polari
/pəˈlärē/
Polari was a coded language used among marginalized communities to communicate safely and authentically when openness wasn’t always possible. At its core, Polari represents adaptation, protection, and connection through language.
That history lives in the heart of this practice.
At Polari Psychotherapy, that translates into helping people find language for their inner experiences—especially those parts shaped by grief, trauma, shame, disconnection, or identity conflict.
Meet Nicholas Makris, MS, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | License #MH27478
I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with an MS in Clinical Psychology from Barry University. My clinical foundation was built in community mental health — years at one of South Florida's longest-established and most respected LGBTQ+ behavioral health nonprofits on the frontlines of affirming care, where I saw firsthand what it looks like when people finally have access to affirming care, and what it costs them when they don't.
I have been doing this work since the beginning of my training — not because I drifted into it, but because I made a deliberate choice to center my training, my research, and my clinical focus on the LGBTQ+ community and its experiences.
That foundation shapes everything about how I practice now.
Meet Nicholas Makris, MS, LMHC
I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and obtained a MS in Clinical Psychology from Barry University. My experience is rooted in clinical administration and community mental health in South Florida, which shaped my understanding of both the systems people navigate and the deeply personal struggles they carry.
I believe good psychotherapy happens in the four walls of the therapy room.
I’m not here to tell you what to do. Instead, I help you understand yourself—so that you can have a better relationship with yourself. Together, we’ll explore what’s underneath the surface so you can make more intentional choices about how you move forward.
Not every client needs homework.
Not every client can be approached the same.
My goal is to create a space where you can be honest, curious, and fully yourself.
Even the parts you’re still figuring out.
I am not here to tell you what to do. I am here to help you understand yourself — so that you can have a better relationship with yourself and make more intentional choices about how you move forward. The work is individualized.
I believe good psychotherapy happens in the four walls of the therapy room.
I work from a trauma-informed, integrative framework drawing on psychodynamic theory, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral approaches, DBT skills, and existential and humanistic principles. The approach shifts based on what you bring into the room. What stays consistent is the depth of the work and the commitment to making sure you actually feel met in it.
Not every client needs homework. Not every client can be approached the same way. My goal is to create a space where you can be honest, curious, and fully yourself — even the parts you're still figuring out. That's true whether we're meeting in person in Fort Lauderdale or connected via telehealth anywhere in Florida.
Who I Work With
I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ adults — gay men navigating loneliness and disconnection inside community, trans and gender-diverse people navigating a healthcare system that keeps adding barriers, and CNM and kink-affirming clients who are tired of explaining their relationships before the real work can begin. I also work with older LGBTQ+ adults navigating identity and sexuality later in life, and with couples across all relationship structures.
I provide gender-affirming assessment letters for hormone therapy, gender-affirming surgery, name changes, and legal documents — without gatekeeping, without making you earn it. Clients across Florida find me specifically because affirming providers are still concentrated in a handful of cities. Telehealth means location is no longer one more barrier, whether you're in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Naples, or anywhere else in the state.
How I Work
Why I Built This Practice Around the LGBTQ+ Community
Nicholas Makris, MS, LMHC
Practice Owner • Clinical Psychotherapist
Credentials & Background
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Florida License #MH27478
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
Barry University
AFFIRM Pro Consultant
Certified AFFIRM Pro Facilitator
AFFIRM Adult Facilitator
Certified AFFIRM Adult Facilitator
OutSFL Out & Proud 2025 Honoree
“The Clinician”
International Conference Presenter
Social Isolation & Loneliness Among LGBTQ+
GLMA Conference Presenter
Gender-Affirming Assessment Letters
Former Associate Clinical Director
One of South Florida’s Leading LGBTQ+ Nonprofits
Begin Your Confidential Consultation
If I don’t think I can help you with what you’re looking for, I’ll tell you — and I'll help connect you with someone who can. That's where we start.
You can book a free consultation with me using the button below. If you have any questions, you can call me directly at (954) 408-2805 or fill out the form to the right.