Close
Erica Woodland is one of our top 25 thought leaders, experts, and advocates making a difference in mental health.See 2023 Honorees
Erica Woodland is one of our top 25 thought leaders, experts, and advocates making a difference in mental health.
See 2023 Honorees
Introducing Erica Woodland
Erica Woodlandis a black, queer, non-binary therapist, and the founder of theNational Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network(NQTTCN). He is a licensed clinical social worker, therapist and he received his master’s degree in social work from Hunter College in New York City.
Woodland’s journey began in the early 2000s when he worked as a therapist at a community health center in Brooklyn, New York. It was here that he became acutely aware of the lack of support for queer and trans people of color within mental health services. Particularly, Woodland saw firsthand the impact of discrimination, trauma, and lack of access to care on his clients’ mental health and well-being.
Founding the NQTTCN
Noticing a need that needed to be filled, Woodland created the NQTTCN — a network of mental health practitioners, organizers, and activists dedicated to providing culturally responsive mental health services to queer and trans people of color — in 2016. Additionally, the NQTTCN also works as a national resource that provides training, education, and support to mental health professionals who work with queer and trans people of color.
NQTTCN was named best therapy service for LGBTQ+ individuals as part ofVerywell Mind’s 2022 Online Therapy Awards.
Furthermore, the NQTTCN also advocates for policies and practices that support queer and trans people of color’s mental health. This advocacy includes working with organizations, and collaborating with policymakers and funders to ensure that mental health services are accessible and culturally responsive. The NQTTCN also advocates for the inclusion of queer and trans people of color in research and data collection, as a means to better understand and serve the mental health needs of these communities.
And in 2019, he was selected as a TED Fellow and delivered a TED talk titled “How Queer and Trans People of Color Are Saving Mental Health Care.” Woodland’s work with the NQTTCN has also been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, and The Huffington Post.
Woodland’s work with the NQTTCN is not just about providing mental healthcare to queer and trans people of color. But rather, to also create a world where individuals within this community can thrive.
Why Culturally Responsive Care Is an Essential Resource
Queer and trans people of color experience higher rates of discrimination, harassment, and violence, which can lead to higher rates ofdepression,suicidal ideation, andPTSD.Additionally, due to his intersecting identities he also faces added stressors and harm, such as racism, homophobia, and transphobia.
Online Therapy Reviews
3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National LGBTQ Task Force.New analysis shows startling levels of discrimination against Black transgender people.Wilson EC, Chen YH, Arayasirikul S, Raymond HF, McFarland W.The impact of discrimination on the mental health of trans*female youth and the protective effect of parental support. AIDS Behav. 2016;20(10):2203–2211. DOI:10.1007/s10461–016–1409–7Reisner SL, Benyishay M, Stott B, Vedilago V, Almazan A, Keuroghlian AS.Gender-affirming mental health care access and utilization among rural transgender and gender diverse adults in five northeastern US. States.Transgender Health. 2022;7(3):219–229. DOI:10.1089/trgh.2021.0010
3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National LGBTQ Task Force.New analysis shows startling levels of discrimination against Black transgender people.Wilson EC, Chen YH, Arayasirikul S, Raymond HF, McFarland W.The impact of discrimination on the mental health of trans*female youth and the protective effect of parental support. AIDS Behav. 2016;20(10):2203–2211. DOI:10.1007/s10461–016–1409–7Reisner SL, Benyishay M, Stott B, Vedilago V, Almazan A, Keuroghlian AS.Gender-affirming mental health care access and utilization among rural transgender and gender diverse adults in five northeastern US. States.Transgender Health. 2022;7(3):219–229. DOI:10.1089/trgh.2021.0010
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National LGBTQ Task Force.New analysis shows startling levels of discrimination against Black transgender people.Wilson EC, Chen YH, Arayasirikul S, Raymond HF, McFarland W.The impact of discrimination on the mental health of trans*female youth and the protective effect of parental support. AIDS Behav. 2016;20(10):2203–2211. DOI:10.1007/s10461–016–1409–7Reisner SL, Benyishay M, Stott B, Vedilago V, Almazan A, Keuroghlian AS.Gender-affirming mental health care access and utilization among rural transgender and gender diverse adults in five northeastern US. States.Transgender Health. 2022;7(3):219–229. DOI:10.1089/trgh.2021.0010
National LGBTQ Task Force.New analysis shows startling levels of discrimination against Black transgender people.
Wilson EC, Chen YH, Arayasirikul S, Raymond HF, McFarland W.The impact of discrimination on the mental health of trans*female youth and the protective effect of parental support. AIDS Behav. 2016;20(10):2203–2211. DOI:10.1007/s10461–016–1409–7
Reisner SL, Benyishay M, Stott B, Vedilago V, Almazan A, Keuroghlian AS.Gender-affirming mental health care access and utilization among rural transgender and gender diverse adults in five northeastern US. States.Transgender Health. 2022;7(3):219–229. DOI:10.1089/trgh.2021.0010
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
