LGBTQ+

 The New Beginnings Center is proud to serve the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ population. ​The New Beginnings Center has several staff members who are either part of the community themselves or qualified and experienced allies, and can help with a variety of issues such as:

• The coming out process
• Providing psychoeducation surrounding being a member of the community to family members
• Provide support and resources for family members
• Providing letters for gender confirmation surgeries
• Supporting clients who experience depression and anxiety relating to lack of family and friend support
• Provide skills and support in dealing with microaggressions and marginalization
• Assistance in navigating identity with other medical and school professionals
• Advocacy in communicating with other professionals in how to respond and communicate with client in a way that’s respectful to sexual orientation and gender identity
• And many more!

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Melanie Moir, AMFT, LPCC

Melanie identifies as queer and on the non-binary spectrum; she is comfortable with she/her pronouns. While attending Pacifica Graduate Institute in the Counseling Psychology program, she was chosen by Pacific Pride Foundation in Santa Barbara (https://pacificpridefoundation.org) as a student intern. Here she had the opportunity to receive mentorship by Clinical Supervisor Bren Fraser, LGBTQ+ affirmative LMFT, and worked closely with LGBTQ+ Program Manager Patrick-Lyra Lanier, LMFT, attending many hours of LGBTQ+ Competency Training (https://pacificpridefoundation.org/lgbtq-competency-training/) and presenting this training to clinicians and staff at Cottage Hospital. Melanie was also a student intern at Vista del Mar hospital in Ventura, providing LGBTQ+ affirmative therapeutic support to youth in the adolescent unit, as well as psychoeducation for parents, clinicians and hospital staff about how to best support this population. As an AMFT at The New Beginnings Center Melanie continues to serve LGBTQ+ community, treating individuals, couples, adults, children, and families. Melanie currently runs Rainbow Resilience, a LGBTQ+ skills group for teens. Please click here for more information about Rainbow Resilience!

​To reach Melanie: (805) 987-3162 x16
email: healingpath@melaniemft.com

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Sean Baker, LMFT, SEP

Sean Baker LMFT, SEP is co-owner and CEO at The New Beginnings Center in Camarillo, California.  As a clinician, he uses body-mind approaches to resolve clients’ distress related to gender dysphoria, trauma, and medical conditions. Sean advocates for transgender mental health care, provides staff sensitivity trainings and works with LGBTQ+ clients at the Santa Paula PRIDE Clinic. He has spoken out on transgender issues to the Ventura Board of Supervisors and presents at national conferences on gender diversity issues in mental health care.





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Here is Sean's speech as the keynote speaker for the Ventura County Transgender Day of Remembrance in 2018!
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Susan Richter, LMFT, SEP, CEDS

Susan Richter LMFT, SEP, CEDS is co-owner and Clinical Director at The New Beginnings Center in Camarillo, California. Trained in EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Comprehensive Resource Model, and Cortical Field Re-education, Susan has over 30 years experience providing individual and group psychotherapy treatment to those with eating disorders, trauma, anxiety and depression.

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