LGBTQIA+ COUPLES THERAPIST IN HOUSTON

Bailey Franklin, LMFT

About Bailey (he/hIM)

When Your Needs Pull You Apart

I work with individuals and couples navigating a difference in needs – whether around what makes the relationship feel worthwhile, a deeply held value, a sexual desire, or shifting identities. 

Differences are part of every relationship. But now it feels like your partner isn’t hearing you or that there is only space for one partner’s needs – which isn’t sustainable and doesn’t feel good to either of you.  

You try to make your case to each other, going between yelling or withdrawing, even contemplating separation or divorce because you worry you’re “incompatible.”  

With a solution- and strengths-focused approach, I support couples who want to connect but feel caught in a double bind. I’ll help you shift from being adversaries to allies in each other's growth, so the wholeness and authenticity of each partner is welcomed and celebrated – making way for a love that can hold it all.  

Work with Bailey Franklin

Bailey’s Specialties

Mixed-Orientation Couples

I work with couples who love each other, but need help navigating different identities, relationship orientations, values, or sexual needs.  

These include couples who may have different sexual orientations (i.e., one is bisexual, the other heterosexual), relationship orientations (monogamous and polyamorous), and can also include couples from different cultures, who speak different languages, or grew up with different socioeconomic experiences. 

I can hold these complexities without pathologizing either partner’s needs or making one person “wrong” for their point of view.  Differences are normalized, named openly, and held with respect and openness.

You can trust that I’m not taking you somewhere I haven’t been before. As a bisexual man, I bring my own lived experience engaging in therapy and being in mixed-orientation and bicultural relationships. I’ve learned that discomfort can be where we begin to let the light in, creating space for you to create a relationship that can hold all of you: your needs, your desires, and the fullest expression of who you each are.

Growing Up with Addiction

When addiction is present in one or both caregivers, it shapes your entire childhood. 

You grew up wondering which version of your parents you were seeing today, whether you needed to protect a younger sibling, or when an argument might start — all while knowing you couldn't tell anyone what was happening at home.  You became very good at sensing moods, anticipating needs, and knowing how to calm others.

But you're no longer living at home, and you're no longer a child. Yet you still take on responsibilities that aren't yours, struggle to trust others, or find yourself tangled in painful dynamics with family members who have refused treatment or remain unwilling to acknowledge the impact of their addiction.  

As someone who was raised in a household with untreated addiction, I can tell you: healing is possible. You don't have to spend the rest of your life managing other people's emotions or carrying burdens that aren't yours. I can help you understand the origins of these patterns and take the first step toward building a life that feels safe, peaceful, and connected.

IDENTITY AFFIRMING THERAPIST IN HOUSTON

Therapy that helps you discover who you truly are. 

Many of my clients struggle with feeling “too much” or “not enough.” Over time, this can lead to unconsciously pushing down your needs, denying your desires, and shaping yourself around who others want you to be, rather than who you genuinely are.

After years as a therapist (and much longer walking this earth), I’ve witnessed the profound brilliance of humanity, love, and expression in countless forms.

My role is to help us discover what’s real and true for you – with no agenda or assumptions. 

Whether it’s a long-held fantasy you want to explore, an addiction or behavior you’d rather not face, or a quiet rage you’ve carried for years, I’ll help you greet it with curiosity and care. We’ll explore how to integrate it into your life – or release the shame around it – so that all of you can be seen.

Areas of Expertise

  • LGBTQIA+ Relationships & Sexuality

  • Substance Use/Addiction 

  • Coming Out Later In Life

  • Consensual Non-Monogamy, Polyamory, BDSM & Kink 

  • Infidelity/Betrayal Recovery

  • Childhood Trauma 

Fun Facts

  • I’m fascinated by languages and am currently learning Catalan and French.

  • Studying guitar, swimming, and playing tennis are my favorite ways to get out of my head and back into the present.

  • Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a photo director, art directing and producing photo shoots all over the world. 

Credentials

    • Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology,  LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Specialization - Antioch University Los Angeles

    • Bachelor of Arts, Spanish Area Studies - Macalester College

    • Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Level 2

    • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

    • Internal Family Systems (IFS) 

    • Collaborative Couple Therapy (CCT)

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    • Motivational Interviewing (MI)

    • Licensed Marital and Family Therapist in Texas (#205751) and across various states, including:

      • California #120052 

      • District of Columbia #200001454 

      • Florida #120052 

      • Pennsylvania #MF001691 

      • Virginia #0717002146

    • Fluent in English and Spanish

BOOK A FREE CONSULT

RATES

50 minutes: $200
Individual Session

50 minutes: $250
Couples Session

OFFICE HOURS

By appointment

Virtual Only

Wednesday - Sunday

6:00 am - 1:00 pm