Adie Tuohey (she/they)

My primary specialty is LGBTQ+ young adults and adolescents who are looking to process change, transition, and growth. I also have experience and training working with victims of sexual abuse and familial trauma. I work with both individuals and families, incorporating psychodynamic and CBT methods. As a queer therapist who has done a lot of surviving and growing, I want to help others do more than just survive. My goal is always for clients to navigate their own experiences and understand what they are made of so they can begin to grow safely.

Questions? adie@forrealtherapy.com

INTERVIEW BIO WITH Adie

What inspired you to become a therapist?

Originally, I was working with ethnography and anthropology, but mental health has always been part of my life. I provided light therapist work as a child, and as I went into college, I was finding myself in similar roles, but having my own accumulated insights. I moved towards social work – I wanted to do more case work, but I found myself engaged in therapy. I found myself easily and comfortably perceptive, while in touch with the work of therapy. It felt natural to move towards this direction. 

What can people expect when they look for a poly/kink therapist?

It would be a normal session if everyone is kink/poly aware/friendly, assuming there isn’t a broader stigma. My intention is to provide a space where the therapist is not completely unaware and isn’t actively or passively hostile, and struggling with their own dilemmas around polyamory or kink. I bring in a sense of authenticity, which allows me to see people and bring them closer to their own self-healing. 

Who do you like to work with?

I work best with young adults who are trans and are working through life transitions or are first questioning or are passed questioning and are wanting an anchor for that exploration. I feel like I’ve had an easier time working with people with complex trauma because I don’t see trauma as something that has to be treated – My approach to therapy is not fully curative – I don’t see my clients as broken who need fixing, I see them as complex who need insight, grounding and guidance. 

What can I expect when working with you?

When I think about my own modality, I’m a relational therapist – you can expect a lot of dedication to build trust and a base to explore the more vulnerable parts of life. I’m really focused on the initial building of trust and the cooperative building of trust. I’m very into transparency in all the ways possible – I go over with my clients to diagnose before going to insurance, I do talk therapy and some somatic exercises, I think about the body a lot, I feel a lot of things in the body. People, in general, are encouraged to be disassociated from somatic experiences. Disassociation is an important, natural human response to things. I want to talk about somatic experiences, where it feels in the body and how it feels. I want to help you find grounding in the body.

What is your universal piece of advice?

Don’t feel like you have to be on track. Try to be present with non-human things, like bird watching or listening, allowing yourself to be tuned into other conversations, allowing yourself to feel outside of the world – Allow yourself to get off topic; sometimes that’s where you can become closer to yourself and your values.