Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace O’Connor
Hi Grace, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a South Side of Chicago girl, born and raised. I grew up in an Irish-Catholic home, went to Catholic Schools for twelve years and had five brothers and sisters. Our extended family on both sides was very large. Holidays were an event! I think the story of how I got to where I am today began in 1993 when I got sober from drugs and alcohol. I did 16 days of in-patient treatment, a year of outpatient and lived in a recovery community for over a year. Getting sober was the catalyst for all the changes that would occur over the next thirty-one years. I have spent close to twenty-five years in my own individual and group therapies. Truth be told, my own therapy has been the greatest influence in making me the kind of therapist I am today. Often, when I am with a client, uncertain about what to say or do, I think back to the amazing therapists I have had and find the answer rather effortlessly. I have had the privilege of working with amazing therapists! I don’t think my story can be told without mentioning my Transgender identity. Acknowledging my gender diversity has been the single most important factor in the abundant life I have today. Imagine the amount of energy it takes to suppress something as important as sexual orientation or gender identity. When I came out, it freed up that energy to channel it into positive change and growth. I firmly believe an LGBTQIAA+ person will not come out until they feel safe enough to do so. For me that safety came later in life and ever since, my life has taken on a wonderful radiance. I now work with other Trans and non-binary folks, using my own experience and training to assist them in navigating their own gender journeys. I love what I do!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has definitely not been easy. Although, I do acknowledge my privilege as a white, able-bodied person and recognize the advantages inherent in that. Many people have had and continue to have tougher journeys than me. The process of self-actualization is an unbelievably painful experience, because it asks me to shed the very coping mechanisms that helped me survive. I had a death grip on those maladaptive tools! Perfectionism, black and white thinking, people pleasing. They helped me survive but they couldn’t take me any further. And the process of letting them go is so arduous. First, I need to become aware of what those coping mechanisms are, get really sick of them, gain an understanding of their destructiveness and ultimately learn about tools that will serve me better. The process feels like torture at times, but my North Star has always been the belief that at some point I could have a life of peace and contentment. I still believe that!
We’ve been impressed with Gender Wellness of Los Angeles, 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?
Gender Wellness’ Mission is: “To provide mental health services and resources that enable transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals — and their families — to thrive”. We take that mission very seriously in the form of individual and group therapy, workshops and trainings as well as social activism. Transgender and non-binary folks are under attack in ways they never have been before. At GWLA we try and be a port in the storm where Trans and non-binary folks, and their families, feel loved, supported and seen. We are growing at a rate commensurate with the needs of our community. When someone comes to GWLA for help we will support them from that first session through whatever path their gender journey takes them. GWLA prides itself on the resources we have procured over the last thirty years of serving the TGD community. We will not send a client to a resource unless we have personally vetted that resource and assessed their effectiveness in serving the Trans and non-binary population. TGD people need spaces that are knowledgeable and affirming and we love to be a part of that. GWLA has an amazing staff that is dedicated to providing the highest quality service to every person we encounter.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Covid opened up the whole state of California for our organization, because prior to Covid, Telehealth was not really available. When we saw client’s, it was in-person and they needed to be within reasonable driving distance of our offices. With the advent of Telehealth we can provide services to Trans and non-binary folks living in communities without Trans-affirming resources. I think this has been a game-changer for many Trans and non-binary Californians and has become a valuable tool in helping TGD folks to thrive. Another important thing we learned from the pandemic was the importance of community. Covid was an isolating experiencing inflicted upon a community already familiar with the word “isolation”. The value of another human being mirroring and validating your lived experience is easy to underestimate. At GWLA we don’t underestimate it. Whatever part we can play in helping Trans and non-binary folks, and their families, to expand their social supports is time well-spent for us. It’s hard to be authentically oneself as a gender diverse person in a culture that pays homage to the gender binary. We are proud of the community we have built, the podcasts we’ve done and the advocacy work we have performed across our social media platforms. If we can help one person feel less alone we will have done our job!
Pricing:
- $275.00-$150.00 for individual sessions
Contact Info:
- Website: https://genwell.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genderwellnessla/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genderwellnessoflosangeles
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@genderwellnessoflosangeles
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gender-wellness-of-los-angeles-sherman-oaks?osq=gender+wellness+of
- Other: Tik Tok: @genderwellnesslosangeles
