Gia Scalise, MSW, LCSW

As a therapist and storyteller, I strongly believe that we’re the experts of our own stories. That being said, systemic narratives and expectations that may not quite align with who we are and what we need as individuals can greatly affect how we move through the world and the stories we tell ourselves. As your therapist, my goal is to create a safe and compassionate space for you to explore your experiences and determine which stories are authentically yours and which you’re ready to reauthor.

My approach integrates various models and interventions, but the foundation of my practice is relational and harm reductionist. This means building a collaborative, resilient therapeutic relationship that supports you in meeting yourself where you’re at, highlighting or reintroducing you to your strengths, and exploring sustainable change that aligns with your values and goals. I also like to hold space for humor and creativity, both of which I believe are incredibly important tools that help us process our experiences, engage with our emotions, and explore different parts of ourselves.

Because my practice centers on challenging systemic narratives, I often work with queer and neurodivergent individuals, those wanting to break intergenerational trauma cycles, and those interested in changing their relationship to substances and alcohol. I also identify as a geek therapist, so I try to bring nerd culture into the therapy space for nerdy clients, making complex topics more accessible in contexts we’re already fond of and familiar with. I especially enjoy working with queer TTRPGers, folks involved in fandom, gamers of all kinds, and fanfiction readers and writers.

I’m a therapist and storyteller, but I’m also queer, neurodivergent, an animal lover, and an all-around nerd. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, reading fantasy novels, writing fiction, playing all varieties of board and video games, and creating Dungeons & Dragons characters based on my pets.