Season 1 Episode 16 Manya Perkins

Manya Perkins is a lesbian artist, writer, and licensed mental health counselor based in Western Washington. Her work—whether on the page, the canvas, or in the therapy room—is deeply rooted in advocacy, authenticity, and care for marginalized voices. As an artist, Manya’s primary mediums are ink and charcoal, often centering the lived experiences of the queer and trans community. Her writing spans a wide range of genres, with a particular love for crafting steamy, emotionally resonant romances between lesbians and non-binary characters. In her counseling practice, Manya brings over a decade of experience working with diverse populations, including military and law enforcement personnel, while maintaining a strong clinical focus on the Queer and trans community. Her specialties include stress, anxiety, mood disorders, harm reduction, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed care. She created a queer and trans community support group that runs in Bremerton on Thursday nights, allowing space for the LGBTQIA2S+ community to support each other and find help with the challenges that come with living in this tumultuous time and country. She is also a proud single mother of two, balancing the demands of art, healing work, and parenting with grace, grit, and humor. Whether she's holding space in therapy, building queer love stories, or sketching the beauty of resistance, Manya is always focused on one thing: creating room for truth to breathe.