Frequently Asked Questions — LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy at Polari Psychotherapy
What types of therapy does Polari Psychotherapy offer?
Polari Psychotherapy offers individual therapy, couples therapy, and gender-affirming care including gender-affirming letters. Specialties include LGBTQ+ affirming therapy, high-functioning depression therapy, gay men’s therapy, kink-affirming therapy, consensual non-monogamy and polyamory therapy, grief and trauma therapy, and therapy for older adults. All therapy is depth-oriented and individualized.
How do I get started with therapy at Polari Psychotherapy?
The first step is scheduling a free 15-minute consultation call. This gives us both a chance to discuss what you're looking for, ask questions, and determine whether we're a good fit. You can book directly through the website or call me directly at (954) 408-2805.
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes. I offer a free 15-minute video consultation to prospective clients. There is no obligation or commitment required. It is an opportunity to get a sense of how I work and whether this feels like the right fit before scheduling a first session.
What happens in the first therapy session?
The first session is an intake — a structured conversation where we discuss what brought you to therapy, your history, your goals, and any questions you have about the process. It is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of what working together feels like. There is no pressure to share everything at once.
How long does therapy typically take?
The length of therapy varies significantly depending on the individual, their goals, and the nature of what they're working on. Some clients work toward a specific goal over a few months. Others engage in longer-term, depth-oriented work over a year or more. This is something we discuss openly and revisit throughout the process.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes. I accept insurance through Headway. Currently accepted plans include Aetna, Cigna and Evernorth, Carelon Behavioral Health, and Quest Behavioral Health. Insurance coverage and benefits vary by plan — I recommend verifying your benefits before your first session.
Do you offer a sliding scale fee?
Yes. I offer limited sliding scale fees for clients who need a reduced cost for services. If you are interested in working together and cost is a barrier, reach out directly and we can discuss what is available.
How much does a therapy session cost?
Individual and couples sessions are $150 per session. Sliding scale options are available on a limited basis. Insurance is accepted through Headway for eligible plans.
What payment methods do you accept?
I accept major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, as well as Health Savings Account (HSA) cards and personal checks.
Are sessions in-person or virtual?
I offer both. In-person sessions are available at my office at 805 East Broward Boulevard #301, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Virtual therapy via telehealth is available to adults throughout the state of Florida.
Do you offer telehealth therapy in Florida?
Yes. I provide telehealth therapy to adults throughout Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, Miami Beach, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Boca Raton, and surrounding areas. All telehealth sessions are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform.
Do you see clients outside of Florida?
I am currently licensed in Florida and see clients statewide via telehealth. I am in the process of pursuing licensure in additional states. If you are located outside of Florida and interested in working together, reach out — I am open to expanding licensure to accommodate specific clients.
What are your hours?
I offer early morning, evening, and weekend appointments to accommodate a range of schedules. I’m typically available from 7AM-7PM most weekdays and from 8AM-3PM on Saturdays. Contact me or book a consultation to discuss current openings.
Are you an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist?
Yes. I have specialized in LGBTQ+ affirming care, including trans-competent care since the beginning of my training and career. I work with gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and gender-diverse adults without pathologizing identity. I am familiar with the South Florida LGBTQ+ community specifically and take confidentiality and documentation seriously in ways that matter given the current political climate in Florida.
What is LGBTQ+ affirming therapy?
LGBTQ+ affirming therapy is a clinical approach that treats LGBTQ+ identities as valid and does not pathologize sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. An affirming therapist does not try to change or minimize your identity — your SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression) is held as the context for the work, not a problem to be addressed.
Does Polari Psychotherapy provide gender-affirming letters in Florida?
Yes. I provide gender-affirming letters — commonly called WPATH letters — for gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), top surgery, bottom surgery, other gender confirming procedures, and legal name and gender marker changes. Ongoing litigation and political pressure surrounding WPATH and gender-affirming standards of care do not change how this practice operates. Nicholas Makris's clinical practice is grounded in the evidence and in each client's stated experience — not in whoever is applying political pressure to delay care.
Do I need to be in therapy to get a gender-affirming letter?
No. Current best practices and peer-reviewed literature does not require ongoing therapy as a prerequisite for a gender-affirming letter. What is required is a formal assessment by a mental health professional with training in LGBTQ+ and transgender care. The number of sessions required varies depending on the type of letter. Therapy may be recommended depending on the outcome of the assessment, but it is not a universal requirement.
What is kink-affirming therapy?
Kink-affirming therapy is provided by a clinician who treats kink, BDSM, and power exchange dynamics as valid expressions of sexuality rather than pathology. A kink-affirming therapist has clinical experience working with kink-identified clients, understands the culture and vocabulary of the BDSM community, and does not assume that kink participation is a symptom of trauma or disorder.
Do you work with polyamorous or CNM relationships?
Yes. I work with individuals and partners in all relationship structures including monogamous, polyamorous, open, relationship anarchy, and other forms of ethical or consensual non-monogamy (CNM). I do not apply a monogamy-default framework to CNM relationships. Your relationship structure is the context for the work — not the problem.
What is the difference between kink-aware, kink-friendly, and kink-affirming?
Kink-friendly means a therapist is willing not to pathologize kink. Kink-aware means a therapist has some familiarity with the kink and BDSM community. Kink-affirming means a therapist actively affirms kink as a valid part of sexuality, has clinical experience with kink-identified clients, and understands the specific concerns and dynamics of the community well enough to actually help — rather than simply tolerate. I practice as a kink-affirming therapist.
Does Polari Psychotherapy offer gay men's therapy in Florida?
Yes. Gay men's therapy is one of the primary clinical focuses at Polari Psychotherapy. Nicholas works with gay men navigating loneliness and disconnection inside community, coming out later in life, identity questions, sexuality and functioning, and the gap between a full life on the outside and not actually feeling it. In-person in Fort Lauderdale; telehealth statewide across Florida.
Does Polari Psychotherapy offer trans-affirming therapy in Florida?
Yes. Trans-affirming therapy is a core clinical focus at Polari Psychotherapy. Nicholas has specialized training in trans and gender-affirming care, is one of the first AFFIRM Pro consultants nationally, presents on gender-affirming care at national medical conferences, and trains other clinicians on affirming assessment practices. In-person in Fort Lauderdale, Telehealth statewide, including areas where affirming providers are genuinely scarce.
Is it harder to find trans-affirming care in Florida right now?
Yes. Florida's political climate has significantly reduced the availability of affirming care for trans and gender-diverse adults across the state. Polari Psychotherapy offers telehealth statewide specifically because affirming providers remain concentrated in a handful of cities. Geography should not be one more barrier to care that actually believes you.
Does Polari Psychotherapy offer therapy for older LGBTQ+ adults?
Yes. Polari Psychotherapy works with older LGBTQ+ adults navigating later-life identity, loss, aging in community, and the particular weight of decades of experience — including clients who lived through the AIDS crisis, who came out later in life, or who are navigating estrangement, loneliness, or end-of-life concerns. In-person in Fort Lauderdale; telehealth statewide across Florida.
Does Polari Psychotherapy offer LGBTQ+ couples therapy in Florida?
Yes. LGBTQ+ couples therapy is available in Fort Lauderdale in person and throughout Florida via telehealth. All relationship structures are welcome — monogamous, CNM, polyamorous, open, and kink-involved. Nicholas Makris is Gottman Method Level I trained and Relational Life Therapy (Terry Real) Level I trained.
Is therapy confidential?
Yes. All sessions are confidential under Florida law and HIPAA regulations. There are limited exceptions required by law, including situations involving imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, suspected child or elder abuse, or a valid court order. I will explain confidentiality and its limits in detail during our first session.
Are you thoughtful about clinical documentation?
Yes. I take documentation seriously and am transparent with clients about what goes into their clinical record. If you have concerns about your file — particularly given the current political climate in Florida — this is something we can discuss openly before or during our first session. Your confidentiality matters and I take extra steps to protect it.
Is Polari Psychotherapy accepting new clients in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. New clients can schedule a free 15-minute consultation call through the website or by calling (954) 408-2805. Early morning, evening, and weekend appointments are available to accommodate a range of schedules.
Do you assist with referrals if we're not a good fit?
Yes. If after our consultation or initial sessions it becomes clear that a different provider, approach, or level of care would serve you better, I will help connect you with appropriate resources. I spent the early part of my career in community mental health and have a broad network of providers and services in South Florida.