Gay Conversion Therapy Survivors: What Was Done to You—and How It Still Affects You For over 30 years, I have worked almost exclusively with gay men as a psychotherapist and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist. Over that time, I have seen the long arc of how cultural stigma, bad science, and ideological pressure shape the inner … Read more
Living Inside a Prolonged Stress Climate Many of the gay male therapy or coaching clients I speak with lately struggle to name exactly what feels wrong these days, but something does. They are not reacting to a single crisis, nor are they necessarily experiencing acute panic or depression. Instead, there is a more pervasive sense … Read more
GayCoachingLA Coaching for gay men navigating visibility, desire, power, and next-stage life decisions There are moments when a piece of culture doesn’t just entertain—it destabilizes something you thought you had already sorted out. The sudden, viral success of Heated Rivalry is one of those moments. For many gay men, especially those who’ve lived long enough … Read more
I love Halloween. Maybe it’s because of the theatricality of it, with costumes and props, or maybe it’s because of my addiction to chocolate. Author Peg Aloi, an expert on Pagan holidays, explains that Halloween—or Samhain, as it’s sometimes called, meaning “summer’s end”—is observed as a celebration of the last harvest of the year before … Read more
Gilligan’s Island and the Seven Deadly Sins: What a 60s Sitcom Can Teach Gay Men About Shame, Identity, and Survival By Ken Howard, LCSW, CST GayTherapyLA.com | GayCoachingLA.com Ken@GayTherapyLA.com | 310-339-5778 Some blog articles come from my work with clients. Others come from patterns I observe in gay male culture, or even questions asked during … Read more
Gay Men and Understanding Personality: The OCEAN Model By Ken Howard, LCSW, CST – Founder, GayTherapyLA.com Understanding what makes us who we are can deepen our relationships and improve how we connect with others. For gay men, this kind of self-knowledge can be especially powerful. It helps us navigate romantic relationships, family ties, friendships, and … Read more
Flash vs. Substance: Pop Psychology Gurus vs. Real Clinicians By Ken Howard, LCSW, CST GayTherapyLA.com | GayCoachingLA.com Ken@GayTherapyLA.com | 310-339-5778 ________________________________________ Why Flashy Doesn’t Mean Fact-Based In today’s media-driven culture, the louder someone talks about psychology, the more we’re expected to believe they know what they’re talking about. Scroll through social media, watch a TED … Read more
Positive Masculinity: Redefining Strength for Gay Men By Ken Howard, LCSW, CST Founder, GayTherapyLA.com It feels like everyone’s talking about masculinity right now—what it is, what it isn’t, and who gets to define it. For gay men, this isn’t just a cultural conversation. It’s personal. Too often, we’ve been told we’re not “real men.” But … Read more
White Lotus and Gay Men’s Fantasies: The Taboo That Teases in Pop Culture By Ken Howard, LCSW, CST The recent Season 3 of Max streaming service’s “The White Lotus,” set at a resort in Thailand, has stirred buzz not just for its opulent visuals, biting satire, and ensemble cast, including Parker Posey’s lorazepam-taking “Victora … Read more
The Healthcare Hustle: What Gay Men Need to Know Dealing with the healthcare system is rarely a walk in the park. But for gay men, the process comes with its own set of hurdles—clinical, financial, cultural, and emotional. Some of these barriers are subtle, some are glaring, and most are frustratingly persistent. As a longtime … Read more
