Adrian
Belmes
It is a basic human need to see and to be seen. You are loved just for being who you are, just for existing. No one can take this love away from you, and it will always be there. We are all just trying to find our way back to that love. By integrating who we are with how we want to be, we can find peace and fulfillment through the continuous experiencing of personal truth. Our work will be focused on identifying persistent patterns, understanding them deeply, dispersing with illusions, and moving towards a more meaningful reality. Together, we will work towards empowering you to live a more complete, balanced, and contended life. I will meet you where you are and walk alongside you.
The therapy space we collaboratively create is a place to share your experiences safely and have them received empathetically. You are the expert on your own life, and your lived experiences are valuable. I take very seriously the trust that you place in our work together, and I will honor your needs. I welcome discussion of privilege, power, and identity as it intersects with the experience of therapy and our navigation through the world.
ABOUT ME
Availability
Taking on New Clients
Additional Locations Served
California
Appointments
Online
Title
AMFT
Pronouns
he/him
Sexuality
Queer
Specialties
My practice centers in supporting people who are queer, trans, poly/enm, and/or kinky. In addition to my education and training in these areas, I am an in-community therapist of shared experience (who has lived experience as L, G, B, T, and Q at various points in my life).
I provide individual therapy for transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and gender-questioning youth, adolescents, and adults in all stages of transition and identity formation. I offer one-time letter-writing services to support access to gender-affirming care. I also offer short-term therapy specific to exploration and education surrounding medical options for gender-affirming care, and letter-writing can be a component of our work in ongoing long-term gender-affirming therapy.
In working with polyamorous, ENM, and kink relationship dynamics, we will collaboratively address the topics of boundaries, safety, and autonomy as they show up in our intimate relationships to move toward a space of positive engagement. Our work can be in seeking supportive community, increasing self-understanding, fostering healthy relationships, and broadening our horizons to accommodate needs and prioritize authenticity.
Insurances
My group practice, Diaspora Therapy Group, accepts insurance payments through BlueCross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth, Optum/United HealthCare, Carelon, Kaiser of Southern California HMO, Beacon HMO, Emblem Health HMO, Providence Plan, Unicare, and GHI Commercial. If your insurance is not listed above or I am unable to bill directly due to your particular coverage plan, I am happy to provide statements for insurance reimbursement (aka "super bills").
License Number
AMFT #143745; Supervised by Dr. Kiley Dunne Lizama, DSW LMFT #96218
Cost
Sliding Scale
Gender
Transgender
Ethnicity
Other Racial or Ethnic Background
Language
English, Russian
Ages Served
Preteen, Teen, Adult
Types of therapy
Trauma Focused, Person-Centered, Couples Therapy, Attachment-based, Relational, Cultural Sensitivity, Feminist, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Interpersonal, Psychodynamic