Avigail, Queer Therapist in Los Angeles

Meet Avigail, LGBTQ Therapist in Los Angeles, California

How do you differentiate between self-care and self-indulgence?

In a culture that blames us individually for every struggle we have, sometimes indulgence really feels like caring resistance (and sometimes it is!). At the same time, treating ourselves as beings worthy of respect and care can also involve tedium and discipline (a friendlier word might be “commitment”) because the most loving self-care connects us to a sense of integrity.

For me, the purpose of self-care isn’t about separating myself or numbing out, but rather identifying what needs attention so that I can ultimately remain connected to my most cherished values as a being in this world. Self-care might look like retreating sometimes, but that may not be what it’s for.


Share a quote or mantra that helps you through tough times.

“You are not the problem. The problem is the problem.” – Michael White

How do you practice self-care during stressful times?

I try to rescue the definition of “self-care” from the way it’s often presented in social media or monetized in capitalist culture as something perfectionist, another thing on the to-do-list that we have to “get right”…For me, as someone prone to overthinking, self-care is often about remembering I have a body and spirit to nourish. Your motivation for self-care may be different. For those whose dominant ways of processing is feeling, choosing to get into action or thinking through things may allow for unseen needs to emerge; for those whose default is doing, slowing down and paying attention to emotions and feeling states can be illuminating.

In other words, reaching for ways of relating that aren’t your go-tos can be enlivening.

In my own life, sometimes it means inviting myself out of routines that result in stagnation and rumination. That might be listening to a friend’s playlist so I can hear music I’m not expecting, driving a route I don’t usually take, getting out of my comfort zone to reach out to a loved one, or even engaging in something esteemable, something that aligns me with a sense of integrity and accountability by being of service and active in community.

Share an activity or hobby that helps you unwind and relax.

I love to find creative expression through freestyle dance. There is so much to be said without words. I also love watching people be creative and resourceful against the odds, so I’m not averse to a good competition reality show. This very much dates me but RuPaul Drag Queen stars Alyssa Edwards and Raja are still my queens of all queens and seriously how many spinoffs can one mogul make?! (Still watching tho)

“We love our counselor. We would highly recommend.”

“Avi is the most amazing therapist ever.”