Book your session at Centred Self Here

Centred Self
  • Home
  • About
    • The Centred Self Mission
    • Meet our Therapists
    • Supervision
    • Meet the CS Team
    • Join Centred Self
    • Articles
  • Help With
    • Psychotherapy
    • Reduced Cost Clinic
    • In Person Therapy
    • Relationship / Couples
    • Men's Concerns
    • Narcissism / Borderline
    • LGBTQ & Sex / Gender
    • EMDR & Trauma
    • Grief / Loss
    • Dream / Archetypes
    • Depression / Anxiety
  • Get Started
    • Meet our Therapists
    • New Clients
    • Book a Session
    • The Centred Self Quiz
    • Therapy FAQ
  • Workshops
    • Psychodynamic Workshop
    • Company Workshops
    • Health Care Professionals
    • Past Workshops
  • Podcast!
  • Contact
  • More
    • Home
    • About
      • The Centred Self Mission
      • Meet our Therapists
      • Supervision
      • Meet the CS Team
      • Join Centred Self
      • Articles
    • Help With
      • Psychotherapy
      • Reduced Cost Clinic
      • In Person Therapy
      • Relationship / Couples
      • Men's Concerns
      • Narcissism / Borderline
      • LGBTQ & Sex / Gender
      • EMDR & Trauma
      • Grief / Loss
      • Dream / Archetypes
      • Depression / Anxiety
    • Get Started
      • Meet our Therapists
      • New Clients
      • Book a Session
      • The Centred Self Quiz
      • Therapy FAQ
    • Workshops
      • Psychodynamic Workshop
      • Company Workshops
      • Health Care Professionals
      • Past Workshops
    • Podcast!
    • Contact
Centred Self
  • Home
  • About
    • The Centred Self Mission
    • Meet our Therapists
    • Supervision
    • Meet the CS Team
    • Join Centred Self
    • Articles
  • Help With
    • Psychotherapy
    • Reduced Cost Clinic
    • In Person Therapy
    • Relationship / Couples
    • Men's Concerns
    • Narcissism / Borderline
    • LGBTQ & Sex / Gender
    • EMDR & Trauma
    • Grief / Loss
    • Dream / Archetypes
    • Depression / Anxiety
  • Get Started
    • Meet our Therapists
    • New Clients
    • Book a Session
    • The Centred Self Quiz
    • Therapy FAQ
  • Workshops
    • Psychodynamic Workshop
    • Company Workshops
    • Health Care Professionals
    • Past Workshops
  • Podcast!
  • Contact

LGBTQIA & Gender Exploration at Centred Self

Centred Self is queer run and owned. We are passionate about this work because we intimately know it.


At Centred Self, we’ve been committed to working with and alongside all issues related to LGBTQIA care and discovery. We explore gender expressions with love.


 Let us walk alongside you in every exploration of identity.



Book a Consult today

How we work with LGBTIA+ & Gender Expansive Folk

LGBTQIA+ Therapy - For Everything You Want to Bring

Ryan shares how having someone know who you are - in all that your are bringing - is one of the best ways to seek therapy. And this is so important for those within the LGBTQIA+ community as well as gender expansive folks. 


Seek therapy with trust with someone who deeply cares about all you are, in everything you are. 

Meet your therapist, Dr. Ryan Bittinger

Internalized Homophobia

Jessie and Ryan sit down for an honest, heartfelt conversation about internalized homophobia - what it is, where it comes from, and why it can be so tough to untangle. They break down the root causes, share the many ways it can show up in people's lives, and talk about what it looks like to support clients who are working through it in therapy.  

Whether you’re personally navigating internalized homophobia, supporting someone who is, or just wanting to better understand this experience, Jessie and Ryan offer insights, real talk, and a lot of compassion along the way. You’re not alone; healing is possible 🫶

Book with a therapist today

Pride Month: And all its Complications

This Pride Month hits different. Between rising political tensions, safety concerns, and the growing weight of being “out” in public, the usual rainbow-filled celebration feels… complicated.

Jump to our Pride month videos

Meet Dr. Ryan Bittinger (Dr. / RPQ)

Ryan specializes in working with individuals and couples within the complexities of LGBTQIA+ concerns. Whether it is working through the myriad of feelings that can come up with couples navigating: non-monogamy, openness, polygamy relationships - or the various stages of what it means to be queer in relationships. Ryan is there for you in every facet. 


Ryan also works with kink and sex in relationships - and how to explore this in a fun and safe environment with your partner. 


In individual therapy, Ryan practice focussed on many iterations of expression: From internalized homophobia, navigating sex and gender, to exploring more about how to live a meaningful life, Ryan is here to help. 


As someone who is someone who is part of the LGBTQ community, and expression is non-binary, they understand the nuance of meeting you in this space, with openness, trust, and creativity.

Book a session with ryan today

Non-Monogamy and Openness

Ryan works with those who  have 'non-traditional' relationship styles. And all the feelings that can come with this. It can be hard to navigate sex and gender, along with internalized shame that can come within LGBTQ relationships. You are not alone.  

Sex & Gender Expressions

It can be hard to unpack all that society has told you to be, along with what you feel inside. It can be isolating, often shameful, and difficult to know how to be all that you feel inside. Ryan is here - from transitioning, navigating body dysmorphia, and how to be honest in your expression. 

Being Able to Shine

Have you ever wanted to live a life that allows you both to understand the impact of the shame & fear that society/family has placed on you, and also how to strive to live authentically? Ryan specializes in meeting people right where they are at so that they can shine in who they really are.

Discover a place to be safe and seen at Centred Self.

Schedule Now

Happy Pride - and all the complexities that come with it

Happy Pride from Ryan at Centred Self

Dr. Ryan Bittinger, Practice Manager at Centred Self, welcomes you into this year's video series discussing what Pride means this past year. They do not shy away from addressing/celebrating Pride within the precarity of being LGBTQIA+ within various country's legislature, but also what it means to celebrate during this time. And what is to come in our video series. 

Dr. Ryan Bittinger shares a poem to kickstart Pride

Ryan Bittinger shares a poem called 'A Short History of Silvering' by EJ Schoenborn. In this poem, Ryan beautifully reads of Schoenborn's metaphor of Queer as Vampire and what it means to be a seen as LGBTQIA+ 

Boundaries and Intimacy

Drs. Erb and Bittinger talk about one of our favorite topics at Centred Self: boundaries.  

Boundaries within intimate settings in a relationship can be especially hard to navigate for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, so here, we discuss what setting those boundaries can look like


Intergenerational Trauma & HIV/AIDS Pandemic

In this video, Drs Erb and Bittinger speak about the complexity of emotions that often accompany Pride due to Intergenerational Trauma within the community that stems from the HIV/AIDS Pandemic of the 80s. 




Abuse in Queer Relationships


In this video, Drs. Erb and Bittinger talk about intimate partner abuse in the queer community, as well as a book recommendation from Dr. Erb!



Complexities in Queer Relationships


Drs. Ryan Bittinger and Jess Erb discuss the complexities in queer relationships and how they afftect members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.


Body and Gender Dysmorphia during Pride

Drs. Ryan Bittinger and Jess Erb talk about the pressures that 'fitting in' through body schemas, and the impact this can have on the LGBTQIA+ community.

If you want to explore gender, body dysmorphia or how falling into idealized body norms has impacted you, reach out today.

Being closeted During Pride Month

Drs. Ryan Bittinger and Jess Erb have a special message for all those who have not yet come out: Pride Month is 100% for you. 

Even if you have yet to tell anyone, know that this time of pride, protest, and celebration is for you.


What is the commercialization of Pride month

In this video, Drs. Jess Erb and Ryan Bittinger navigate the tension that many companies stick a rainbow on all their advertising during Pride month. What does it mean? And is there a darker side behind what can seem like an 'accepting' and celebratory action from corporations? 

Navigating body image During Pride Month

For many clients in our office, the image of Pride they speak of is: Skin, lots and lots of skin, short shorts and tight, muscular bodies. While it is amazing to see this celebration of the body, it also shows that even within the LGBTQIA+ community, there are normalized and idealized body images.   

But this isn't representative of the entire community. And there can be great internalized shame if you don't look like that. 


Where do the quiet gays go?! Being an introvert during Pride

Pride is a lively time of the year with the parade, all the parties and raves.  It is a spectacle. Because of this, you'd think that every 2SLGBTQIA+ individual is the epitome of extroversion.    

As Hannah Gadsby on Nanette asked "Where do the quiet gays go?" and Dr. Jess Erb shares her personal take on this. 


If you're experiencing feelings of anxiety and isolation due to social expectations, please reach out to us.


LGBTQIA+ Articles from Centred Self

Jess' Definition of Pride

Drag Bans: What is the future of LGBTQIA+ Rights?

Complexities of Pride Month

What does Pride Month mean? Read about how Dr. Jess Erb conceptualizes Pride 


What does Pride Month mean?

Complexities of Pride Month

Drag Bans: What is the future of LGBTQIA+ Rights?

Complexities of Pride Month

Pride is a wonderful celebration, but it is not without it's complexities and challenges. Read more about what some of these are here.

Happy Pride, or is it?

Drag Bans: What is the future of LGBTQIA+ Rights?

Drag Bans: What is the future of LGBTQIA+ Rights?

Drag Bans: What is the future of LGBTQIA+ Rights?

Drag Bans have been a harrowing reality in the United States. Here is some information on the bills to ban drag. 


Drag Bans and it's implications
  • Home
  • LGBTQ & Sex / Gender
  • The Centred Self Quiz
  • Therapy FAQ
  • Past Workshops
  • Podcast!
  • Contact

Centred Self

Copyright © 2026 Centred Self - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

DeclineAccept

Centred Self is now offering In-Person Therapy!

Centred Self has partnered with Therapy Suites, right in the heart of downtown Toronto at St. Lawrence Market, to offer In-Person sessions! 


If you are looking for in-person sessions, contact us today and we can set you up with an associate for your first free-consult


Check out our space