Ingrid Solano, PhD

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Diversity


“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Maya Angelou.

Cultural responsiveness is essential to effective therapy. Sensitivity to racism and oppression, a deep understanding of the impact of discrimination, and awareness of how socialization shapes identity all contribute to meaningful, respectful, and effective care. Empathy that’s informed by lived experiences—both individual and collective—creates a safe, affirming space for exploration and healing.

When working with diverse and marginalized clients, I draw from both clinical expertise and cultural knowledge to adapt evidence-based treatments in ways that honor your identity and lived context. My approach integrates clinical best practices with a commitment to cultural humility, ensuring your experience is validated and your progress is fully supported.

We are all individuals, and we can all learn from each other.

  • LGBTQIA+ - Affirming Therapy

    Affirmative therapy intentionally embraces human diversity—recognizing differences in identity and lived experience as essential, not peripheral, to psychological well-being. This approach actively affirms LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences, rather than viewing them through a pathologizing or heteronormative lens.

    Only in recent decades has the mental health field begun to acknowledge the significant disparities in mental health outcomes between LGBTQIA+ individuals and their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. Affirmative therapy doesn't shy away from these tensions—instead, it invites thoughtful exploration. In our work together, we will examine and challenge the beliefs, assumptions, and societal expectations that have become burdensome or limiting. Therapy becomes a space not just for healing, but for empowerment and self-affirmation—for you and your relationships.


    Sexuality, Identity & Alternative Relationships

    Exploring sexuality, desire, and identity can be both expansive and complex—especially for those navigating sexual and gender minority identities, kink/BDSM, or consensual non-monogamy (CNM), poly, and open relationships. You may be sorting through what feels authentic, how to communicate your needs, or how to integrate desire with your values, relationships, and sense of self. Shame, stigma, or lack of representation can make this process feel isolating, leading to self-doubt or pressure to fit into norms that don’t reflect who you are.

    In our work together, I provide a kink-aware, CNM-affirming, and LGBTQIA+ affirming space where your experiences are met with respect, curiosity, and clinical care—not judgment. We focus on helping you clarify your desires, build communication and consent skills, and develop a grounded, integrated sense of identity. Whether you’re exploring, questioning, or deepening your understanding of yourself and your relationships, therapy can support you in creating a life and relational style that feels authentic, intentional, and fully your own.

  • Shame and Concealment

    We all long for deep, meaningful relationships built on intimacy, connection, and acceptance. Yet, many of us fear that if others truly knew us—our past, our struggles, or our true selves—they might turn away. This fear often leads to hiding parts of who we are in an effort to protect ourselves from rejection. But this self-concealment can become a painful cycle, leaving us feeling isolated and unfulfilled.

    Research shows that hiding our authentic selves is linked to increased depression, anxiety, emotional distress, and even disordered eating. In our work together, I provide a safe, affirming, and nonjudgmental space where you can begin to explore these fears openly—at your own pace. Therapy offers a chance to reclaim your voice, reconnect with your identity, and build the kind of relationships where you feel truly seen and accepted.



    Neurodiversity & Relationships

    Neurodivergent individuals and couples often long for connection that feels natural, not forced—but may find themselves caught in patterns of misunderstanding, overwhelm, or feeling “out of sync.” Differences in communication, sensory needs, attention, and emotional expression can create friction, especially when they’re misread as disinterest or dysfunction. Over time, this can lead to masking, burnout, or a sense that something is fundamentally wrong in the relationship, rather than simply different.

    In our work together, I take a neurodiversity-affirming approach that focuses on understanding—not fixing. We build clear, explicit communication, reduce shame around differences, and create shared systems that actually work for both of you. Therapy becomes a space to slow down, translate each other’s experiences, and reconnect in ways that feel authentic, sustainable, and genuinely supportive of who you each are.

  • Systems, Context & Identity in Therapy

    We don’t enter therapy as blank slates—we bring our histories, identities, and the impact of the systems we live in. Culture, race, gender, sexuality, ability, power, and lived experience all shape how safe it feels to speak, to trust, and to be fully seen. For many people, experiences of being dismissed, misunderstood, or judged don’t stay in the past—they show up in relationships, including therapy itself.

    We are the sum of our experiences within our intimate relationships, families, workplaces, and communities. Our identities and roles shift across different contexts and continue to evolve over time. Through an intersectional lens, we recognize that these overlapping identities are interconnected and cannot be meaningfully separated. I approach this work with an understanding that people navigate systems that can both support and harm, and that meaningful therapy requires more than empathy—it requires awareness, responsiveness, and accountability.

    In our work together, I hold these realities with care and intention. Rather than viewing your experiences as isolated or purely individual, we make space for the broader systems and contexts that have shaped them. This allows us to better understand patterns, reduce self-blame, and create ways of relating—to yourself and others—that feel more grounded and aligned with who you are. I aim to create a space that is not only affirming, but collaborative and adaptive to you. This means being transparent, open to feedback, and intentional about understanding your lived experience rather than making assumptions. Together, we explore both the challenges and strengths within your identity, supporting insight, connection, and a way of relating that feels authentic and sustainable.


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