This week host Renae Johnson (they/them) and OSTC therapist Debbie Whyte (she/her) explore how to be open and discerning when searching for chosen family. Finding your chosen family takes time. It’s all about surrounding yourself with those who really see and support you. But how do you actually do that?

In this episode we discuss:

• What does it mean to “choose” your family? Are these just your friends?

• It’s hard to find friends and close people in your community, much less, “choose” them. Should I be cutting people out if I see a red flag?

• I’m trying to figure out what to do for the holidays and I don’t know if I can count on my chosen family to be there for me. Does this mean they’re not up to par?

• If I decide to have a chosen family, does this mean I am leaving my related family behind?

• I’ve never been close with my related family, and I moved to LA because there was nothing back there for me. I’m usually only close to people I’m sleeping with. Am I supposed to choose a family from this?

Join us as we dive into the real process of Choosing your family and finding people who genuinely get you.

Therapist Bio:

Debbie Whyte ATR, APCC (she/her) Is an Associate Therapist and Art Therapist with Open Space Therapy Collective. Debbie specializes in working with queer and BIPOC teens and young adults who are looking to grow into themselves and find their voice.

Host Bio:

Renae Johnson (they/them) founded Open Space Therapy Collective (OSTC), a group practice and community hub that focuses on mental health for and by the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities and their allies.

Renae is a licensed therapist and board certified art therapist who specializes in working with queer artists who are exploring their gender identity and recovering from complex trauma. Previous to founding OSTC, Renae spent a decade in community mental health services, providing therapy and as an Operations Director in non-profit organizations serving people experiencing complex co-occurring diagnoses.

To find more from us visit:

Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com

Instagram: @openspacetherapycollective

TikTok: @openspacetherapy

Spotify: @MyTherapistisOut

Apple Podcasts: @mytherapistisout

YouTube: @openspacetherapycollective

Content transparency: family dynamics