Today we’d like to introduce you to Renae Johnson
Hi Renae, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Renae Johnson, LPCC, ATR-BC (they/them), founder of Open Space Therapy Collective. When I first set out on my journey to become a therapist, I quickly realized that the path had far more barriers to becoming a skilled practitioner than I had anticipated. Earning a graduate degree was just the beginning; the real challenge lay not in the 3,000 practicum hours, but in the fact that these hours were often promised by employers but never provided—leaving junior therapists with low-paying jobs, having to pay clinical supervisors out of pocket, burned out, undertrained, and overburdened before they even got started. This hurdle wasn’t just a personal frustration—it was a systemic issue that disproportionately affected those from marginalized backgrounds. The more marginalized your background, the more likely you were to be filtered out by these nearly impossible hoops. I began to see how the professionalization path in therapy was designed in a way that could easily burn out and exclude aspiring therapists from marginalized backgrounds, especially in non-profits and traditional private practices.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, my desire to work with people in the queer community was strong. I knew that clients benefited greatly from working with a therapist who genuinely understood the nuances of their experiences—something that couldn’t be taught in textbooks or fully grasped by watching popular media (no shade to Mama Ru or the Fab 5). For example, the emotional complexities of navigating social and medical transitions, learning to redefine relationships outside of heteronormativity, or dealing with religious guilt around one’s sexuality are issues that require more than just academic knowledge. Clients often needed someone who could empathize without requiring them to explain every detail of who they are—someone who already understood their challenges on a personal level.
As I worked through my career as a therapist and later as an operations director in non-profits in San Francisco, it became clear that the system was burning out therapists and not providing quality care for clients. I realized that if I wanted to create lasting change in this field, a new model needed to be created that addressed these specific needs.
Over time, I began to specialize in treating trauma, which dovetailed perfectly with my work in the LGBTQ+ community. The intersection of LGBTQ+ issues and trauma revealed a gap in care that desperately needed to be filled. From this, my initial realization was the seed that grew into a much larger vision—a group therapy practice dedicated to serving the LGBTQ+ community while also supporting the professional development of therapists from within that community.
So, I reached out to a few colleagues who shared my passion and vision. Together, we brainstormed, planned, and put together a business plan that focused on two key needs: creating a more accessible pathway for therapists to advance their careers and establishing a specialized practice that could offer culturally competent care to LGBTQ+ and QPOC clients. Open Space Therapy Collective was founded in 2022. Community was the key word in this endeavor, as it was community that could truly support both therapists and clients. By fostering a network of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC therapists who were deeply connected to the experiences of the community they served, we were able to create an environment where both clients and therapists could thrive. This practice wasn’t just about providing therapy; it was about building a space where everyone involved could grow, learn, connect, and feel supported. In doing so, we’ve been able to make a real impact—not just in the lives of our clients, but also in the professional journeys of the therapists who are passionate about providing care to our queer community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building Open Space Therapy Collective (OSTC) around a community-based model has been an incredibly rewarding and challenging journey, and it hasn’t always been smooth. Two years in, we’ve encountered our share of growing pains and have had to navigate several transformations. Early on, we were excited and wanted to do it all at once! We defined our mission in broad strokes, but as we moved forward, we realized the importance of refining it to be more specific about what we could realistically provide. For example, we initially tried offering group therapy sessions but quickly learned that our practice wasn’t yet well-known enough to attract the number of clients needed to fill these groups. It was a tough decision to put that idea on the back burner, but we’re holding onto it for 2025.
Personally, one of the biggest challenges has been learning the ins and outs of running a business. My background is in therapy and operations, not business management, so I’ve had to pick up a lot of new skills along the way. I found myself spending more time with spreadsheets and marketing funnels than in therapy sessions, which was an unexpected shift from my original vision. Our initial business plan has undergone numerous revisions as we adapted to the realities of growing a practice.
Hiring the right people has also been a challenge. Finding consultants and staff who truly understand and resonate with queer culture has been a learning experience. We’ve worked with some highly recommended marketing companies, only to find that they just didn’t get the nuances of our community or weren’t ready to learn the language. It’s essential for us to bring in people who not only have the skills to contribute to our growth but who also share our vision of building a collective and supportive community.
Despite these challenges, we remain committed to our guiding principle: community. It’s this vision that continues to be our main strength, steering us through the ups and downs as we grow and evolve.
We’ve been impressed with Open Space Therapy Collective, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Open Space Therapy Collective (OSTC), we’ve built our practice on the belief that mental health cannot be separated from the larger systems that shape our lives. We recognize the deep connections between historic systems of oppression and mental health, and we’re committed to creating a space that actively challenges these systems while fostering our client’s personal growth. Our mission is to foster an anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and body-celebratory environment where healing and growth are centered, especially for marginalized groups. We welcome not only those within the LGBTQIA+ and QPOC communities but also staunch allies who support our collective vision of inclusive, compassionate care.
Our services include in-person therapy in Los Angeles and telehealth therapy throughout California, offering accessibility to a broad range of clients. What sets us apart is our deep-rooted understanding of queer culture and the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. All of our therapists are either members of the queer community or staunch allies, with diverse, intersectional identities. This means our clients don’t need to spend time educating their therapists about their gender identity, sexuality, or relationship style. Instead, we can dive right into the work that matters most—helping our clients navigate their journeys with strength and authenticity.
We take a strength-based approach to therapy, recognizing that our clients have already demonstrated incredible resilience by getting to where they are today. We build on these strengths, using them as the foundation for new tools and strategies that empower our clients to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Our therapy is curated to fit each individual’s unique perspective, especially for those who are creative and think differently from those around them. We consider it a privilege to walk alongside our clients on their healing paths, offering tailored support that resonates with who they are.
OSTC isn’t just a place for clients to receive care; it’s also a supportive community for therapists. We understand that the wellbeing of our therapist community is just as important as the wellbeing of our clients. That’s why we’ve designed a career path that includes training, supervision, and opportunities for growth. We strive to provide an environment where therapists can thrive, continue learning, and advance in their careers while being part of a collective that values connection and mutual support.
What we’re most proud of is our commitment to cultural humility and ongoing learning. Our team stays informed about the latest mental health trends, cultural shifts, and evolving vocabulary to ensure that we’re providing the most relevant and effective care. We actively participate in community events, continuing education, and open dialogues to keep our practice dynamic and responsive to the needs of our clients.
In essence, OSTC was founded with a dual purpose: to provide exceptional care for people who often struggle to find therapists familiar with their specific needs, and to create a thriving, supportive environment for therapists to grow their careers. Our vision extends beyond just therapy sessions; we aim to reinvest in the mental health community, build lasting connections, and continue advancing the field of mental health care for LGBTQIA+ and QPOC communities.
What’s next?
Our vision for the future of OSTC is rooted in the belief that mental health is deeply connected to social health, and that both are strengthened by the communities we build around us. As a collective of therapists with specialized knowledge in providing care for our LGBTQ+ community, we’ve come to realize that the expertise we’ve cultivated is a valuable resource not just for our clients but for the entire mental health profession. We’ve honed our ability to ask the right questions, make accurate diagnoses, and provide culturally competent care—skills that aren’t adequately taught in graduate programs or professional settings but that absolutely should be.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to take this knowledge and create a lasting impact on the field. We’re developing a four-part series of courses designed to improve mental health professionals’ ability to provide culturally competent care for the LGBTQ+ community. By normalizing and disseminating this specialized knowledge, we hope to influence how therapists across the country approach care for LGBTQ+ clients, making it a standard part of their training.
In addition to this educational initiative, we’re also focused on expanding our community and mental health resources through our podcast, My Therapist is Out!. We’re starting to collaborate with LGBTQ+ providers, space makers, and activists to enhance our episodes and grow our reach so that more people can access not just mental health resources but also find a sense of belonging in a community that fits them.
As our collective continues to grow, we envision OSTC becoming a hub for mental health and community in Los Angeles and California. We’re hosting our first LGBTQ+ community-building event in late September for LGBTQ+ providers, space makers, and activists who are passionate about collaborating with other providers and who want to build their professional network, connecting clients with providers and spaces who are well-versed in serving the LGBTQ+ community. Our goal is to extend our reach beyond just our therapy practice, helping to build a stronger, more connected community of LGBTQ+-competent providers throughout California.
One of our long-term dreams is to establish a physical community hub—a space that embodies our vision of integrated social and mental health. Imagine a welcoming space with a little café, where we could offer services, hold group therapy sessions, and host community events like yoga, craft nights, and community organizing. It would be a place where the community can gather, organize, and find support, all with a splash of color, glitter, and joy that comes with being in a queer community together. This is the future we’re working towards, and we’re excited for the journey ahead.
Pricing:
- Therapy services range from $180-$300 per session
- Clinical group supervision for associate therapist – $95 per meeting
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openspacetherapycollective/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@openspacetherapycollective
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/open-space-therapy-collective-los-angeles
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@openspacetherapy
Image Credits
Renae’s headshot: Alison Bacis at Tandem Photo
Team Photo: Matt Crowe at Tuffy Photo
