Josh Curie & Associates Therapy

Josh Curie & Associates Therapy We provide high quality office based & teletherapy based mental health services to the larger Metro Detroit Region.

While each of our clinicians have different focus areas and expertise, collectively we are committed to serving LGBTQ & BIPOC populations.

We are hosting the theygay gayme night this Saturday. Come on out!
11/14/2025

We are hosting the theygay gayme night this Saturday. Come on out!

Book your free consultation with Sumaiyah!
10/30/2025

Book your free consultation with Sumaiyah!

10/29/2025

A common sentiment that I have heard repeatedly over the last year or so, particularly among gay men, is "I am so tired of the dating/hookup apps, they are so toxic." While I understand the general sense of what clients are trying to say, I do ask for more specificity to understand their unique perspectives. Generally it falls into 1 of 3 categories:

1) People are flaky or I keep getting ghosted
2) I met up with or hooked up with the person but now that I've scratched that itch, I still feel like I am still desiring something
3) I am spending far more time than I would like on apps-- sometimes several--sometimes for many hours per day.

If you find yourself falling into this style of thinking, I would encourage you to consider a few points.

1) What are your genuine intentions with the apps? While some folks certainly are looking for a quick hookup or one night stand or have a high libido, many times I hear people sharing frustration that they are not receiving the kind of companionship they want from the apps. While I realize not all apps are created equally and people do get married from hookup apps, generally speaking Grindr, Scruff, Sniffies, etc. are not typically going to lead to meaningful long-term connections. Indeed, plenty of people struggle to find that on apps that are geared toward more long-term dating (Hinge, OkCupid, Match, etc). So be real with yourself about what you are seeking and it is okay for that to change over time.

2) Internal versus external locus of control. Many times people are wanting the validation that comes with a hot guy sliding into your DM's or sending you nudes or telling you that they want to rendezvous. The dopamine receptors in your brain start firing and it typically is experienced as exciting but then your brain needs more and more of the validation and ego stroking to feel good and confident. So people begin to impulsively chase that feeling and because they know its fleeting and only lasts so long, they have to keep chasing that external validation. If we shift the locus of control from external to internal, we become responsible for our own sense of self and happiness. So when the guy you have been talking to fails to respond to you, you might be able to say something like "this is disappointing but I know I am a great catch and I'm not going to let this ruin my night, I'm going to go do [insert positive pro-social activity] for myself." There is this real sense that someone's response to you, whether approval or disapproval, is not going to entirely highjack your emotions and ruin your day or self-concept.

3) Internet addiction in many forms is real and it is easy to jump on apps when the purpose is not to actively hook up or strike up meaningful conversations. What would it look like to delete the apps for even a week or two? Perhaps try it and see what you notice. How many times do you instinctively try to open up the app? What does it mean when nobody is reaching out to you in a flirty manner--does it change your mood at all? What would it look like for you to try to overcome the social anxiety of approaching a person face to face and share that you are interested in getting to know them better. I understand that rejection sensitivity is real and something a lot of folks are dealing with, but you don't get to companionship without at first facing the fear of rejection.

Despite a lot of internet chats happening, people still often find partners face to face--so if you are single or looking to date and the apps are not working well for you, I encourage you to pour into events that you like yourself! If you are a runner, join a running club! Like ceramics? Great, join a studio! Enjoy playing games--find a local meetup! The goal is to keep your eyes open for potential suitors while still enjoying yourself, even if nothing happens!

Gratefully,

Josh

We are very happy to welcome Sumaiyah Mu'min to our clinical team! She brings a wealth of experience working with the st...
10/08/2025

We are very happy to welcome Sumaiyah Mu'min to our clinical team! She brings a wealth of experience working with the state of Michigan and marginalized populations into serving her clients in the therapeutic environment. She is actively accepting new clients both in person and online. Read more about her and schedule your free initial consultation today! We accept a wide variety of insurance plans, including many Medicaid options. www.joshcurietherapy.org/sumaiyah

03/24/2023

One of the most common emerging themes in therapy this year thus far has been professional burnout. While there are many ways to conceptualize and define burnout, I often think of it in a few ways:

1) Unrealistic Job Demands (too many deliverables being asked of you or you are felt pulled in too many directions).

2) Poor fit between vocational strengths and job objectives (folks working in careers that they can do are credentialed for but lack the passion for)

3) Little energy or motivation to do much of anything outside of work (get through the work day and want to sit on the couch and watch TV or relax but it feels more like numbing than simply watching TV)

4) General state of fatigue or exhaustion that does not have a medical origin (i.e. sleep apnea or something else).

There is no quick fix to burnout--reaching burnout can take months or years and to reverse some of the feelings of burnout can take long periods of time too. Here are some recommendations to get started on reducing burnout symptoms.

1) Take an honest inventory of your current job and how well you like it/think your skill sets are aligned with the tasks you are asked to complete. If there is a mismatch, what type of work would allow you to financially still be able to make it but be better suited for your skill set?

2) Be realistic about the type of work environment that would be best for you. Some folks thrive with all remote work, while others do best full-time in person. Still, others are enjoying a hybrid approach. Don't feel bad about what works best for you and try to see if your current agency is able to help support you in the style that works best for you. If not, perhaps it is time to look for an agency that has increased flexibility.

3) Be regularly thinking about stress-management. One school of thought is that burnout is the result of ineffective stress management. What are the sources of your stress? What can be eliminated? What protective factors can be incorporated to help manage the stress (vacation, yoga, walks, deep breathing, switching departments, hybrid approach, fun social events outside of work, etc?)

4) Get good at setting effective boundaries. Commit to not checking work emails outside of traditional work hours. Say "no" to additional work opportunities that you are not passionate about. Decline optional networking events unless you are really into them. Do not feel like you have to be a generalist and do it all in your field to make a difference!

The reality is that although some of us might really enjoy the work that we do, for a lot of folks, joy and contentment comes from family, friends, sports, and other sources outside of the workplace. Don't work yourself so ragged that you have no time for other enjoyable things!

Happy Spring!

01/10/2023

We don't do a lot of social media posting, as most of our time is devoted to clients and continuing education. However, I thought it might be nice to share occasional common themes that come up in therapy. So I'll begin.

Theme # 1 I'm too old/ inexperienced/ out of shape to do X, Y, and Z.

As we age, we become more aware of how things have changed from our youth. We might have less overall energy, emerging or prolonged body pain, and/or we might be juggling a career, a partner and children, etc. We may regularly feel that we have competing devotions and not enough time to get everything in.

What I have noticed is a lot of analysis paralysis. When folks say they do not have time to work out, working out often to them means 5-6 times per week for 30 minutes or more. That does indeed sound like a big jump if your baseline is little to no activity. However, thinking about something more like 10 mins per day, 3 days a week is much more of a realistic start for most people. It's something that is measurable and still requires some discipline and thought but allows you to have off days and time for rest and recovery. But, in my opinion, most importantly, it gets you out of the analysis paralysis where you know you need to do something but find yourself doing nothing instead because of all you feel you need to accomplish. It's less important WHAT you do than DOING SOMETHING. What 1 thing are you ready to commit to?

Part of why I initially started offering walk and talk therapy sessions was to help folks get in some steps while also having a therapy session; we accomplished movement and therapy at the same time and also get to experience some mindfulness in action, as we look at the birds, notice the trees, pay attention to the temperature, etc.

Another example is dating. I get that many folks don't imagine finding themselves single at 40+ and having to think about dating all over again after perhaps not being single for a number of years. Often I hear "people are not going to want to date someone my age" or folks become fairly critical about the aging process, with comments such as "I used to look much better, but now I have all these wrinkles," or "I am worried that I will not perform as well as I used to in the bedroom." But love truly can happen at any age. A lot of folks, especially as they get older, are hesitant to use online dating apps and there is nothing wrong with that. While a lot of people do turn to dating apps to find local singles, many individuals are still finding love organically...BUT these are often people who have decided to engage in activities they enjoy (sports, knitting, social groups, vacation groups, recovery groups, neighborhood cleanups, etc) and work to get a bit out of their comfort zone. So if you find yourself single and struggling to find romance or love, focus on doing an activity that you enjoy and keep your eyes open for potential suitors. I have folks 60+ regularly starting brand new hobbies, beginning to date again, building strength and stamina, etc and that could be you too. You just got to figure out how to get the ball rolling for you!

Best,

Josh

We are proud to be a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise! :)
04/04/2022

We are proud to be a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise! :)

04/04/2022

We started as a small part-time practice in the Fall of 2019 and have expanded to a team of 6 providers. Unlike some other practices that have a specialized focus among all providers, we have different specialties and populations served but come together under three main values: 1) the importance of serving LGBTQ and BIPOC populations, 2) a focus on economic justice, meaning being able to provide high quality mental health therapy services independent of economic situation (we accept a number of Medicaid and Medicare plans), and 3) Prioritizing good and healthy therapeutic relationships and provider sustainability by keeping caseloads manageable to avoid provider burnout and better quality sessions. We rather put folks on a waitlist rather than continue to add clients to a therapist caseload.

With that being said, we do have openings for our three new clinicians Dominique, Victoria, and Jon. Please inquire within and share as appropriate. We look forward to working with you!

Thanks,

Josh Curie,
Clinical Director/Therapist & Owner

Address

30555 Southfield Road Suite 260
Ferndale, MI
48076

Telephone

+13133552796

Website

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