Provider POV: Sydney Brodeur-Johnson at The Emily Program

THE INTERVIEW

What does your current practice look like? Where and how do you work?

In my senior leadership role, I oversee clinical programming across our organization. My work includes training, case consultation, quality assurance, and ensuring both fidelity and effectiveness of our treatment approaches. I also lead our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Council, which plays a vital role in elevating marginalized voices and informing inclusive policies and practices.

We are a gender-affirming care organization—an essential commitment given the disproportionate impact of eating disorders on LGBTQIA+ individuals. In fact, up to 74% of trans and genderqueer youth report having experienced symptoms of or being diagnosed with an eating disorder. Across our 21 sites in the U.S., we serve over 500 patients daily, with a team of 1,500+ dedicated employees.

What drew you to this work, and how did you come to focus on LGBTQ+ communities?

My passion for this work began early.  My queer mom was the Director of HIV Services in the 1980’s at a time when AIDS was a fatal illness disproportionately affecting gay men. I was a teenager with a passion for reducing stigma, social justice, and providing training and education. I became a peer HIV educator and provided prevention and safe sex practice information to other teens.  I was paired with a talented, ebullient, and kind gay man who had AIDS and he shared his story with youth.  He died when I was 15, leaving a profound hole in my heart and a lasting imprint on my identity. 

That experience solidified my lifelong commitment to reducing stigma and advocating for marginalized communities.  I carry his memory with me, and I’m honored to continue this work through my current role.

What does "affirming care" mean to you? How do you define or embody affirming care in your day-to-day work?

To me, affirming care means intentional, vocal, and visible support for an individual’s identity. It is validating, assumption-free, and deeply respectful. Affirming care goes beyond tolerance—it embraces and uplifts, while acknowledging the harmful effects of structural “-isms” that impact LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Affirming care also means designing systems that reflect respect—like assigning roommates in residential treatment based on gender identity, not sex assigned at birth—and fostering cultural humility throughout our practices.

Are there particular personal or professional values, or therapeutic frameworks that guide how you work with LGBTQ+ communities?

My personal and professional values are deeply aligned. I believe in treating every person with dignity, recognizing that they are doing the best they can, and understanding how privilege, marginalization, and intersectionality shape experiences.

My clinical approach draws from Relational-Cultural Theory, Feminist Theory, DBT, and Interpersonal Theory—all of which center relationships, connection, empowerment, collaboration, and the minimization of power differentials. These frameworks guide my commitment to affirming, respectful care.

What are some common barriers or challenges your clients face in accessing safe and supportive care?

Recent policy changes and the current sociopolitical climate have introduced significant threats to mental health care—especially for LGBTQIA+ individuals. These include attacks on gender-affirming care, harmful immigration policies, Medicaid cuts, and redefinitions of gender that erode protections.

This climate not only reduces access but also emboldens discrimination and hate, contributing to fear, internalized stigma, and mistrust. These challenges make it even more essential that we offer safe, supportive, and affirming care environments.

How do you build trust and safety with clients who may have previously had negative experiences in health or wellness settings?

Trust-building starts with empathic listening and genuine validation. I create space for clients to share past experiences—knowing that harm in health settings is all too common—and I’m explicit in affirming their identities from the outset.

I acknowledge that trust takes time and is earned through consistency and alignment between words and actions. I actively invite feedback, especially when there’s a therapeutic rupture or a misstep. Processing those moments together reinforces respect, humility, and human connection. I also work to minimize power dynamics and maintain openness to being held accountable.

From your perspective, what are the biggest gaps or needs in care for LGBTQ+ people right now?

We need to stop the erosion of protective systems in healthcare. The progress made over the last two decades is now under attack. We need brave, informed leaders in positions of power who will fight for safety, inclusion, and equality.

There is an urgent need for more community-based programs, affirming mental health services, access to gender-affirming care, and—most critically—safe adults for LGBTQIA+ youth.

NEED TO KNOW

What do you wish more providers understood about working with LGBTQ+ communities?

Affirming care is life-saving care. LGBTQIA+ individuals face heightened risks of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. For example, 82% of trans individuals have considered suicide, and 40% have attempted. However, research consistently shows that affirming interventions—such as correct name and pronoun use, access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy, and family/community support—drastically reduce those risks.

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Have you faced any pushback (from colleagues, systems, family)? If so, how have you navigated that?

Yes, I’ve encountered pushback more often than I’d like—often rooted in fear, misinformation, or systemic bias. I respond with steadiness, curiosity, and evidence-based education. I remain grounded in my values and lead with compassion, clarity, and a commitment to being a voice for those who are often unheard.

What advice would you offer to someone wanting to start offering more affirming care? Are there policies, resources, or trainings that helped you?

Start with self-reflection [...] to identify unconscious bias—something we all have. Growth requires awareness, education, and willingness to change.

Books like Biased by Jennifer Eberhardt and The Blind Spots Between Us by Gleb Tsipursky have been valuable resources. Remember: offering affirming care is an ongoing process, not a checkbox. It requires humility, openness, and a lifelong commitment to learning—and it’s absolutely worth it, even when it is uncomfortable.

I’d love to know, what keeps you grounded or hopeful in your work?

I draw strength from being in community with people who share similar values. I’m fueled by the conviction that affirming care is life-saving, human-centered care. I want to be a positive role model for my children and live in alignment with what I believe is right.

I also ground myself through meditation, time in nature, joyful movement, being near water or the mountains, reading, and connection with my family and animals. As I often remind myself, this work is a marathon—not a sprint. Self-care is essential so that I can continue showing up fully.

Is there anything I didn’t ask that you’d like to share?

A quote that inspires me:

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Sydney’s Recommended Resources

▶ To Watch: The Emily Program on YouTube

▶ To Read: BIASED, Eberhardt; THE BLIND SPOTS BETWEEN US, Tsipursky

▶ Bonus: check out the Harvard Implicit Associations Tests

ON BUSINESS

Where to Find More of TKs Work
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You can follow The Emily Program on Instagram and LinkedIn, and check out their Foundation website.

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