Mental Health Blog : Therapy Tips, Coping Tools & Insights

Why I Do This Work: A Therapist Reflects on Healing and Hope in Uncertain Times
Fort Worth, Systemic Oppression, Hope, BIPOC, Healing, First Generation, Political Unrest, LGBTQIA+, Nervous System, Marginalized Communities Sam Villarreal Fort Worth, Systemic Oppression, Hope, BIPOC, Healing, First Generation, Political Unrest, LGBTQIA+, Nervous System, Marginalized Communities Sam Villarreal

Why I Do This Work: A Therapist Reflects on Healing and Hope in Uncertain Times

Therapy is one of those sacred places to me where there are moments that are deeply intimate, not just between therapist and client, but between a client and themselves where they’ve never said something out loud before, something they’ve never acknowledged to themselves before and sometimes it’s wrapped in a whisper, or a laugh, or maybe shame. When it lands though, the room shifts and time stops just for a second, it feels deeply sacred to witness. I feel privileged to bear witness to those moments and I did not become a therapist for that reason, but that is the moment I am here for.

I became a therapist because I know what it’s like to carry invisible weight, to be the one who holds everything together, to grow up navigating multiple worlds, culturally, generationally, emotionally, and never feeling like you fully belong to any of them. Lately, that invisible weight has felt heavier for so many of us and not just because of our own personal history, but because of what is happening all around us on a systemic level. 

We are living in a time where fear feels palpable, where basic human rights feel up for debate, where families are separated, identities are politicized, and safety feels tentative, especially for those of us who are Black, Brown, immigrant, LGBTQIA+, disabled, or first-generation. Here in Fort Worth, many are navigating a deep fear of not being protected, of being targeted, of losing their autonomy, of being silenced, or erased. 

This climate is not separate from our mental health, it is directly tied to it. Chronic fear, generational survival instincts, and cultural pressures live within our bodies. They shape how we move through the world, how we connect with others, how we trust, and how we rest or how we don’t. That is why therapy is not just a luxury or part of a self-care routine, it’s resistance. It's a reclamation. The horrors persist, but so do we, in spite of it all, we must continue. 

I work with people who have had to be strong for everyone else and are slowly learning how to be soft with themselves. People who carry intergenerational trauma, cultural expectations, and a deep desire to be the one who “breaks the cycle” for the future generations after them. People who are trying to rest even when it feels unsafe, who are trying to hope even when the world feels fragile and hopeless. 

Therapy is not a fix all, but I do know when therapy is relational, trauma-informed, and rooted in the belief that healing is political, ancestral, and personal all at the same time, it can help people become less fragmented, less alone, and more resistant to the horrors outside. 

I do this work because surviving isn’t enough. Because our communities deserve care that sees our entire identity, context, and history included. Healing in a world that wants you silent is revolutionary and I believe in the quiet power of people healing together. There’s hope in the shadows, hope in the behind the scenes work, hope in the anticipation of the work. I see that power every day and it gives me endless hope. We are not alone. Feel free to reach out here.

  • Sam Villarreal

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor Associate supervised by Melinda Porter, LPC-S

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Queer Resources in Fort Worth and Nationwide: Support for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC Communities
Queer, Queer-Affirming, BIPOC, Fort Worth, Texas, LGBTQIA+ Sam Villarreal Queer, Queer-Affirming, BIPOC, Fort Worth, Texas, LGBTQIA+ Sam Villarreal

Queer Resources in Fort Worth and Nationwide: Support for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC Communities

Whether you’re looking for mental health support, connection, housing resources, or just community, you deserve access to spaces that see all of who you are. Below are some resources in Fort Worth and beyond that offer affirming, community care for LGBTQIA+ folks, including BIPOC and QTPOC (queer and trans people of color) communities.

🌈 Fort Worth and DFW Queer Resources

  1. LGBTQ Saves

    • A Fort Worth-based nonprofit offering safe spaces for LGBTQ youth to express themselves and build community. They offer virtual and in-person meetups, mentorship programs, family support, and emergency funds.

    • 🌐 https://www.lgbtqsaves.org/

  2. Finn’s Place

    • A community center in Fort Worth for trans and gender-diverse people to gather, grow, and flourish. They work to provide a safe space for the trans community to gather and access resources, educate the community about trans and LGBTQ+ people and their experiences, and create opportunities for trans joy.

    • 🌐 https://www.finnsplacetx.org/ 

  3. Abounding Prosperity Inc. (Dallas)

    • Founded to address health, social, and economic disparities impacting Black LGBTQIA+ communities. Services include HIV prevention, mental health, food, housing assistance, and a drop-in center.

    • 🌐 https://aboundingprosperity.org/ 

  4. Resource Center (Dallas)

    • One of the largest LGBTQIA+ community centers in Texas, offering services ranging from health and wellness programs to advocacy, support groups, and HIV services.

    • 🌐 https://myresourcecenter.org/ 

  5. Prism Health North Texas

    • An inclusive health center providing sexual health care, HIV prevention and treatment, and behavioral health services.

    • 🌐 https://www.phntx.org/ 

  6. Trinity Pride FW

    • More than just an annual celebration, they are a hub for community events, local advocacy, and visibility throughout the year.

    • 🌐 https://trinitypridefw.org/ 

  7. Housing Resources

    • Housing Crisis Center - Offers housing support and case management in the DFW area.

    • 🌐 https://homepoint.org/

🌎 Nationwide Queer and BIPOC Resources

  1. The Trevor Project

    • Support for LGBTQ youth under 25, including a 24/7 crisis line, text/chat support, and an online community platform.

    • 📞 1-866-488-7386 | 🌐 https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ 

  2. Trans Lifeline

    • Peer support run by and for trans people. Also offers microgrants and resources for name/gender marker changes.

    • 📞 877-565-8860 | 🌐 https://translifeline.org/ 

  3. LGBT National Help Center

    • Offers free and confidential support lines, youth and senior hotlines, and weekly chatrooms for connection.

    • 📞 1-888-843-4564 | 🌐 https://lgbthotline.org/ 

  4. PFLAG

    • The nation’s largest organization for LGBTQ+ people, their families, and allies — offering local chapters, education, and advocacy.

    • 🌐 https://pflag.org/ 

  5. Desi LGBTQ+ Helpline for South Asians

    • Support for South Asian LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States

    • 📞 908-367-3374 | 🌐https://www.deqh.org/ 

  6. NQAPIA

    • Federation of LGBTQ+ Asian Americans, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Organizations

    • 🌐 https://www.nqapia.org/ 

  7. The Okra Project

    • Provides meals and wellness support to Black trans people and now also offers emergency funding and therapy sessions.

    • 🌐 https://www.theokraproject.com/ 

  8. BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective)

    • Focuses on mental health access and healing for Black communities with LGBTQ+ inclusive resources, training, and healing spaces.

    • 🌐 https://beam.community/ 

Finding support as a queer person can be hard, but you are not alone. If you’re in Texas and seeking queer-affirming and trauma-informed therapy, I’d be honored to connect with you. Feel free to reach out here.

  • Sam Villarreal

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor Associate supervised by Melinda Porter, LPC-S

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