Case study / Audie Vera
Many LGBTQ+ individuals encounter discrimination or discomfort in traditional healthcare settings, which can delay or prevent access to care. By removing barriers such as travel, distance, and fear of stigma, doxy.me enables therapists like Audie to deliver safe, inclusive support at scale.
Results
Improving access to healthcare
A better patient experience
Speciality
Mental Health
Patient population
LGBTQ+ individuals
Care delivery model
Virtual
24%
of LGBTQ+ persons reported that a provider has blamed them for their health problems
16%
of LGBTQ+ Americans have been denied or refused healthcare services
Providing affirming mental health care—without compromising safety or privacy
For many members of the LGBTQ+ community, accessing mental health care through traditional healthcare systems can be difficult or unsafe. Experiences of discrimination, lack of cultural competence, or even refusal of care contribute to widespread distrust and avoidance of treatment—often leaving mental health needs unmet.
For therapists like Audie, who are committed to delivering affirming, inclusive care, the challenge is clear: how to reach LGBTQ+ patients in a way that feels safe, private, and accessible—without compromising the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
The challenge: better access to safe, affirming mental health care
LGBTQ+ individuals disproportionately face barriers to healthcare, particularly in mental health settings. Geographic limitations, fear of exposure to unsupportive environments, and concerns about privacy can prevent patients from seeking help at all.
For providers offering affirming therapy, delivering care that meets patients where they are—emotionally and physically—requires a model that removes these barriers while maintaining trust, confidentiality, and clinical continuity.
“Being a sexual or gender minority person doesn’t cause health problems,” said Audie. “It’s the experience of minority stress that causes these health problems.”
Audie Vera
Therapist
Achieving success with doxy.me
Using doxy.me, Audie provides remote, video-based therapy sessions that allow LGBTQ+ clients to receive care from a space where they feel safe and comfortable. With a browser-based experience that requires no downloads or apps, doxy.me removes many of the technical and logistical hurdles often associated with virtual mental health care.
Patients no longer need to travel long distances, risk entering unsupportive environments, or compromise their privacy to access therapy. Instead, they can connect securely from home, a trusted community space, or anywhere they feel at ease—significantly lowering the threshold for seeking mental health support.
Just as importantly, doxy.me enables Audie to offer care that is not only accessible, but deeply affirming—connecting LGBTQ+ patients with a provider who understands their lived experiences and approaches care with empathy and cultural competence.
“Without taking the time to learn what is needed for LGBTQ+ healthcare services, you risk engaging in microaggressions and that can reinforce minority stress - which develops into the healthcare disparities we see in LGBTQ+ population.”
Audie Vera
Therapist
The impact: Providing affirming mental health care without compromising safety, privacy, or trust
Telehealth delivered through doxy.me offers a practical and scalable path toward more inclusive mental health care for LGBTQ+ individuals. By reducing barriers related to discrimination, geography, and privacy, this model helps address disparities that disproportionately affect the community.
For providers, it enables broader reach and continuity of care. For patients, it creates a safer, more accessible way to engage in therapy—supporting mental health outcomes that might otherwise go unmet.
Organizations such as the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center continue to advance inclusive care through free educational resources for healthcare professionals, reinforcing the importance of culturally competent, affirming care models like this one.
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