Open Doors Counseling Center

Today marks the anniversary of the day that Open Doors Counseling Center made a public announcement that new clients were being accepted to schedule appointments for services. Six years ago to the day, a deliberate choice was made to reject fear and, instead, to embrace and embody hope. Before making the leap, several people had expressed legitimate concerns about my vision. I, however, decided that showing up for LGBTQIA+ people and allies was worth the risk. In today's climate, it is crucial to openly share about the reasons that ODCC was created and why we have remained consistently committed to the mission and vision this whole time. Please join me in celebrating our milestones!

Happy birthday Open Doors Counseling Center!

June makes 6 years that Open Doors Counseling Center has been accepting clients and specializing with LGBTQIA+ people and allies. Together, our team has faced many adversities (both external and internal), but we have always prevailed. The challenges often make us stronger and more united in our mission and vision.

For those of you who don’t yet know, ODCC was started by one person with a vision who was driven by purpose. This practice was started within a pandemic - when most resources and supports were limited or unavailable.

I sought out to create ODCC because I wanted to help one of the most vulnerable groups of people known to society that also happened to have nearly no supports or resources for them at the time. I also sought out to create a culture and a work environment that embodies my values as a professional and as a person. I had been in toxic work environments for much of my early career. It was time to acknowledge and accept that our values no longer aligned and to move on - giving up everything to have peace of mind (salary, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, retirement, paid time off, my home with a private yard, and so much more). I moved to Lexington with nothing, yet I was determined to create a space that I felt safe in and that I could also help my staff and clients feel safe in.

Walking away has showed me that being authentic and in alignment with my values is more important than feeling entrapped in an agency that doesn’t value or appreciate me, my colleagues, or the clients. It also helped me spot red flags much easier and faster. Especially when an organization doesn’t make me, staff, or clients feel safe. Thus, I created my own bubble. This was incredibly important to me because I knew that I could drastically alter most LGBTQIA+ people’s experiences within the mental health profession by changing the culture from the inside.

Walking away from what seemed to be security at the time was one of the best decisions of my life. I will be forever grateful for the entire 6-year journey because, whether it was a positive, negative, or neutral experience, every part of the adventure has helped me grow.

Please help us celebrate 6-years of being the first LGBTQIA+ mental health specialty clinic in KY. Although ODCC was birthed by me from a sense of purpose, it remains strong and steadfast to this day because of the support we have always received from staff, clients, community partners, friends, family members (chosen or otherwise), referral sources, and each and every person who has helped in some way. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible. Because of you, we have helped countless people as they’ve walked through our doors (or joined sessions/meetings virtually haha).

P.S. A fun fact about ODCC is that for the first four to four and a half years, I saw almost no turnover. That’s unheard of in most mental health agencies. Culture matters.

First of all, Happy Pride month and 6 year anniversary for ODCC! One of the many great ways to celebrate is to announce that we have a new student joining our team - Tamlin Coin! Secondly, if you are interested in meeting with Tamlin, they are accepting new clients and scheduling appointments. They are in need of experience and direct hours for their schooling. If you are interested in meeting with them, please contact us at [email protected] or (606) 776-6185 to get started.

Tamlin's Biography:
"My name is Tamlin Coin. I identify as genderfluid, bisexual, and polyamorous.
Pronouns: they/them

I’m currently working toward a Master of Education in Counseling with a graduate certificate in Trauma-Informed Counseling at Lindsey Wilson University, and I will be getting my clinical hours for my practicum and internships here at ODCC. I got my undergraduate degree at Berea College, where I studied Psychology with a minor in Studio Art and worked in the Student Craft center. After I graduated in 2023, I started working as a Substance Use Counselor at the outpatient MAT level of care. I very quickly fell in love with the work I was doing and knew I wanted to take it further, which was what led me to take the plunge into furthering my education and seeking out more credentials.

There’s a huge need for caring professionals who understand and empathize with marginalized populations. As someone who grew up impoverished, who’s experienced complex trauma, who lives with chronic mental and physical health conditions, and who’s faced discrimination personally and professionally, I want to be someone who can help fill that gap. I’m passionate about cultivating a therapeutic perspective informed by intersectionality, cultural humility, and social justice. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health, so I want to gain experience in a wide array of modalities during my training. In my role as a Substance Use Counselor, I’ve used a lot of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and CBT, and I’ve started incorporating DBT principles, mindfulness, and somatic experiencing.

Some more about me: I’m originally from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. My partner and I have two cats. Some of my hobbies include drawing, painting, lacework tatting, gaming, and hiking."