James Fedor, PhD, MSW

I am a therapist practicing in New Jersey, and have specialized in working with LGBTQ+ clients for over ten years. Throughout the years, I have witnessed in gay men's experiences the themes of internalized homophobia, shame, and rejection from family and religious communities. I often see how many gay men seek to cope with these wounds by developing addictive behaviors (addictions to substances, food, and even fitness), and many have reported feeling isolated or not belonging to a gay community. I also see how profound levels of resilience and compassion have also been heightened among this population. I work with my clients on learning how to use their resilience to establish the intimate and fulfilling relationships with partners and other gay men that they are wanting, which typically means learning how to heal shame so that emotionally safe and healthy connections can be formed.

As a gay man, I understand and have lived/am living the ongoing journey that leads to self-love and acceptance, and the challenges and joys that are part of this experience. I feel that retreats can allow gay men to come together to practice being their authentic selves in a space that is safe where all feelings will be witnessed and honored. A space where no one needs to impress—or compete—with anyone else. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) can help each person drop their defenses and can allow for more deeply intimate conversations and connections to be made, as each participant supports one another to integrate whatever meaningful changes might need to be made to advance feelings of self-love, and the ability to create healthy and fulfilling relationships and community.