Inspira Advantage interviewed Jason Best, who owns Best Therapies, Inc.
How does Best Therapies define its mission when it comes to advancing LGBTQ health and equity?
At Best Therapies, our mission is deeply personal to me. I believe in creating a space where everyone can be their most authentic selves, free from judgment and full of possibility. We stand on principles—anti‑racism, sex‑positivity, LGBTQ+ competence, ongoing clinical growth, and ethical practice because they’re essential to truly inclusive mental‑health care. Our team comes from a wide range of backgrounds, and truly reflects the marginalized communities we work with. It's transformative for many of our clients to see their identities reflected in their therapists. Many of us have been on the other side of the couch; we know how important it is to walk into a therapy office and feel understood. LGBT health care is currently under siege, and it's our belief that continuing to do this work authentically while we help our clients navigate the current world is where we can do the most good.
What are some of the most common barriers LGBTQ patients face in accessing quality mental health and medical care, and how is Best Therapies working to bridge those gaps?
I’m painfully aware of the hurdles our community faces. Research tells us LGBTQ+ folks are 2.5 times more likely to struggle with depression, anxiety or substance use compared with straight peers. Nearly half of LGBTQ adults needed mental‑health services in the past three years but didn’t get them.. And there’s still refusal of care—29 percent of trans respondents and 8 percent of LGB respondents reported being denied medical services just because of who they are. Add to that the reality that LGBTQ people are more likely to be uninsured and living in poverty, and the price of therapy (often $65–$250 a session) becomes an enormous obstacle. Compounding it all is a long history of pathologizing queer identities and the resulting distrust and trauma that a lot of queer people experience when dealing with medical professionals.
I can’t erase those realities, but Best Therapies was built to offer something different. We hire clinicians who reflect the communities we serve.. Our work is rooted in anti‑racist, anti‑oppressive, harm‑reduction approaches. We train to avoid the “checked‑out, nodding therapist” stereotype; instead, we collaborate with our clients to build tailored, practical strategies. Because money should never be the barrier to healing, we’re in‑network with major insurers (BCBS, Aetna, Medicare) and offer teletherapy and sliding‑scale options. We’re transparent about fees, and we help clients work out payment plans. Above all, we’re committed to an environment where people exploring their identity or relationship structure feel safe, heard and celebrated.
How does Best Therapies approach the relationship between mental health and physical health for LGBTQ individuals, and what can future doctors learn from that approach?
One thing I talk about all the time with clients is that mental and physical health are inseparable. Statistics show LGBT adults are more likely than non‑LGBT adults to report fair or poor physical health and to live with chronic conditions. Negative experiences with providers often make people postpone care, which can worsen health. Social stress—stigma, discrimination, financial strain—doesn’t just cause emotional pain; it takes a toll on the body.
Our therapy goes beyond talk. Many of our clinicians integrate somatic practices, mindfulness and harm‑reduction strategies while drawing on CBT, DBT and the Gottman Method. We recognize that chronic pain, hormone care, sexual health, and medical procedures affect mental well‑being. As a practice, we collaborate with primary‑care doctors and specialists so clients aren’t left navigating complex systems alone. We also help clients build self‑advocacy skills in medical settings. For future doctors, the lesson is simple: treat the whole person. Understand how systemic stress, trauma, and identity intersect, and know that cultural humility and affirming care aren’t electives; they’re essentials.
In your view, what changes need to happen in medical education and healthcare systems more broadly to achieve true equity for LGBTQ communities?
If I could change medical training tomorrow, I’d start by embedding LGBTQ health and intersectionality throughout the curriculum. Discrimination clearly drives mental‑health struggles, so young clinicians need to examine their biases and learn to practice cultural humility. Trauma‑informed, sex‑positive, harm‑reduction approaches should be standard, not specialized. The historical pathologization of LGBTQ identities underscores why we must move beyond outdated models.
On a systemic level, we need rigorous SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) data collection to understand and close disparities IF this data collection can be done safely and ethically..a big iff in our current climate. Laws must protect people from discrimination in health care, and insurance has to cover gender‑affirming and mental‑health services. Since the Trump administration seems intent on stripping away rights, more must be done on the state level. I'm lucky to live in Chicago which has some of the best laws in the current to protect gender affirming care providers, but more is needed. Since LGBTQ people are more likely to be uninsured and living in poverty, affordable care isn’t optional—it’s ethical. And let’s not forget representation: we need more queer, trans, BIPOC clinicians and faculty so that patients see themselves reflected in their caregivers. Equity isn’t a side project; it’s a structural commitment.
Inspira Advantage is proud to feature insights from leaders like Jason Best to help pre-med students understand the importance of culturally responsive care and inclusive support for diverse communities.
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