Benedict Etienne Gauthier
LMFT
He/Him
De Tenebris Ad Lucem Psychotherapy
Accepting new clients
Contact provider
Licensed states
FloridaMaineSouth CarolinaVirginia
At a glance
Services Provided
Couples Therapy
Individual Therapy
Individual Therapy
Ages Served
Adults (18+)
Languages Spoken
English
French
German
Spanish
French
German
Spanish
Telehealth Availability:
Weekdays and weekends before 4pm.
About this provider
Clients I Work With
I work with adults and couples who feel stuck in painful emotional or relationship patterns, even when they understand intellectually where those patterns come from. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety, attachment wounds, relationship difficulties, emotional disconnection, people-pleasing, perfectionism, low self-worth, or the lasting effects of difficult family dynamics and trauma. I often work with people who repeatedly find themselves in the same kinds of relationships, suppress anger or other emotions to preserve connection, or feel disconnected from their own needs. My practice is LGBTQ+ affirming and particularly suited to clients who want depth-oriented therapy rather than symptom management alone.
Approach
My approach is depth-oriented, active, and collaborative. I integrate psychodynamic therapy, ISTDP (Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy), attachment theory, and trauma-informed care to help you understand not only what you feel, but why certain patterns keep repeating. We pay close attention to emotions, anxiety, defenses, relationship patterns, and the ways earlier experiences may still shape how you relate to yourself and others. Rather than focusing only on symptom reduction, therapy aims to uncover and work through the underlying conflicts that keep you stuck. I may challenge avoidance, intellectualization, or other defenses when they interfere with deeper emotional work, while carefully monitoring anxiety so the work remains within your capacity to process it. The goal is greater emotional freedom, self-understanding, and the ability to build relationships that are chosen rather than repeated.
Beliefs & Lived Experience
I believe meaningful therapy requires honesty, curiosity, emotional courage, and a relationship in which you can bring the parts of yourself you may have learned to hide. I do not view people as collections of symptoms or diagnoses; I see symptoms as meaningful adaptations that often developed for a reason. My work is grounded in respect for each person’s history, identity, relationships, culture, and lived experience. I value depth over quick fixes and believe lasting change comes from understanding and experiencing what lies beneath our patterns, not simply learning to manage them. I also believe therapy should be affirming without becoming passive: I will meet you with compassion while also challenging patterns and defenses that may be keeping you stuck. My aim is to create a space where you can be fully yourself while developing greater freedom in how you live and relate.
Specialties & approaches
Specialties
AnxietyAttachmentGender IdentityPersonality DisordersRelationship IssuesTrauma & PTSD
Therapy approaches
Attachment-BasedIntegrative TherapyIntensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)Psychodynamic Therapy
Specialized Experience
LGBTQ+ AffirmingSex work-affirmingSex-positive / kink friendlyTrans-affirming care
Fees & insurance
Session Fees
$200
Payment Accepted
Credit
Out of Network (Superbills Provided)
Sliding Scale