Max Littman is a licensed clinical social worker, IFS therapist, consultant, and writer. Max holds a master’s degree in social work and has trained extensively in trauma-informed care, somatic therapy, queer-affirming practice, and his work is grounded in both clinical skill and lived experience… a true fusion of psychological depth and emotional truth. Most importantly, Max is not just a set of credentials; he is a human being… one who has walked the winding path of self-discovery, sat with the ache of exile, and returned again and again to the parts of himself once cast into the shadows. Max is the author of the book "IFS Therapy for Gay and Queer Men: A Companion for After Coming Out," which is both a tender and courageous offering that bridges theory and embodiment. His writing is sacred terrain where the wounds of shame, rejection, and survival are met with compassion and clarity; and he gives language to what so many have carried in silence: the burden of having to explain themselves, the exhaustion of masking, the grief of disconnection from self and others. Max doesn’t simply explain the IFS model - he lives it by extending an open hand to the gay and queer men who have felt othered, silenced, or pathologized, and reminds them: you are not alone, you are not broken, you are not a disorder. Max speaks directly to the inner exiles: the parts of gay and queer men who were told they were too much, too sensitive, too soft, too loud, too feminine, too afraid, and are subtly told within their own gay and queer community they are not enough. Instead of pathologizing them, he honors them; welcomes them; and invites them back into belonging. At the heart of Max’s work is a simple truth: healing doesn’t mean becoming someone new; it means remembering who you were before the world told you to be someone else. His work is not about fixing what’s wrong, it’s about remembering what’s true: that we are whole, that we are worthy, that our stories; even the ones we were told to forget; matter. Connect with Max: Website - https://maxlittman.com Max's Book: Internal Family Systems Therapy for Gay and Queer Men: A Companion for After Coming Out - https://a.co/d/cciEBtN Is there a guest you’d love to see on @notyourordinaryparts? Follow @notyourordinaryparts on Instagram and tag them. If this episode resonated with you follow @notyourordinaryparts on Instagram and interact with the host, guests, and other listeners. Like, subscribe, follow, and share with anyone you think would find this helpful. Life can be hard at times and if you’re like me, you may tend to think that you can handle it all on your own. Maybe you’ve done such a good job of “managing for so long” having to do something different or talk to someone can feel uncomfortable. The idea of therapy, to me, felt like I had to admit that there was something wrong with me or that I’d be showing the world that I was broken or didn't have it all together… but when my health started to suffer, and I was anxious 24/7… I realized my body was trying to tell me something was wrong and I learned that there is no “good health” without mental health. Therapy was the answer for me, it helped me put down all of the heavy things that I was carrying that didn’t belong to me. While therapy can provide so much relief, finding a therapist can feel so daunting. BetterHelp, the sponsor of today’s video, has done so much to make finding a therapist and starting therapy so much easier! BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform whose mission is making professional therapy accessible, affordable, and convenient — so anyone who struggles with life's challenges can get help. BetterHelp connects you with a licensed therapist who is trained to listen and give you helpful, unbiased advice. Over 4 million people have used BetterHelp to start living a healthier, happier life. If you’re struggling, please visit - https://betterhelp.com/notyourordinaryparts for 10% off your first month.
