The Femme Psychologist

30/06/2026

For many q***r Filipinos, faith is not just a Sunday routine. It is deeply woven into our families, our history, and how we understand the world. Yet, navigating the space between the altar and the mirror often comes with a heavy silence, somatic exhaustion, and a deep, quiet struggle to belong.
This collaborative guide is not about dismantling faith or moving away from God. In fact, we believe that psychological healing and spiritual health go hand in hand.
Healing is a sacred pilgrimage, and you do not have to walk this path alone.
Co-written with .psych and graduate researcher Karen Del Rosario, we hope this serves as a warm, safe space for reflection as we close out Pride Month.
What is one belief you are untangling to make space for your authentic self? Let us know in the comments. Let us keep this space safe, respectful, and gentle for everyone.
***rMentalHealthPH

22/06/2026

🌈 This Pride Month, I'm collaborating with Jan Dalawampu of Thrive with Jan to explore the realities behind LGBTQIA+ mental health. In this post, we unpack the Minority Stress Framework—how discrimination, concealment, shame, and conditional acceptance can shape the emotional lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals. We also talk about the healing power of found family and the role of q***r-affirming therapy in creating spaces where people can feel safe, seen, and understood. Swipe through and join the conversation.
💭 Reflection prompt: How can you help create spaces where LGBTQIA+ people feel safe, valued, and celebrated?
Who has been part of your found family? Tag them below or share this post to remind someone that they don't have to navigate life alone. ❤️
***rMentalHealth ***rAffirmingTherapy

08/06/2026

03/06/2026

Beyond the rainbow colors, Pride asks a fundamental question: What could people become if they did not have to fight daily for acceptance? As Pride Month begins, we honor those choosing authenticity, celebrate every step toward structural protection, and envision a future where no one's humanity is up for debate.

Aligning with this vision, the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) LGBT Psychology Special Interest Group affirms SOGIESC diversity as a normal variation of human identity (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18pe5wZnUA/?mibextid=wwXIfr). Grounded in position statements spanning 2011 to 2024, the PAP establishes that q***r identities are not mental disorders, but valid expressions requiring affirming spaces for psychological well-being. Read the full statements here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OP8YJK9JoFHgj1gbyKNkvgXT0_FhRqr4?usp=sharing

To further deepen the understanding of LGBTQIA+ Filipino realities, join the PAP LGBT Psychology Special Interest Group and the Ateneo Gender Hub at the Q***r Mental Health Conference on June 13, 2026, at Ateneo de Manila University.

This CPD-accredited event offers 6 units for RPsy/RPm and 5.5 units for RGC. Secure a slot at tinyurl.com/Q***rMentalHealthConference. For a personalized invitation letter, complete this form: https://forms.gle/SPh7WiSqrtLzQNZr7

20/05/2026

“Today’s mental health challenges do not exist in isolation.”

Attended today the PMHA Lipa Chapter’s Mental Health Conference. So many learnings jam packed in one day! Mental health professionals are being asked to respond to forms of distress that are increasingly shaped by economic instability, digital overstimulation, loneliness, and identity fragmentation.

Conferences like these remind me how necessary it is for psychology to remain adaptive, humane, and intellectually honest. Incredibly grateful to learn from people in the field of mental health advocacy and public health to discuss and apply whole-person systems approaches for improving every Filipino’s wellbeing.

[Photo credits from PMHA Batangas]

20/05/2026

Living well with Bipolar includes understanding how we make our rhythms work for us. In this article, author Julie Fast describes based on her own experiences how she has learned to live with her Bipolar Disorder:

1. Knowing how to silence the brain.
2. Being flexible with choices in her daily life
3. Maintaining a sleeping schedule
4. Learning how to manage emotional responses
5. Finding and maintaining stable relationships
6. Sharpening cognitive focus
7. Noticing the difference between mania and excitement
8. Navigating lurking, creeping and full-blown depression

Clients who have bipolar disorder often struggle with learning how to live a life integrating their bipolar system, but through stories such as Julie Fast's, a life lived well is possible. This includes self-introspection and management with the help of mental health professionals.

Read more of the article here: https://bit.ly/4udBPA1

Author Julie A. Fast discusses what bipolar stability really feels like: "Everyone with bipolar disorder has common threads of stability. I’ve come up with my own list of what wellness feels like. Do any of these sound familiar to you?" Read her list > https://bit.ly/4udBPA1

15/04/2026

If you need emotional support or even just someone to be a listening ear, our Crisis Line responders are here for you 🩵

Crisis Line by In Touch is a free and anonymous service, available 24/7. You may reach the line with these updated numbers:
Landline: +63 2 8893 7603
Smart: +63 919 056 0709
Globe: +63 917 800 1123 | +63 917 108 5412

15/04/2026

𝑀𝑎𝑦 𝑚𝑔𝑎 𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑤 𝑛𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑡. 𝑀𝑎𝑦 𝑚𝑔𝑎 𝑔𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑎ℎ𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑘 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑝.

Kung ikaw ay:
💭 nakakaramdam ng sobrang bigat o distress
🆘 may naiisip na pananakit sa sarili
📞 kailangan ng makakausap agad
🌪️ dumaranas ng mental health crisis
🤝 nag-aalala para sa isang mahal sa buhay
🧭 naghahanap ng gabay sa susunod na hakbang
🔒 o gusto lang ng safe at confidential space

At kung iba man ang dahilan mo, 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙙 pa rin 'yon.
Hindi lang sa 𝟳 na ito nagtatapos ang mga rason para tumawag.

📞𝟭𝟱𝟱𝟯
📞𝟬𝟵𝟭𝟵 𝟬𝟱𝟳 𝟭𝟱𝟱𝟯

𝑁𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑎𝑚𝑖, ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑑𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑛 𝑚𝑜.🫂

𝑩𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐, 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒈 💚💙

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚.

11/04/2026