Joe Kort

Not sure how to better understand and support transgender and gender-diverse clients? This webinar is for therapists, healthcare professionals, educators, and allies who want a stronger foundation in gender identity, affirming care, and inclusive clinical practice.

Join our free live webinar with Toni Cardon, MSW, LLMSW, for an introduction to transgender identities, common terminology, gender dysphoria and euphoria, minority stress, and the basics of social and medical transition. Gain practical knowledge to provide more affirming, compassionate, and informed support.

Register now using the link in the comments below.

Need support but don’t have time for weekly therapy? I offer therapy intensives for individuals and couples who need focused help right away.

These are private, fast-tracked sessions where I set aside a dedicated block of time, anywhere from four hours to a full weekend, up to 20 hours, to work through the issue at hand.

Intensives can help with communication, repairing disagreements, intimacy, out-of-control s//xual behavior, self-esteem, low s//xual desire, emotional closeness, infidelity, trauma, s//xual anxiety, and more.

To learn more about therapy intensives, call 248.399.7317 or email [email protected].

Before Pride Month ends, I wanted to remind you that there's still one week left to save 20% on all Side Guys merchandise.

When I coined the term side, my goal was simple: to give gay men language for an experience that had always existed but often went unnamed. Too many men felt like they didn't fit because they weren't interested in s//x, when in reality there is no one right way to be gay or to experience intimacy.

The Side Guys collection is about visibility, authenticity, and living without shame. If that message resonates with you, now is a great time to shop the collection before the sale ends next week.

Shop the collection at the link below!

Are hookups helping your loneliness, or helping you avoid it?

I want to be clear: I'm not anti-hookup. Hookups can be fun, consensual, and a perfectly healthy part of gay life. But I also see many people in my practice who tell me they want deeper connection, more intimacy, a partner, or a chosen family, yet they're relying on hookups to meet emotional needs that hookups can't always fulfill.

Many of us were never taught how to create intimacy with others. We were taught to hide our feelings, avoid vulnerability, and sometimes even distance ourselves from others to survive. If you're feeling disconnected, it may be worth asking yourself: am I using hookups because I want s//x, or because I'm hungry for connection?

I recently did a full YouTube video on this topic where I go much deeper into why hookups can sometimes become what I call "pseudo intimacy" and what gay men can do to build more meaningful connection. Even though it is geared toward gay men it certainly can apply to everyone.

Watch the full video on my YouTube channel below.

Today is National Public Display of Affection Day, and it raises an interesting question: are we becoming less affectionate in public?

We text constantly. We send emojis, memes, and messages throughout the day. Yet many people struggle to hold hands, hug, kiss, or show simple affection in person.

Affection is not just about romance. It helps us feel connected, reassured, desired, and loved.

Of course, there are boundaries when it comes to public displays of affection. But have we become so concerned with how we're perceived that we've lost some of the everyday ways humans connect with one another?

What do you think? Should affection be expressed more openly, or is it something best kept private? What is your preference?