Gay Therapy LA with Ken Howard, LCSW, CST

Have you ever opened Instagram only to discover your friends got together without you? Within seconds, your mind may begin asking painful questions: Did they forget me? Did they not want me there? What's wrong with me? In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, explores why social exclusion hurts so deeply—and why the real wound often isn't the missed invitation itself, but the meaning we attach to i...

Many gay men believe their struggles stem from anxiety, loneliness, dating frustrations, low self-esteem, or difficult relationships. But underneath many of these challenges lies a quieter and often overlooked pattern: self-abandonment . In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, explores how gay men learn to disconnect from their feelings, needs, boundaries, anger, instincts, and even their dignity...

Why does Donald Trump continue to inspire such fierce loyalty among millions of Americans? In this special episode of the Gay Therapy LA Podcast, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, steps outside his usual focus on gay men's mental health to examine a broader psychological question: what emotional needs does authoritarian communication fulfill? Drawing on more than three decades as a psychotherapist, Ken explo...

Why can't I stay hard anymore? Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, explores the real causes of erectile dysfunction in gay men—and what actually helps beyond pills, panic, and self-criticism.

Many successful gay male professionals reach a point where something doesn't quite add up. Your career works. You're capable, driven, and functioning at a high level. And yet, something still feels off—especially in relationships, connection, or your sense of ease outside of work. In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST explores why this happens—and why insight alone isn't enough to change it. He b...

In Part 1 of this series, we explored why insight alone isn't enough to create real change in gay men's lives — even for those who are highly self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and deeply reflective. So what actually does work? In Part 2, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, moves beyond theory and into real-world application. This episode focuses on the practical side of personal growth: how to translate ins...

Many gay men already understand themselves surprisingly well. They've read the books, listened to the podcasts, explored their childhood patterns, and can explain their shame, anxiety, trauma, or relationship struggles in detail. So why do so many still feel stuck? In Part 1 of this two-part series, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, explores one of the biggest limitations of insight-based personal growth: un...

Why does it feel so hard to build real friendships as a gay man in adulthood? You meet people. You have good conversations. There's even mutual interest. But somehow, nothing turns into something consistent or meaningful. In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST explains why this isn't about a lack of effort—it's about a lack of structure. He breaks down: why modern gay social life often prevents fr...

What happens when a routine workplace situation suddenly turns into a formal concern—or worse, an accusation? Many successful gay men are finding themselves navigating high-stakes anxiety around reputation, HR processes, and professional risk. In this episode, Ken Howard explores the psychological impact of these situations and how to stay grounded, think clearly, and respond strategically under p...

What happens when gay couples mix love and business? Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, examines how gay men sharing a business can intensify power struggles, communication issues, and sexual disconnection.

Ken Howard, LCSW, CST explores why many gay men experience a shift in ambition after 40—and why it's not burnout, but a natural developmental transition. He explains what's changing psychologically and how to navigate this stage with clarity and purpose.

Why do many successful gay men feel unsettled in midlife? In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, long-term specialist in therapy for gay men, explains how midlife restlessness is often a normal developmental transition — bringing new questions about meaning, relationships, sexuality, and purpose — and how it can become a powerful opportunity for growth and reinvention.

Breakups can feel emotionally destabilizing—especially in the immediate aftermath, when routines collapse and emotions swing unpredictably. In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST shares practical, therapist-informed coping strategies specifically for gay men navigating the first difficult weeks after a relationship ends. Learn how to calm the nervous system, manage emotional triggers, and begin st...

Many gay men feel persistently on edge in today's prolonged climate of political and social uncertainty. In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST explores how chronic stress affects the nervous system—and what actually helps gay men stay grounded, clear, and emotionally steady when reassurance isn't enough.

Struggling with ED issues and want practical tips that actually help —not vague advice or just "take a pill"? In this episode, gay men's sex therapist Ken Howard, LCSW, CST shares clear, experience-based strategies for coping with ED, reducing performance anxiety, and staying sexually confident. Learn what makes ED worse, what helps immediately, and how to stop panic, self-monitoring, and pressure...

Experienced specialist gay therapist Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, examines neurodivergence, autism spectrum, dating, and intimacy in gay men, offering practical guidance for neurodivergent men and their partners.

Careers don't develop all at once — they unfold through psychological phases across the lifespan. And for gay men, that path often looks very different from the one straight men inherit. In this episode, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, maps the developmental stages of a gay man's career — from early achievement and identity formation, through ambition, visibility, and midlife reassessment, to senior author...

A gay therapist, Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, examines the Heated Rivalry phenomenon—exploring why gay romance has gone mainstream, where visibility becomes fetishization, and what this cultural moment really means for gay men's identity, safety, and mental health.

Holidays can intensify loneliness, family tension, and emotional stress for many gay men. Therapist Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, explains why it's OK to hate the holidays and shares practical coping strategies—plus how the new year can become a turning point instead of a repeat.

What if real wealth isn't about money? In this episode, I explore the non-monetary wealth many gay men build over a lifetime—relationships, culture, wisdom, sexuality, and self-acceptance—and why it matters more than we think.

Why gay men struggle with compulsive phone use -- and how anxiety, comparison, and validation loops fuel it. Learn tools to heal and reconnect with real life.  

Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, gay men's specialist therapist, discusses the new movie, "Wicked: For Good" and its implications for gay men, in themes about silencing political voices, seeing things for what they are, and how to stay resilient during Trump 2.0 America.  

Many gay men fear psychiatric meds. Ken Howard, LCSW, CST, explains how the right medication can restore—not change—who you are, separating facts from stigma and myths about treatment and mental health.

Mid-life gay men still use apps like Grindr or Scruff; not just for sex, but for social connection, validation, and visibility.  Gay therapist Ken Howard, LCSW, CST explores desire, aging, open relationships, and how to use apps with intention instead of compulsion.

Why do gay men joke that "the Navy's the gayest branch" or "all Marines are bottoms"? In this episode,  Ken Howard, LCSW, CST , explores how these myths reflect cultural anxieties about masculinity, sexuality, and belonging. Through the Six Principles of Sexual Health and 30+ years of clinical experience, Ken examines how humor, fantasy, and identity intersect—and how gay men can move from stereot...