Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF
LightNews LightNews
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF
@sftherapy.bsky.social
290 followers 140 following 260 posts
LGBTQ+ affirming therapist in SF specializing in men’s mental health, anxiety, grief, and relationships. Offering therapy for emotional wellness and growth. https://buff.ly/hgLkv8K #LGBTQTherapy #MensMentalHealth #TherapyForMen
buff.ly
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Reposted by Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF
createtheripple.bsky.social
Create the Ripple @createtheripple.bsky.social · 25d
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” Alan Watts

Change is part of every season & every chapter of life. It invites us to notice what matters, release what’s ready to go & welcome what comes next.
🧡
#opportunity
Art by Positively Present
An illustrated image of a takeaway coffee cup decorated with a large orange pumpkin and swirling autumn leaves, set against a pale blue cloudy sky. The heading reads “AUTUMN IS…” followed by six reflective phrases in black text: “…the time to gather knowledge and harvest new ideas… the pause needed to embrace true, inspiring gratitude… the knowledge that there is both pain and freedom in letting go… the reminder that sometimes patience is what leads to growth… the acceptance of our own matchless, magnificent magic… the season of contrast, of holding on and letting go.” The artwork is credited to Positively Present.
1 22 75
Reposted by Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF
soulinquiries.bsky.social
Soul Inquiries @soulinquiries.bsky.social · Feb 23


🧩 We ALL have parts 🧩

Those with trauma histories
have much more than average.

🧩Un-integrated Parts = Feeling unwell 🤕😔

🧩Integrated Parts = Feeling better 😁😊

An IFS Practitioner
(Internal Family Systems)
can help with integration.

Self-love ❤️ is helping your parts 🧩 integrate
#partswork
14 12 100
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 13d
Disconnection is often misunderstood. It’s not just loneliness—it’s emotional isolation.
Find out more: buff.ly/LkYObxp
#EmotionalHealing #MenInTherapy #Loneliness
Am I Lonely or Just Isolated? Rethinking Disconnection in Men | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Many men struggle with loneliness but don’t name it. Learn how therapy helps men in SF reconnect—without shame or self-blame.
buff.ly
1
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 13d
“To Be a Man” by Martin Luke Brown hits hard because it’s honest.
This new article is about how it mirrors men’s quiet struggle between control & closeness.
buff.ly/JWm4SW8
#TherapyForMen #Masculinity #MusicAndHealing
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 14d
Martin Luke Brown’s “To Be a Man” captures the quiet ache beneath composure.
My latest piece explores what it reveals about men, emotion, and the cost of control.
buff.ly/JWm4SW8

#MensMentalHealth #Masculinity #TherapyForMen
To Be a Man: a Song on Courage, Connection, and Men’s Mental Health | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Martin Luke Brown’s To Be a Man asks: Is this what it’s like? A moving look at courage, silence, friendship, and the realities of masculine conditioning.
erikkarffpsychotherapy.com
1
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 16d
Anxiety can strain relationships, but security is possible. Learn how to build trust & connection, plus a must-read book recommendation. Read more:https://buff.ly/Nsx4zvh #AnxietyHelp #AnxietySupport
Against the Tide of Anxiety: Buildings Secure Relationships | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Understanding attachment styles can be transformative. This is true for those grappling with anxious attachment, a topic beautifully unpacked in Leslie Becker-Phelps’s book, Insecure in Love. In this…
buff.ly
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 16d
The fear around trans athletes isn’t supported by facts—it’s driven by politics.
This article highlights what the data actually says & how trans youth are being used as scapegoats in a cultural war.
buff.ly/Q4vxavq
#TransRights #ProtectTransKids #LGBTQAdvocacy
Facts vs. Fear: The Truth About Trans Athletes and Political Scapegoating | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
The real numbers behind trans athletes reveal how misinformation fuels political scapegoating. Stay informed and discover ways to help.
buff.ly
1
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 17d
Some losses don't end. Moving countries, leaving family, coming out — grief lives with us. Pauline Boss teaches how to navigate loss without closure. buff.ly/M4sizsX
#AmbiguousLoss #ImmigrationSupport #LGBTQWellness
Healing Without Closure: Lessons on Loss, Immigration, and Healing | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Pauline Boss teaches us how to live fully even without closure. Explore ambiguous loss, immigration grief, and LGBTQ+ mental health support.
buff.ly
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 17d
What does healing look like after the state has torn families apart?
A blog on immigration trauma, grief, and the slow repair of what was broken.
buff.ly/1qNB8Kq
#ForcibleSeparation #TherapyAndJustice #FamilyHealing
Restoring What Was Broken: Family Healing After Immigration Trauma | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Not all grief is treated equally. This post explores the impact of family separation & immigration trauma & the possibility of healing through relationship.
buff.ly
1
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 18d
We were told to toughen up, keep it together, and push feelings down. But real strength is knowing how to work with your emotions, not against them.
buff.ly/1LabrXS
#MensHealth #Masculinity #EmotionalIntelligence #TherapyForMen
From Armor to Attunement: Learning to Feel Without Losing Yourself | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Learn how emotional attunement can help men reconnect with themselves and others—without losing control or collapsing. A San Francisco therapist explains how.
buff.ly
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 18d
#BellHooks #Quotes #Healing
2
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 19d
Untangling care from control. Dismantling the myth that love means sacrifice. Moving from codependency to interdependence:
buff.ly/b6qRNti
#queerhealing #codependency #relationaltrauma #interdependence #therapyinsights
From Codependency to Interdependence: Shifts Toward More Fulfilling Relationships | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Strong relationships require clear boundaries. If saying no feels impossible or other people’s emotions dictate your own, this is what you need to know.
buff.ly
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 24d
Change in therapy can feel counterintuitive — sometimes the old pain feels safer than the unknown. Check out my article on the topic: buff.ly/Z65xNGa buff.ly/Z65xNGa #TherapyJourney #MentalHealth
Why Change in Therapy Can Be Counterintuitive | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
At the heart of the "Paradoxical Theory of Change" is radical acceptance. This idea resonates deeply with clients struggling with self-worth, anxiety, or societal pressures. Many individuals come to…
buff.ly
2
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 24d
“Feeling” doesn’t mean falling apart. It’s about learning how to stay connected — to yourself and others — without losing your footing. Here’s how men can practice emotional attunement:
buff.ly/1LabrXS
#MensMentalHealth #EmotionalWellbeing #Masculinity #TherapyForMen
From Armor to Attunement: Learning to Feel Without Losing Yourself | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Learn how emotional attunement can help men reconnect with themselves and others—without losing control or collapsing. A San Francisco therapist explains how.
buff.ly
2
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 25d
#Mindfulness #Compassion #SelfCompassion #SelfCare
2
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 25d
What do we lose when “authenticity” becomes another performance? This piece explores how gay men navigate gendered expectations—both from society and within queer culture.
 buff.ly/Up1dr2k
#GayMen #Authenticity #GenderRoles #QueerMentalHealth
Authenticity & the Unpacking of Gender Expectations for Gay Men | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Discover insights into the journey of self-acceptance and authenticity for gay men, focusing on overcoming societal expectations with gender and family
buff.ly
1 3
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · 26d
Most men were taught to hide emotions, not feel them. But shutting down doesn’t protect us — it disconnects us. This piece explores how to build emotional attunement without losing strength or boundaries.
buff.ly/1LabrXS
#MensMentalHealth #TherapyForMen #EmotionalHealth #Masculinity
From Armor to Attunement: Learning to Feel Without Losing Yourself | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Learn how emotional attunement can help men reconnect with themselves and others—without losing control or collapsing. A San Francisco therapist explains how.
buff.ly
1 2
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · Sep 18
Gay men often carry shame that isn’t just personal—it’s inherited through silence, stigma, and distorted ideas of masculinity. My latest blog explores how shame takes root and how we can begin unlearning it.
 buff.ly/et7WAHk
#GayMen #MensTherapy #LGBTQMentalHealth #QueerMentalHealth
2
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · Sep 18
Love doesn’t mean no conflict. It means tending to the fire after the storm. On the healing potential of repair in queer & all relationships: buff.ly/o9ryHaw #Relationships #Repair #IntimacyMatters #HeartWork
Normalizing Discord in Relationships: Why Rupture & Repair is Key to Intimacy | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Discover how the ups and downs of relationships can foster intimacy and growth. Insights from the book The Power of Discord provide a new framework for understanding relational conflict and the power...
buff.ly
1 3
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · Sep 17
Masculinity isn't neutral.
For many gay men, it’s a mask worn for safety—and survival.
This piece unpacks how we internalize, perform, and ultimately question what it means to be “authentic.”
#QueerMentalHealth #GayMen #UnpackingMasculinity #Authenticity
🔗
Authenticity & the Unpacking of Gender Expectations for Gay Men | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Discover insights into the journey of self-acceptance and authenticity for gay men, focusing on overcoming societal expectations with gender and family
buff.ly
2
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · Sep 17
“Be a man.” “Don’t cry.” For gay men, these messages combine w/ homophobia to create layers of shame. In this blog, I explore how this legacy shows up today—& the process of liberation .
 buff.ly/et7WAHk
#GayMen #Masculinity #MensTherapy #QueerMentalHealth
1
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · Sep 16
Shame doesn’t just belong to the past. For many gay men, it’s a legacy carried in silence, stigma, and the way masculinity has been policed. My new article unpacks this burden and paths toward healing.
 buff.ly/et7WAHk
#GayMen #MensTherapy #Masculinity #LGBTQMentalHealth
1
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · Sep 16
Many men wrestle with a kind of masculinity that never felt like theirs to begin with. In this post, I explore how shame, secrecy, and social pressure fracture men's mental health—and what healing can look like.
buff.ly/tB9auiP
#menstherapy #mentalhealth #masculinity
The Crisis That Never Ends: Why Masculinity Always Feels “Under Attack” | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
As a male therapist in San Francisco, I help men explore how masculinity shapes their mental health—and how therapy supports emotional connection and self-worth.
buff.ly
2
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · Sep 15
Many men learned to perform strength instead of ask for connection.But underneath, the ache is real. This blog digs into how we got here—and what healing can look like.
#Masculinity #MensMentalHealth
Hungry for Connection: The Emotional Needs Men Are Taught to Ignore | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Many men are surrounded by people but feel unknown. This post explores the emotional disconnection men face—and how therapy can help.
buff.ly
3
sftherapy.bsky.social
Erik Karff, LMFT | LGBTQ+ & Men's Therapy in SF @sftherapy.bsky.social · Sep 15
How do silence, stigma, and masculinity’s rigid rules leave gay men carrying shame across generations? My latest blog explores these dynamics with an eye toward healing.
buff.ly/et7WAHk
#MensTherapy #QueerMentalHealth #Masculinity #GayMen
Gay Men, Masculinity, and the Inheritance of Shame | Erik Karff Psychotherapy
Explore how shame, masculinity, and queerness intersect—and how gay men can reclaim authenticity, connection, and embodied wholeness.
buff.ly
1