Hi, I’m Kortnie

I'm a conditionally licensed mental health counselor in Maine, and I am the founder of Queerly Grounded Collective.

I am queer, autistic, and ADHD, and those parts of my identity shape how I show up as a therapist. I know what it's like to feel different, to navigate systems that weren't designed with you in mind, and to spend years wondering whether you have to change who you are just to belong.

That experience is part of why I became a therapist. I wanted to create the kind of space I wish more people had: one where you don't have to perform, explain yourself, or earn acceptance before you're allowed to be human.

While I work with adults from many different backgrounds, I have a particular passion for supporting neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ individuals as they navigate identity, relationships, anxiety, burnout, and life transitions.

What Therapy Feels Like With Me

My style is warm, collaborative, and conversational. I don't believe therapy has to feel cold or clinical. Some days we'll laugh. Some days we'll sit with difficult emotions. Sometimes I'll challenge you gently, and sometimes I'll simply hold space while you untangle what's been weighing on you.

I value authenticity above almost everything else. I don't expect you to show up with the "right" words or a perfectly organized story. Therapy is about creating enough safety that you can begin saying the true thing, not the ‘right thing’.

My hope is that our sessions feel less like an interview and more like two people working together toward a life that feels more aligned with who you truly are.

My Approach

My work is grounded in evidence-based practices while remaining flexible enough to meet each person where they are. Rather than forcing clients into a single therapeutic model, I draw from approaches that best fit your goals, personality, and experiences.

I frequently incorporate Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to help identify strengths and build meaningful change, mindfulness to increase awareness and self-compassion, strengths-based approaches that recognize what's already working, and parts work to help people better understand the different aspects of themselves.

While I'm continually growing as a clinician and don't claim expertise in a single modality, I'm committed to lifelong learning and providing care that's thoughtful, affirming, and grounded in current research.

Outside the Therapy Room

When I'm not working, you'll usually find me spending time with my family, hiking in the Maine woods, working on creative projects, writing, or dreaming up my next idea. I love creating educational resources, and I'm passionate about making mental health information more accessible, especially for neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ communities.

I genuinely believe people deserve spaces where they can exist without constantly masking or shrinking themselves. Whether we work together for a few months or much longer, my hope is that therapy becomes one place where you can breathe a little easier and feel a little more like yourself.