Gay Therapy LA with Ken Howard, LCSW, CST
Gay Therapy LA with Ken Howard, LCSW, CST
Where expertise meets real talk for gay men who want more out of life, love, and themselves.
I’m Ken Howard, LCSW, CST -- an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist; gay men's specialist psychotherapist with over 32 years experience working with gay male individuals, couples, and polycules; life/career/relationship coach; and advocate for gay men thriving on their own terms.
Here, you’ll get more than clichés or recycled pop psychology. These are deep dives into the real mental health, relationship, sex, career, and personal growth challenges gay men face—told through the lens of 30+ years’ experience working exclusively with our community.
We explore it all: navigating the dating scene and long-term relationships (monogamous or open), building self-worth in an appearance-driven culture, aging with confidence, overcoming trauma and shame, sorting out real help versus hype, mastering career transitions, building long-term financial security, and finding fulfillment beyond the stereotypes.
Episodes are mostly just me—so you get unfiltered, professional insight without the fluff—plus occasional guests whose expertise or lived experience can help you grow. Whether you’re here for solid therapy-based strategies, sex-positive conversations, or no-nonsense truth about what actually works in gay men’s lives, you’ll leave every episode with something you can use right now.
If you want to be inspired, challenged, and equipped—not just entertained—this is your podcast.
*****
GayTherapyLA with Ken Howard, LCSW, CST is the podcast show related to Ken's private practice for psychotherapy (California) and coaching services (worldwide). Ken is the founder of GayTherapyLA.com and GayCoachingLA.com, and has over 32 years experience providing services for gay men, as individuals, couples, and polycules, from his office in West Hollywood, California, serving gay men all over the world via webcam or phone sessions. Ken is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, Certified Psychiatric Social Worker, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, Certified in Consensual Non-Monogamy and Polyamorous Families, and a retired Adjunct Associate Professor in Social Work.
Through both psychotherapy and coaching services, Ken provides help for gay men to maximize their quality of life in both their personal lives and careers, leveraging their past to enhance their future.
(While a podcast cannot substitute for therapy and is provided here as educational information only, these episodes reflect the work Ken does with clients, daily.)
Your questions, comments, ratings, and reviews are welcome, as well as suggestions for future episodes.
(copyright 2025 by Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, all rights reserved)
- Update frequency
- every 15 days
- Average duration
- 29 minutes
- Episodes
- 185
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
From Obama to Trump: Understanding the Whiplash in American Politics Through the Lens of Minority Stress and Gay Men's Mental Health
Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, unpacks the political whiplash from Obama to Trump and its impact on gay men’s mental health—exploring minority stress, cultural backlash, and strategies for resilience in a di…
Gay Men Healing from Trauma: Why Substance Matters More Than Hype
Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, explains why lasting trauma recovery for gay men comes from evidence-based approaches like CBT and Narrative Therapy—not trendy quick fixes. Learn how to move beyond shame, gr…
When “Non-Affirming” Therapists Keep LGBTQ+ Clients for the Money: An Ethical Failure with Real Consequences
Some therapists claim to be “welcoming to all” while secretly holding non-affirming values about LGBTQ+ identity and gay men's issues such as sexuality. In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, expose…
Gay Men and The Cinderella Syndrome: From Outcast to Adonis
Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, explores “The Cinderella Syndrome” in gay men—the rise from rejection to confidence, and what happens when the glow-up fades. From body image to aging, learn how to build lasti…
Gay Men as Adult Children of Alcoholics - How the Past Talks in the Present
Do you struggle with control, fear of abandonment, or always expect the worst? You might be a gay Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACA). In this episode, Ken explores how unresolved childhood chaos shape…
Gay Widowers: Navigating Loss, Identity, and Rebirth
Losing a partner is devastating—especially for gay men, whose grief is often marginalized. In this episode, gay men’s specialist psychotherapist Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, explores the emotional journey …
Radical Erotic Aging: Gay Men, Desire, and the Audacity to Stay Sexy
Aging as a gay man can feel like becoming invisible—but it doesn’t have to. In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, shares insights from 30+ years of helping gay men reclaim sexual confidence, confro…
Gilligan’s Island & The Seven Deadly Sins: What a 60s Sitcom Can Teach Gay Men
What if Gilligan’s Island was more than a goofy sitcom? What if it was a mirror for gay men’s internal struggles with shame, identity, and survival? This episode explores how each castaway reflects o…
Gay Men Overcoming Unconscious Barriers to Success
What holds us back from achieving our full potential? In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST explores the unconscious barriers many gay men face—like self-doubt, fear of success, cultural pressure to…
Gay Men and Understanding Personality Traits: The OCEAN Model
Discover how the Big Five OCEAN personality traits—Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism—can help gay men improve relationships, communication, and self-understand…
Flash vs. Substance: Pop Psychology Gurus vs. Real Clinicians
Tired of flashy social media gurus? In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, breaks down the difference between pop psych soundbites and real therapy that heals—especially for gay men seeking depth, s…
Gay Men and Coping with the Forms of Betrayal
In this episode, I explore the many ways gay men experience betrayal—in relationships, friendships, family, and professional life—and how we can heal from these wounds with clarity and strength. If b…
Positive Masculinity for Gay Men in a Changing World
In this episode, Ken explores how gay men can reclaim positive masculinity—balancing strength, emotional intelligence, and authenticity amid today’s political and cultural battles. Learn how evolving…
The Success Principles for Gay Men: What We Can Learn from Jack Canfield
Gay men’s specialist psychotherapist and coach Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, breaks down Jack Canfield’s The Success Principles through a queer lens, showing how its life-changing tools can help gay men ove…
White Lotus and Gay Men's Fantasies - The Teasing Taboo of Pop Culture
Therapist Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, explores The White Lotus Season 3’s buzzed-about gay incest story line, why taboo fantasies intrigue gay men, and how pop culture stirs both desire and discomfort. A …
The Healthcare Hustle: What Gay Men Need to Know
Navigating healthcare as a gay man isn’t just about checkups—it’s about self-advocacy, access, and fighting systemic bias. In this episode, I break down the clinical, financial, cultural, and emotion…
Legal Essentials for Gay Men: Protecting Your Future
Too many gay men delay vital legal planning—until it’s too late. In this episode, Ken covers key protections like wills, medical directives, and financial security to safeguard your relationship from…
When You Know You're Ugly: A Guide for Gay Men Coping with Physical Unattractiveness
In a society where "pretty privilege" often dictates social dynamics, many gay men confront the challenge of not fitting conventional beauty standards. In this frank episode, Ken delves into embracin…
Gay Men and Therapy Support for a Legal Case
Ken discusses the often-overlooked role of therapy in supporting gay men through legal battles. From workplace discrimination to hate crimes, gay men can face legal challenges that demand both legal …
Interview of Host Ken Howard, LCSW, CST on the History of Gay Men's Therapy and His Career
GayTherapyLA Podcast producer, Austen Weinhart, interviews host Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, on the history of Gay Men's Therapy and his own career path over 30 years as a gay men's specialist therapist, c…