Second Adolescence
I developed Second Adolescence as a clinical framework for understanding:
the unique queer adulthood that follows growing up in an anti-queer world, and
how queer people heal from the traumatic impacts of growing up in anti-queerness
Many LGBTQ+ people did not have the adolescence our straight peers had access to. The adolescence of beginning to gain romantic and sexual experiences with people we truly long for. The adolescence of being seen and known by people who matter to us. The adolescence of not enduring chronic shame for an identity we gradually were understanding we possessed. All of this is what leads so many queer adults in our post-coming out adult years to feel stunted, behind, or underdeveloped. We didn’t have access to a first adolescence, so there is a need to have a second one.
Second Adolescence is kind of developmental lifestage queer people go through in our post-coming out adult years.
It is a time of healing and growth in which we gain the experiences we missed out on, heal the wounds of our younger selves that we still carry, and work towards uncovering our most true and free selves.
I help queer adults move through their own Second Adolescence.
I host the podcast, Second Adolescence, and also write on the topic for Psychology Today.
Schedule a complimentary 20-minute phone call with me. On this call, it would be great to hear where you’re at and what you’re seeking, have you get a little more of a vibe of who I am, and have you get any questions you may have for me answered.