Therapy With Someone Who Gets It
This is a space for honesty, healing, and showing up exactly as you are.
I'm Taylor Garff (he/him), and I offer therapy that’s grounded in lived experience, compassion, and a deep respect for who you are.
Therapy that meets you where you are.
I’m a therapist, yes—but I’m also a human. I believe therapy should feel like a place where you can breathe deeply, speak honestly, and be fully yourself without needing to explain or justify your identity, emotions, or story.
My style is person-centered, collaborative, and affirming. I work with clients navigating:
Anxiety and overthinking
LGBTQ+ identity exploration
Religious deconstruction and spiritual trauma
Perfectionism, people-pleasing, and burnout
I bring mindfulness, nervous system regulation techniques, and flexible structure to our work together. I’m certified in HeartMath for anxiety and trained in the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). This sound-based therapy helps calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety, trauma responses, and sensory overload.
I especially enjoy working with LGBTQ+ adults who feel stuck in high-functioning anxiety and want to reconnect with joy, creativity, and their own voice. There's something powerful about watching someone finally feel safe enough to be themselves—and begin to thrive.
This Work is Personal to Me
Like many of the people I work with, I’ve lived through anxiety, identity shifts, and the discomfort of not knowing what comes next.
My own journey through counseling during college—while working through anxiety and coming to terms with my identity as a gay person in a religious environment—changed my life. Having someone hold space for me without judgment made me feel seen in a way I hadn’t before. That experience lit a spark in me. I knew I wanted to offer others that same kind of support.
Who I Am And What I Bring to the Work
I'm a gay therapist and ex-Mormon, which means I understand what it's like to walk the path of untangling who you are from who you were expected to be. That lived experience helps me create space for others who are figuring out what healing, identity, and authenticity mean to them.
My clinical training includes a Bachelor of Science in Social Science from Boise State University (2012) and a Master of Counseling from Idaho State University (2014). I’m licensed in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, South Carolina, and Florida, and provide online therapy across these states.
Working with me is less like getting fixed and more like having someone beside you while you figure things out. Expect deep conversations, occasional laughs, and a space where your full self is always welcome.
My Guiding Principles
COMPASSION
To me, compassion means being fully present with someone’s pain—without trying to fix, rush, or judge it. In our work together, I’ll hold space for you with care and patience. You don’t have to be “doing better” to deserve support. I’ll meet you exactly where you are, and we’ll move forward at your pace.
EMPATHY
Empathy is about feeling with you, not just listening from the outside. As a gay therapist and someone who’s navigated anxiety, identity shifts, and deep internal questions, I know how much it matters to be truly seen. I bring that lived understanding into every session—not as an expert on your life, but as someone who gets how hard it can be to show up and be real.
UNDERSTANDING
Everyone’s story is complex. That’s why I approach therapy with curiosity, not assumptions. Whether you’re exploring who you are, processing anxiety, or just trying to make sense of the noise in your head, I’m here to understand—not diagnose your worth, but support your growth.
TRAINING & EDUCATION
I’m committed to ongoing education & training to best support you.
Professional Disclosure Statement and Informed Consent
Licenses
Idaho - LCPC - https://dopl.idaho.gov/
Utah - CMHC - https://dopl.utah.gov/complaint/index.htm
Colorado - LPC - https://dpo.colorado.gov/ProfessionalCounselor
Florida - Telehealth Certificate - https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov
Connecticut - Professional Counselor - http://portal.ct.gov/dph
Delaware Telehealth Registration - https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/profcounselors/
South Carolina Telehealth Registration - https://llr.sc.gov/cou/
Certifications
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Level 1
HeartMath Clinical Certification for Stress, Anxiety, and Self-Regulation.
Boundaries in Psychotherapy
Unyte Safe and Sound Protocol Certified
Laughter Yoga Leader
Breathwork Facilitator
Learn More About My Specialties
My Therapy Style
My approach is grounded in the belief that you’re the expert on your own life. I’m not here to “fix” you—I’m here to walk alongside you while you explore what’s going on beneath the surface. I bring a calm, curious presence, and I follow your lead while offering reflections, tools, and gentle guidance.
I often weave in mindfulness and holistic practices to help clients reconnect with themselves, regulate their nervous systems, and create space for real change. If past therapy hasn’t felt like a good fit, that’s okay. There’s no one right way to do this work. I invite you to explore a version of therapy that’s collaborative, personalized, and deeply respectful of who you are.
If you're looking for support that honors your lived experience and gives you room to grow at your own pace, I’d be honored to be part of your journey.
Personal Bio
I am passionate about reading fiction, video gaming, and watching Star Trek (And a whole host of other nerdy shows).
As an introvert, working from home with my office manager (my cat, HoneyBee) and HR (my dog, Karma) is the ideal work environment. I am currently based in South Eastern Idaho and am often forced to enjoy the region's unpredictable weather patterns. I have even witnessed snow in June.
Despite my location, I don’t like the outdoors or camping and would rather be sipping my coffee indoors watching a show.
Cultural Background
Because of my experience helping people with their mental health in the community, I've worked with individuals from various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.
Some mental health professionals use the term "cultural competence" to describe their understanding of different cultures. However, I prefer a different approach called cultural humility. This means recognizing that therapists who come from privileged backgrounds can never assume they know everything about other races.
Instead, it's our responsibility to actively learn about our own biases and understand how race and ethnicity affect others. We shouldn't rely on our clients to teach us these things.
Let’s Discover How I Can Help
Start feeling like yourself again. Get your free phone call where you can share what’s going on for you, and we can explore how I can help.
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Work History
Inner Heart Therapy
March 2023
Mental Health Counselor/Owner, Idaho
Provide individualized psychotherapy specializing in anxiety, LGBTQ+ issues, trauma recovery, and attachment concerns, using evidence-based treatments.
Administer the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to support nervous system regulation, enhance emotional resilience, and promote deeper therapeutic outcomes.
Facilitate psychoeducational groups, such as survivors of suicide support groups, emphasizing peer connection, emotional validation, and practical coping strategies.
Manage all operational aspects of private practice, including scheduling, treatment planning, documentation of medical necessity, and coordinating ADA accommodations to support client success.
Develop and deliver engaging educational content, workshops, and resources tailored to anxiety management and goal-setting (SMART goals).
BetterHelp
March 2020 - March 2023
Mental Health Counselor, Idaho
Delivered personal counseling to adults across Idaho and Utah with varying concerns from depression to posttraumatic stress disorder.
Formulated and implemented plans to engage each person to assist in meeting their needs and goals.
Provided ongoing consulting to other BetterHelp clinicians.
Sullivan Mental Health Services, LLC
July 2014 – September 2021
Mental Health Counselor, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Delivered personal counseling to children and adults with varying diagnoses.
Completed comprehensive diagnostic assessments and evidence-based treatment plans for each client entering services.
Evaluated client progress utilizing measurable goals and determined the need for continued services.
Designed and implemented sliding fee scale and associated policies.
Collaborated with clinical director and staff to establish updated policies and procedures.
Developed skills in court-ordered reunification counseling techniques for children and their parents.
Supervised ethical dilemmas for onsite colleagues.
Suicide Survivors Support Group
July 2014 - Ongoing
Co-Facilitator
Education
Idaho State University
Master of Counseling, Mental Health
Completed: May 2014
GPA: 3.74
CACREP
Boise State University
Bachelor of Science in Social Science
Completed: May 2012
GPA: 3.41