neurodiversity and queer-affirming Therapy

Glowing Ember LCSW PLLC

IFS Therapy•EMDR Therapy •Somatic Therapy • Gender-Affirming Care‍
Rates•Our Special Interests •Our Team • FAQ
Therapy Inquiry ADHD Evaluation Inquiry
Gender-Affirming Care Letter Inquiry

What is IFS Therapy?

Everyone craves to be seen, heard, and understood.

In Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, we see the mind as made up of “parts” - the different feelings, thoughts, and voices of our inner world. Some carry stories of grief and shame from past wounds, while others take on protective roles in forms like self-criticism, isolation, or lashing out at others.

What are polarized parts?

At times, protective parts become “polarized,” or locked into opposite strategies for keeping you safe. One part may push hard, while another may pull away. You may feel stuck, conflicted, or paralyzed by indecision. You may swing between extremes, or find yourself repeating patterns you don’t fully understand.You don’t have to choose one extreme or silence the other. In IFS therapy, we take time to understand both sides of the internal conflict. As each part feels heard and respected, the intensity softens and your system can begin to settle and move forward with more clarity, balance, and self-trust.

Intention

Queer and neurodivergent-affirming IFS therapy will help you connect with a calm and secure place within where you can hear your own wise voice. Everyone carries something special to offer the world, contributing to our collective healing. We're honored to walk alongside you as you discover, or remember, that the person most equipped to guide your own healing is you, and that you are never truly alone.

What is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

This an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process and heal from distressing experiences that may continue to affect you in the present. EMDR can reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories, lessen symptoms of anxiety and PTSD, and help you develop new, more adaptive beliefs about yourself. Somatic EMDR focuses on sensations and experiences within the body, utilizing bi-lateral tapping and body-mapping. The goal is not to erase memories, but to help them feel less overwhelming so you can move forward with greater confidence and ease.

What is somatic therapy?

Compassionate exploration of the body's wisdom

Somatic therapy recognizes that our experiences are held not only in our thoughts, but also in our bodies. By gently noticing physical sensations, patterns of tension, breath, movement, and nervous system responses, we can better understand how stress, trauma, and emotion show up in daily life. Rather than focusing only on talking about your experiences, somatic therapy helps you build a greater sense of safety and connection with yourself. So much of our processing happens within our bodies.

Gender-affirming care letters

You don't have to prove who you are

We offer assessments and letters of support for adults seeking gender-affirming medical care. This is a 30-50 minute session where we ask about your psychiatric, social, and medical transition history in order to satisfy required documentation. Following the appointment, we provide a professionally written letter that meets the requirements of your surgeon, medical provider, or insurance company, as appropriate.

Gender-Affirming Care Letter Inquiry

Working together

Format

Virtual
In-person in Allentown, Buffalo
Hybrid

50 minute sessions

Payment

Self-pay
In-network Insurance
Out-of-network benefits
Limited sliding scale slots

Discount available for cash payment

Payments Accepted

Venmo
Zelle
Credit/debit card
HSA/FSA card
Check
Cash

 Our Special Interests

Neurodivergence

Release burdens of stigma and self-criticism. Restore your innate authenticity, sensitivity, and confidence. Maryann is trained in adapting IFS for ADHD and autistic people and Angela works with mixed-neurotype partners.
Find more info about neurodiversity-affirming ADHD evaluations here.

Identity and Belonging

Explore how the pressure to hide or conform around gender and sexuality impacts your sense of belonging in your body, family, and community. We will explore internalized gender roles and unconscious beliefs that shape self-perception, behavior, and how you relate to yourself and others. This work creates space for joyful self-expression and authentic living. We also provide gender-affirming care letters to support your journey.
Find more info about Gender Affirming Care letters here.

Attachment Healing

Cultivate an internal secure base so that even when relationships feel hard, you do not feel alone inside. This work can support greater ease with closeness and boundaries and reduce anxiety, shutdown, and people-pleasing. You will deepen trust in your own needs and instincts, which allows you to remain connected to yourself while in connection with others.

Legacy Burdens

Releasing intergenerational burdens by accessing the highest energy of our ancestors and healing our family line. We also discover ‘heirlooms,’ which are gifts within the family that were once lost, and reintegrate them into our family constellation.

Psychedelic Integration

Powerful medicine journeys often bring distressed or hidden parts to the surface, and IFS is an excellent resource for working through inner conflict. This presents the opportunity to meet parts with curiosity, learn their lessons, and better understand why the medicine has taken us in a particular direction.

Glowing Ember team

Maryann Bavisotto, LCSW

Maryann Bavisotto, LCSW

she/they

Role: Clinician, billing and practice administration

Approach: Internal Family Systems therapy, ADHD evaluations, Gender Affirming Care letters

Focus: Ancestral healing, psychedelic integration, therapists

Insurance: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Sield + Independent Health

Availability: Virtual weekdays 10-2, in-person Wednesday and Friday at Chicory House in Buffalo

Psychology TodayTherapy Den
Angela Tona, LMSW

Angela Tona, LMSW

she/they

Role: Clinician, billing and practice administration

Approach: Somatic EMDR, Integrative Somatics, Gender Affirming Care letters

Focus: Trauma, PTSD, couples/polycules

Insurance: Independent Health + Aetna

Availability: Monday, Wednesday, Friday afternoons and evenings virtual or in-person at Chicory House in Buffalo

Psychology Today
Caitlin Thill, LMSW

Caitlin Thill, LMSW

she/her

Role: Clinician

Approach: EMDR, Somatics

Focus: Trauma, ADHD, addiction

Insurance: Aetna

Availability: Virtual weekday mornings

Psychology Today

FAQ

Do you take insurance?

Our practitioners are in-network with several insurance companties in New York State. If you have out of network coverage, we can provide a monthly superbill. This means that you pay for your session out-of-pocket, and then it is your responsibility to request and submit this documentation to your insurance company for full or partial reimbursement. We also offer sliding scale options. You can indicate which of these options you're interested in by clicking the Therapy Inquiry button and filling out the attached form.

Do you offer in-person therapy?

Maryann and Angela are available for in-person sessions. They are happy to meet either fully online, all in person, or a hybrid of the two. We also ask that we switch to a virtual session anytime either of us is sick and still able to meet.

How do I get started?

Click on the Therapy Inquiry button, and fill out the form. A clinician will contact you to iron out logistics and schedule a consultation call. This call is a 10-15 minute phone conversation where you can ask any questions you may have and share what you're comfortable with about what brings you to therapy. If you'd like to move forward, we can schedule your intake appointment during this call.

What training has Maryann completed in Internal Family Systems?

All trainings completed through the IFS Institute:
‍Level 1: Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Completed January 16, 2022
IFS & Shamanism – Completed July 20, 2022
Level 2: A Compassionate Approach to Addictive Processes — IFS, Addictions, and Eating Disorders – Completed March 3, 2023
‍IFS with Neurodivergent Clients (Individuals and Couples) – Completed October 29, 2025
She is also listed in the IFS Institute Provider Directory.

What training has Angela completed?

Inegrative Somatic Trauma Therapy; Embody Lab of California- Completed in 2023
Somatic EMDR; Embody Lab of Claifornia -Completed in 2024

What training has Caitlin completed?

-------

Get in touch

Email: glowingembertherapy@gmail.com
Instagram: @glowingembertherapy

Therapy Inquiry ADHD Evaluation Inquiry Gender-Affirming Care Letter Inquiry Glowing Ember LCSW PLLC logo