Element Q Podcast: Empowering LGBTQ+ Voices, One Story at a Time · TJ Woodward

Supporting Self Acceptance In The LGBTQIA+ Community With Ryan Strudevant

September 9, 2025·35 min·3 clips

Ryan reveals how his drinking nearly killed him before he found recovery and self-acceptance as a queer person.

This episode of the Element Q Podcast features host T.J. Woodward in conversation with Ryan Sturtevant, founder and CEO of Chroma Wellness, a new mental health program in Denver. They explore the critical role of self-acceptance within the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly for those navigating mental health and substance use challenges. Ryan shares his personal journey as a gay man in recovery since 2009, linking his own experiences to broader community issues. The discussion centers on how societal pressures to conform lead many queer individuals to develop protective, inauthentic personas from a young age. Both host and guest reflect on their formative years, with T.J. describing a closeted high school experience in 1970s Indiana and Ryan recalling acting as a "chameleon" in 1980s North Dakota. They cite high rates of mental health concerns and addiction within the community as consequences of this internalized shame and disconnection from one's true self. Ryan explains that Chroma is designed as an extended-care model, aiming to support clients for three to nine months, which contrasts with typical 30-day programs. A key insight is that the quest for external validation often masks an internal void, and true healing requires asking, "What do you need in that moment, and can you give that to yourself?" The conversation reveals that many people in the queer community have never had a safe opportunity to look inward because they were implicitly told their inner selves were not acceptable. Ryan describes a transformative moment from his career where clients in a general treatment program only felt safe discussing queer-specific traumas in a dedicated group he created. The dialogue critiques the behavioral health industry's approach, noting that while "trauma-informed" is a common buzzword, truly trauma-focused care is rare. They argue that simply having a pride sticker or one LGBTQ+ therapist is insufficient compared to building a program from the ground up for the community. Ryan emphasizes the importance of cultural competency beyond pronouns, highlighting the need to understand intersections like the experiences of LGBTQ+ BIPOC individuals. He states his ultimate goal is to create a program so effective that the straight community asks, "Why can't I come here too?" The tone is deeply conversational, educational, and reflective, with both speakers sharing vulnerably from their personal and professional lives. The style is empathetic and advocacy-oriented, focusing on systemic change within mental health care. This episode would deeply resonate with LGBTQ+ individuals interested in mental health, recovery, and personal growth, as well as clinicians and allies seeking to understand nuanced, trauma-informed care. Listeners looking for a light, entertainment-focused podcast or those opposed to discussions of identity politics might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

A thoughtful conversation about affirmation, dignity, and the work still ahead.

Ryan Sturtevant's conversation with T.J. Woodward centers on LGBTQ+ affirmation in the face of misgendering, deadnaming, fear, and the gap between symbolic support and lived safety.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

For a grounded conversation about queer community support, trans safety, misgendering, deadnaming, and what real affirmation actually requires.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Element Q Podcast: Empowering LGBTQ+ Voices, One Story at a Time