LGBTQ-Affirming Therapy, Coaching, and Mentorship with Laura Hoge, RSW

It’s with deep gratitude and care that I share a meaningful new chapter in the life of our practice. I’m honoured to welcome Laura Hoge, RSW (she/her) to Clayre Sessoms Psychotherapy Inc. Laura offers LGBTQ-affirming therapy, coaching, and mentorship grounded in deep clinical expertise, lived experience, and a belief in the power of collective care. She is a therapist, educator, advocate, and published author whose work in trauma-responsive care, grief and loss, gender-affirming practice, and community healing has touched lives and communities across North America.

Laura and I first met in 2005 during yoga teacher training. Even then, we were drawn together by a shared belief that healing begins in the body and that individual transformation can ripple outward into collective change. Over the years, our paths have crossed again and again—through clinical case consultations, peer supervision, and community-based work. Those experiences built a foundation of mutual respect, trust, and vision: a vision that honours slow, relational healing and the power of showing up together for the long arc of change.

Laura’s therapeutic approach is somatic, relational, and justice-informed. For more than two decades, she has supported individuals, families, and communities navigating complex trauma, addiction recovery, grief, and identity development. She brings particular care to her work with fellow therapists, offering mentorship, therapy, and supervision that create space for reflection, integration, and renewal.

A vital part of her practice is walking alongside parents, grandparents, and caregivers of transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive youth. Laura meets families with compassion and clarity, offering therapy, community support, and practical guidance to help caregivers build affirming, resilient relationships. She honours the transformational journey families undertake as they deepen their gender literacy and capacity for unconditional care.

Laura holds a Master of Social Work degree with highest distinction from Rutgers University. She is a Registered Social Worker in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, and is licensed in the U.S. states of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, LICSW) and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counsellor (LCADC). She is a historically certified facilitator of Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), a long-standing member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), and a sought-after contributor to national outlets including USA Today, The Associated Press, and The Advocate.

Her publications include:

• Transcending Together: A Facilitator’s Guide to Empowering Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals Through Support Groups

• Love Without Limits: A Grandparent’s Guide to Supporting and Advocating for Transgender Grandchildren

• Gender Literacy Workbook: A Self-Reflective Manual for Caregivers of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth

She has also presented at national conferences such as USPATH and the Rutgers Summer School of Addiction Studies, and has partnered with organizations across North America to expand access to trauma-responsive, LGBTQ-affirming care.

In addition to her clinical work, Laura has founded and directed LGBTQ-centred therapy programs, developed training for future clinicians at Montclair State University and Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies, and created resources that bridge personal healing with systemic change. Across every role, she has remained steadfast in her belief that healing is relational, embodied, and rooted in justice.

At Clayre Sessoms Psychotherapy Inc., Laura offers individual therapy for adults, mentorship and therapy for fellow therapists, clinical supervision for emerging clinicians, and community-rooted healing opportunities. Her presence strengthens our shared commitment to creating spaces where people—including those who care for others—can return to themselves, reconnect with community, and rediscover what’s possible.

Welcoming Laura into this next chapter reflects my unwavering belief that care is a collective practice. I’m deeply grateful to walk alongside her—and to share her presence, wisdom, and warmth with the individuals, families, and communities we serve.

To learn more about Laura’s work or to book a free 15-minute consultation, visit our online booking site or check out our online therapy page.