TY DAVID LERMAN, MA, LPC-S, CST

In March of 2022, Ty (he/him) became owner of SWPA. He is proud and excited to take the reigns from Micki and build upon the solid foundation and reputation Micki has created for herself and SWPA over the years.

Ty’s approach to therapy is to take the knowledge we already hold, from the many challenges we have faced and overcome, and harnesses this to our advantage, returning to the truths already known to work for us. Counseling and self-help can be seen as a simple two-step process. First we look for insight, an understanding of why we do what we do, why we feel this way, or do a certain behavior. Once we have this insight, we can better decide what – if anything – needs to be done about it. Insight and implementation, The 2Is, is a simple two-step process. However, simple does not always mean easy. Ty is passionate and motivated to help clients navigate this simple, yet challenging process of therapy – to gain the insight they seek and obtain the tools needed to make the desired changes in their lives.

Ty began his clinical practice in 2009 after completing his master’s degree at University of Houston Clear Lake. With experience in both private practice and agency settings, he has a breadth of clinical experience in numerous treatment topics, with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ issues, gender and sexuality, and anxiety.

Ty is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and is dual-certified as Sex Therapist (CST) by AASECT and IICS, and holds additional certifications as a Queer and Transgender Affirming Professional (QTAP), and as a clinical hypnotherapist (CHt).

He serves as Director of Curriculum for the QTAP certification, Secretary for Houston Group Psychotherapy Society (HGPS), and is on the advisory board for the Contemporary Relationships Conference.

His expertise has been sought out by publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Men’s Health, and Refinery29. Ty has been seen on television on “Great Day Houston with Deborah Duncan”, and various news spots on ABC, NBC, and KHOU stations. He is honored to be recognized as the “Best Male Mental Health Therapist” by OutSmart Magazine, 2018-2021.

He is a current PhD candidate in Clinical Sexology, with a specialty in non-traditional (open, polyam, kink) relationships at the International Institute of Clinical Sexology.

Outside the clinical world, Ty is lucky enough to have two amazing partners, is father to three Australian Shepherds, and proudly wears the badge, “the orchid whisperer”.