May 19, 2026

LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Care: Dr. Shannon Franklin of Element Q on Fox 5 San Diego

Element Q Healing Center

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Published: May 18, 2026, 12:50 PM PDT

Watch the segment on Fox 5 San Diego →

There’s a meaningful difference between a mental health space that won’t turn queer clients away and one that’s built around their experience from the ground up. On a recent episode of The Localist SD, Element Q Healing Center co-founder Dr. Shannon Franklin spoke with host Ashley Jacobs about what that distinction looks like in practice — from the stressors that disproportionately affect the LGBTQIA+ community, to the sensory and design choices that make a clinical space feel like a home rather than a hospital.

“It’s not just a friendly space. It’s intentionally created so that you can feel at ease, so you can feel understood, and so that you can get cared for in the way that you need.” — Dr. Shannon Franklin

Dr. Franklin also discussed how Element Q integrates partners and family members into treatment, the program’s awareness of neurodivergence within the queer community, and why a first-step tour can ease the weight of starting care.

Clinically Reviewed By:

Element Q Healing Center

Dr. Shannon Franklin is a black and queer-identified licensed psychologist specializing in working with the LGBTQIA+ population, gender identity/gender affirming care, multiculturalism/anti-racism, and trauma. Dr. Shannon is deeply committed to serving historically marginalized communities. Dr. Shannon aims to work collaboratively with clients to empower them in various capacities —including individual therapy work and group therapy. She believes a person’s unique identity profoundly impacts how they interpret and experience the world. Dr. Shannon has found the exploration of social structures, power dynamics, and how these issues relate to and influence relationships beneficial to therapy work.

Dr. Shannon is a licensed psychologist in the State of California. She received her Bachelors (BA) in Psychology, minor in business, from Clark University in Worcester, MA as well as Master’s (MA) and Doctoral (PsyD) degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Family Psychology from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. Dr. Shannon was also one of the co-founders of Solve for X Mutual Aid, which served QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) impacted by COVID-19.

Dr. Shannon is passionate not only about providing therapy but also about training. She creates spaces for learning in various capacities, including formalized supervision, leading didactic training and seminars, facilitating consultation groups, and more, ensuring all staff maintain a rich and up-to-date knowledge base to support clients.