About Us
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Prism Counseling was founded by Tres Adames and is a division of Arizona Christian Counseling. We are an inclusive and fully LGBTQ+ affirming group of practitioners that seek to help people of all faith (or non-faith) backgrounds. Below, Tres describes how and why he started Prism Counseling:
My StoryHi, my name is Tres Adames and I am the founder of Prism Counseling. I am a pastoral counselor, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and a survivor of conversion therapy. I founded Prism Counseling to be a place for LGBTQ+ people to receive support that affirms and empowers them to be who they really are. I personally know what it's like to meet a new counselor, only to wonder if they are truly accepting, affirming, and educated about the LGBTQ+ community.
My Experience Going Through Conversion Therapy Personally, I have had good and bad experiences in counseling. I grew up in a conservative evangelical environment that was not affirming of who I really was. It was a struggle to accept myself when I didn't even feel accepted by those around me. This intensified when I had a spiritual experience and felt called to the ministry. In order to feel accepted by the church, I believed that I had to change who I really was. I went through ten years of conversion therapy — from pastors, church programs, and even state-licensed therapists. |
Tres (right) and his partner, Chris (left)
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About Our Logo
The logo for Prism Counseling not only consists of an interlocking "P" and "C," but is a triangle shape that represents a prism, which refracts light in all its colors. We believe that every person (especially LGBTQ+ persons) are made in the Image of God and believe that this diversity is reflected in all of creation and humanity. |
Accepting Myself and Coming Out
After these experiences, and a long bout of deep depression, I realized that hating myself was no longer working. I went through several years of legitimate, affirming therapy and found the help I needed all along. I ended up not becoming a traditional pastor in a brick-and-mortar church, but felt called to the ministry and work of mental health. Fired for Being Gay I worked as a pastoral counselor for a couple non-profit organizations for several years in the Phoenix area. I was fired for being gay in 2019 after the director of one of the non-profits interrogated me about my sexual orientation. This experience solidified the conviction I have for LGBTQ+ inclusion and the ethical integration of client-centered spirituality and mental health. As a result of all these experiences, I realized the greater need for LGBTQ-focused counseling and founded Prism Counseling in 2020. Prism Counseling is the sister practice of Arizona Christian Counseling and not only provides services in the Phoenix and Peoria area, but also online through our secure telehealth platform. We look forward to meeting you and hearing your story. We are here for you. |
Featured On:
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Tres' story has been featured on all these media outlets, including an Emmy Award-winning story by Brandon Lee: