Quick Answer
Group Therapy at Angeles Psychology Group for Echo Park is facilitator-led, HIPAA-aligned process work with named clinicians and specific clinical specializations. Groups run in person at our Mid-Wilshire office and by secure telehealth across California, with informed consent for group participation and coordinated care alongside individual therapy at the same practice. Consultation begins with a free 20-minute conversation.
Key Takeaways
- Group Therapy at Angeles Psychology Group for Echo Park is facilitator-led process work with named clinicians and specific clinical specializations.
- Groups are HIPAA-aligned with informed consent for group participation; signature groups include the Gay Men’s Therapy Group (Matthew Michael Brown, MA) and the Black Men’s Healing Group (Gabrey Milner, MA).
- Group therapy runs alongside individual and couples work at the same practice — coordinated care rather than fragmented referrals across providers.
- Sessions are available in person at our Mid-Wilshire office (6363 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 520) or by secure telehealth across California.
- Consultation begins with a free, 20-minute conversation — a discussion about clinical fit before any commitment.
01 — OverviewFacilitated by Matthew Michael Brown, MA — the IFS-informed framework
The Gay Men’s Therapy Group at APG addresses a specific clinical demographic — gay men navigating minority stress, internalized homophobia, and the developmental impact of growing up in less-affirming environments across a lifetime. Standard general group therapy typically doesn’t reach that specific material without a facilitator whose competence is built for it.
The practice’s clinical model treats the presenting material as symptom, not target. That framework is what distinguishes process work from support format.
Minority stress. Minority stress refers to the excess stress load carried by members of stigmatized minority groups — including LGBTQ+ people — from chronic experiences of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination. It is a well-documented clinical construct with substantial research literature, and it shapes how affirming clinicians frame the developmental impact of growing up in non-affirming environments.
The American Psychological Association describes group therapy as an effective format for a wide range of clinical concerns, and research from the National Institute of Mental Health supports psychotherapy as an evidence-based treatment for the underlying concerns members typically bring. The specific clinical value of a facilitator-led group is that shared experience does work individual therapy alone often cannot.
02 — ApproachMinority stress, internalized homophobia, developmental impact
Group process here operates from named clinical thinking published on the material — not adapted-on-the-fly generalist models. Sessions work with the specific patterns gay men develop across years of navigating environments not built for them, and the group container reaches that material as it operates in the here-and-now.
The specific separator from adjacent groups: doctoral-supervised coordination with individual therapy inside the same team. Individual therapy runs alongside group work with client consent, and the framework operates from published thinking on gay men’s mental health that clients can read before intake. You can read more about the practice on our group therapy page.
Facilitator-led
Process groups led by named clinicians with specific specializations under supervision.
Shared experience
Groups organized around shared context — identity, life stage, or relationship structure — so the container does clinical work individual sessions cannot.
Confidential container
Informed consent, HIPAA-aligned confidentiality, and named clinical framework govern every group.
Whatever you’re carrying, there’s a place to begin. Book a free, 20-minute consultation.
Start a free consultation03 — In Echo ParkEcho Park and the Eastside gay-male community
Echo Park and the Eastside queer corridor concentrate a specific catchment — gay men across professional and creative-industry lives, navigating community-specific dynamics and the accumulated material of years inside environments the general therapy system doesn’t reach. The neighborhood’s specific queer history shapes what the catchment brings to group work.
In-person sessions convene at Mid-Wilshire; HIPAA-aligned telehealth across California is the alternate format for continuity. Secure telehealth is available for individual continuity between group sessions when travel or work intensives intervene, and the clinician holding the case stays constant.
04 — Getting startedConsulting about a spot in the group
Inquiring about The Gay Men’s Therapy Group at APG starts with a 20-minute confidential call to determine group fit. Group placement is deliberate — the facilitator confirms the current cohort composition, the group’s stage in its arc, and your specific reason for seeking group work all line up before a spot is offered. If the timing isn’t right, the clinician says so and helps clarify the alternative.
The Gay Men’s Therapy Group is facilitated by Matthew Michael Brown, MA, and operates from an IFS-informed framework — minority stress, internalized homophobia, and the developmental impact of growing up in less-affirming environments are treated as the group’s material rather than adjacent context. For Echo Park clients weighing options across practices, the APA guide on choosing a psychologist covers what to ask on any first call.
The group meets at Mid-Wilshire (6363 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 520) with in-person as the primary format; secure telehealth is used for individual sessions between group meetings where clinically appropriate. Private-pay with superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. Reach out at (310) 866-0440 or through the scheduling portal.
Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (additional times available as needed), with additional times arranged when the standard availability doesn’t quite fit. For Echo Park clients specifically, the intake team can advise on current wait times, clinician availability, and whether the format that fits your schedule is in-person, telehealth, or a mix. The consultation is free, no diagnosis is required to start, and you can pause or end the work at any point without penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Group Therapy at Angeles Psychology Group for Echo Park?
Group therapy at Angeles Psychology Group for Echo Park includes the Gay Men’s Therapy Group, facilitated by Matthew Michael Brown, MA, whose specialization is Internal Family Systems (IFS) — a group focused on how identity development shapes attachment and intimacy for gay men, internalized homophobia, and the developmental impact of growing up gay in heteronormative environments.
Who provides the care?
Care is provided by a multi-clinician team including licensed psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, and associate (pre-licensed) clinicians working under doctoral-level clinical supervision. The practice is founded and clinically directed by Dr. Neil Schierholz, PsyD (PSY25154), a licensed clinical psychologist. Angeles Psychology Group is a psychology practice and does not prescribe medication — where medication is relevant, care is coordinated with the client’s own prescriber. All clinicians hold current California licensure or are registered associates working under supervision.
What does the Gay Men’s Therapy Group focus on?
The group works with identity development, attachment and intimacy patterns, internalized homophobia, navigating contemporary gay culture, and processing the developmental impact of growing up gay in heteronormative environments. Facilitator-led with HIPAA-aligned confidentiality and informed consent for group participation. The facilitator’s stated stance is that LGBTQIA+ individuals do not need conversion or correction — they need support healing from minority stress and societal trauma.
Is telehealth available for clients in Echo Park?
Yes. Sessions are available in person at our Mid-Wilshire office (6363 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 520, Los Angeles, CA 90048) or by secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth across California. Telehealth removes the commute barrier for clients in Echo Park and is delivered with the same clinical depth as in-person work — the practice’s stated position is that depth-oriented care translates to the virtual format when the container is held accordingly. Clients often split between formats based on schedule and preference, keeping continuity with the same clinician.
How do we get started?
Begin with a free, 20-minute consultation — a conversation about fit before any commitment. A clinician helps you decide who should be involved (individual, couple, family, or group), what modality is likely to fit, and what the work might look like, with no obligation. You can book online or call (310) 866-0440. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (additional times available as needed), and additional times can be arranged by request.
About this page
This page reflects the practice of Angeles Psychology Group, a depth-oriented, affirming psychology practice in Los Angeles founded by Dr. Neil Schierholz, PsyD (PSY25154). Angeles Psychology Group provides psychotherapy and does not prescribe medication; where medication is relevant, care is coordinated with a client’s own prescriber. Claims about psychotherapy are framed as research suggests and cited to primary sources below.
Reviewed by Dr. Neil Schierholz, PsyD. Last updated September 2026.
Sources & Further Reading
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