Clare McBee, LICSW

Over the course of my career as a clinical social worker, I have focused my work on providing LGBTQI-affirming psychotherapy to individuals who have experienced trauma, in its many interpersonal and systemic forms. As a white cis queer therapist, I continue to educate myself on the privileges and power dynamics inherent in my own social position in relation to my clients, and I openly work from an anti-oppression framework.

My work with each client is integrative and dynamic. My “home base” is in contemporary feminist psychodynamic therapy (e.g. “top-down” talk therapy), but my primary focus is in providing more “bottom-up” interventions from EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy to assist individuals in reprocessing and healing from trauma. Once it is legalized (expected around 2023), I also expect to provide MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of trauma/PTSD. I welcome to my practice individuals who are seeking therapeutic support in integrating their personal psychedelic healing work.

I’m a firm believer that a person will not feel safe exploring difficult areas in therapy if they don’t feel comfortable with and understand the human sitting across from them. Therefore, I want you to see my personality and sense of humor as we collaborate, so that we can build a strong working relationship built on trust and mutual understanding. I am an active therapist! I don’t like sitting back and asking “how does that make you feel?” I like to offer interpretations, suggestions and questions with your input to assist us both in reaching a deeper understanding. Most of all, I am open to your feedback about whether things are working for you.

I obtained my Masters in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago, and hold a previous Masters in Anthropology and Women’s & Gender Studies from Brandeis University. My practice experience has mainly been in community­-based mental health, with a special focus on the health and human rights of historically marginalized communities.