MEET MANAN SHARMA, LGPC

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Manan Sharma, LGPC is a licensed graduate professional counselor in Maryland and Washington, DC specializing in individual and couples psychotherapy with a particular focus on LGBT+ individuals, adolescents, young adults, and people of color. He earned his Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University and completed an Adult Psychoanalytic Fellowship at the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis. He has also completed Level 1 training in the Gottman Method for couples therapy. His clinical experience includes providing psychotherapy at Chase Brexton Health Care where he has worked extensively with clients navigating identity development, relationship challenges, emotional distress, and the intersections of personal experience and systemic oppression.

Manan's therapeutic approach is relational, psychodynamic, and deeply collaborative. Drawing from psychoanalytic theory, somatic interventions, and attachment-informed perspectives, he helps clients explore how early relationships, unconscious patterns, cultural experiences, and present-day circumstances influence their emotional well-being and connections with others. He is particularly passionate about in-depth therapeutic work with couples and LGBTQIA+ communities, offering a sex-positive, kink-affirming, and culturally responsive space that respects diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship structures. His approach emphasizes curiosity, authenticity, and the therapeutic relationship itself as powerful tools for developing insight, fostering emotional growth, and creating meaningful change.

Beyond his clinical work, Manan brings a strong background in research, advocacy, and inclusive mental health care. He has contributed to research at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and projects examining LGBTQIA+ representation, gender and sexuality sensitivity, and the ethics of kink-affirmative counseling. His research and clinical experiences inform his commitment to thoughtful, evidence-informed, and socially conscious psychotherapy. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Gujarati, Manan recognizes the importance of cultural identity and lived experience in the healing process. Above all, he believes meaningful healing happens through relationships built on trust, attunement, and genuine human connection, and he strives to create a therapeutic environment where clients feel understood, respected, and empowered to explore their authentic selves.

Manan is currently accepting new couples, relationships, and individuals virtually or in person in Arlington, VA or Washington, DC beginning on November 16, 2026. Email info@lgbtcounselingdmv.com to join his waitlist.