“Why First Brick Counseling for the name?”

It’s a question I get asked often, primarily from cisgender heterosexual folks. “Why did you pick the name First Brick Counseling for your practice?” I chuckle every time that question comes up because most of my LGBTQ+ friends, peers, and connections all know the answer: Stonewall.

The Pride events we see annually only exist because of the Stonewall Riots in 1969. On June 28, 1969 LGBTQ+ individuals decided enough was enough of the targeted police raids at Stonewall Inn and they decided to fight back. This was the time when you could be arrested for being gay or deviating from gender/sexual norms in any way. In fact, homosexuality was part of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) as a mental disorder from 1952 - 1974.

The name of this practice is paying honor to the first brick that was thrown and catalyzed an entire movement. It was important to me, a queer person who focuses on LGBTQ+ mental health, to respect the history of my community. It was important to have a name that embraces the everyday fight LGBTQ+ individuals go through to exist in peace.

The mental health of LGBTQ+ folks has regularly been negatively impacted by the social and political climate of the times. We see higher rates of suicide and suicide attempts for LGBTQ+ folks. We see higher rates of homelessness for LGBTQ+ youth. We see less access to medical and mental health care for LGBTQ+ individuals. We see many broken relationships due to the lack of acceptance. We see trauma from living life as a marginalized individual.

First Brick Counseling is my vision of what I wish I had as a kid who didn’t have the words for what I was going through. First Brick Counseling acknowledges the harm society has perpetrated against LGBTQ+ folks while acknowledging the resiliency of the community. First Brick Counseling recognizes that LGBTQ+ folks are not inherently “broken” or mentally ill but the world around them fosters an environment for poor mental health.

If you are interested in learning more about Stonewall, there are many great documentaries and books out there.

“No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” – Marsha P. Johnson

The front of the historic Stonewall Inn with two folks sitting at a table outside and multiple folks walking by.