Kristen Knapick, LMHC

I am a psychotherapist in private practice since 2011, guiding adults to experience their emotions without being defined by them.

I'm a psychotherapist, specializing in working with "sex and gender outlaws," which is my way of affectionately referring to those of us who live on the margins of sex and/or gender. Specifically, my clients are often queer, gender non-conformant, kinky, non-monogamous, or sex workers. It's my goal to offer an accepting atmosphere where clients can address emotional issues, whether related to these descriptors or not. Because I have over 30yrs experience within these communities, and have been in practice since 2011,I bring the vocabulary, context, and appreciation that make the therapeutic process that much easier for those of us who don't want to have to educate providers or defend our identities just to get the support we deserve.

In 1991 I earned my BA in Theatre at the University of California Riverside. In 2010, I earned my Masters in Psychology from Antioch University Seattle. There, I developed a research proposal on the Aging of the Transgender Population and the Relative Unpreparedness of the Public and Private Sectors. In 2009-2010, I did a one year internship with Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities, where I met with clients and organized a training for staff on working with clients engaging in BDSM.

Since that time, I've given talks and workshops such as Trans 101, Relationship Skills, Communicating Through Conflict, Informed Consent in Trans* Health Care, and Jealousy. I have presented material to groups such as The Foundation for Sex Positive Culture, Relationship Anarchy, Babeland, Gender Odyssey, Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Congregation, The Little Red Studio, and LGBT Allyship.