individuals to open themselves up to new types of love and connection. All of my human-centric experiences have culminated in my professional passion for helping people understand themselves and one another more fully.
Fee
$30.00
Sliding Scale, yes, please inquire
Liza Linder, LCSW
I truly believe that therapy is collaborative work, meaning that I will walk with you on your journey and hold a safe space for you as we both work together to create the change(s) you’d like to see happen. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I approach working with clients (both individuals and couples), from a strengths based perspective.
Fee
$170-$85.00
Sliding scale based on need
Rowan Levy, LPC, MA, NCC
I can help you by joining you in exploring your anxiety, your fear, your joy, your grief, and your relationships. Together, we will be able to look at your patterns which may be negatively impacting your ability to function, and unravel them for a more fulfilling and satisfying life. As your therapist, I will collaborate with you to find the tools that best suit you and your needs.
Fee
$170.00
Sliding Scale - Not at this time
Sara Mairs, LCSW, MEdI believe in providing a safe, non-judgmental, sex positive space for my clients. Some of my areas of interest with couples and individuals include anxiety, body positivity, codependency, desire discrepancy, genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder in ova/vulva having persons, grief and loss, infertility, pregnancy/postpartum, kink/BDSM, LGBTQIA+ identities, navigating gender identity, neurodiversity, polyamory relational Issues, relationship related grief and sexual dysfunction.
Fee
$175
Sliding Scale - Yes, please inquire
Kathleen Scheppe, LMFT
Kathleen has specialized training in art therapy and a background in community mental health work. Educated at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Kathleen completed her training in community work to provide art therapy to clients of all ages and backgrounds. She believes that art provides opportunities to explore unspoken feelings, needs, and memories that may be hard to verbalize, and is a tool accessible by all clients, regardless of artistic skill. Kathleen has worked with individual adults, families, children, and groups, delivering talk therapy and art therapy services to clients with a spectrum of needs including navigating substance use, relational distress, chronic health issues, and productivity burnout.
Fee
$120.00
Sliding Scale - Yes, please inquire
Maria Buxton, MEdHello all! My name is Maria (she/they), and I am a pre-licensed professional counselor and recent graduate of Temple University’s counseling psychology master’s program with a mental health track. While I originate from Massachusetts, Philadelphia has been my home since 2017. I am grateful to give back to the community by serving as a professional counselor and therapist. I have worked with queer and genderqueer clients, polyamorous and ENM individuals, neurodivergent individuals, and those struggling with anxiety, depression, body image, and positive self-regard to name a few.
Fee
$85.00
Sliding scale: Yes, can slide to $70
The Center for Healthier Relationships, Individuals,& Sexualities Reaches
Philadelphia PA