Welcoming Laura Hoge, LCSW, LICSW, RSW to Clayre Sessoms Psychotherapy

It is with a deep sense of gratitude and care that we share the next step in our collective journey at Clayre Sessoms Psychotherapy Inc. We are honoured to welcome Laura Hoge, LCSW, LICSW, RSW (she/her), to our practice. Laura is a therapist, educator, advocate, and published author whose contributions to the fields of trauma-responsive care, grief and loss, gender-affirming practice, and collective healing have shaped communities across North America.

Laura’s clinical practice is deeply rooted in somatic, relational, and justice-informed approaches to healing. Over the past two decades, she has supported individuals, families, and communities navigating complex trauma, addiction recovery, profound experiences of grief and loss, and the ongoing work of identity development and self-liberation. She is especially passionate about providing therapy and mentorship for fellow therapists, creating spaces where healers themselves can receive relational support, deepen self-understanding, and reconnect with the sustaining forces of their work.

A vital part of Laura’s practice has always included working alongside parents, grandparents, and caregivers of transgender, non-binary, and gender-creative youth. She has supported families through individual therapy, parenting therapy, community advocacy, and peer support group facilitation, helping caregivers navigate complex emotions, learn affirming practices, and build strong, loving foundations for their children and grandchildren. Her work honours the transformational journey that families undertake as they grow in gender literacy, resilience, and unconditional care.

Throughout her career, Laura Hoge, LCSW, LICSW, RSW has pursued excellence across multiple domains of clinical practice, education, and leadership. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University, graduating with highest distinction, and maintains active licensure in several jurisdictions 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) and a long-time member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).

Laura’s contributions extend beyond direct client work. As a published author, she has written several books offering practical and compassionate guidance for families and clinicians engaging in gender-affirming care. 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, and Gender Literacy Workbook: A Self-Reflective Manual for Caregivers of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth. These works reflect an unwavering dedication to accessible, affirming support across the lifespan of both transgender individuals and the families who love them.

She has also presented nationally at conferences such as USPATH and nationally recognized Rutgers Summer School of Addiction Studies, and has collaborated with organizations across North America to advance LGBTQ-affirming and trauma-responsive practices in clinical and community settings. Her advocacy continues to bridge individual healing with systemic change, grounded in the belief that affirming care is a human right. For this reason, she has been sought after from high-profile media publications in the United States (i.e. USA Today, Associated Press, The Advocate, etc) for her insights on the changing climate of gender-affirming care.

In addition to her clinical and scholarly work, Laura has been a strong advocate for program development and community education. She founded “Spectrum Health and Wellness,” a group practice in Montclair, NJ, that focuses on LGBTQ-specific outpatient treatment. In addition, she has served as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University and Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies, where she taught future clinicians the foundations of ethical, culturally responsive care. Throughout her work, Laura has remained committed to the belief that healing is a relational, embodied, and deeply political process.

Our professional relationship with Laura spans nearly two decades. We first met during yoga teacher training in 2005, brought together by a shared commitment to body-centred healing and a curiosity about how individual transformation could ripple outward into collective change. Over the years, we have collaborated on clinical case consultations, peer supervision, and community organizing efforts. Through this work, a foundation of trust, mutual respect, and shared vision has emerged — one that honours the slow, patient work of relational healing and collective care.

At Clayre Sessoms Psychotherapy Inc., Laura will offer individual therapy for adults, mentorship and therapy for fellow therapists, clinical supervision for emerging clinicians, and community-rooted healing opportunities. Her presence strengthens our commitment to providing spaces where individuals, including those who care for others, can reconnect with themselves, their community, and possibilities. Her work serves as a reminder that grief and loss, when held with care, can open pathways to deeper resilience, belonging, and transformation, and that affirming family support is an essential thread in the broader fabric of collective well-being.

We are excited to share more about our evolving offerings in the months ahead as we continue to reimagine our practice with support from DesignGood, a creative agency that shares our belief in building from the inside out. Our expansion is not just about growing larger; it is about deepening our work to be relational, embodied, and sustainable for the long arc of healing that many are navigating.

Welcoming Laura Hoge into this next chapter reflects our enduring commitment to the belief that care is a collective practice. We are grateful to walk this path alongside her, and we look forward to the many ways her presence will continue to nourish the individuals, families, and communities we serve.

To learn more about our evolving services and approach, please visit clayresessoms.com. To book a consultation with Laura, you may book a free 15-minute consultation online.