What is LGBTQIA+ Counselling?
LGBTQIA+ counselling or therapy is a type of professional counselling that focuses on the mental health needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender individuals. LGBTQIA+ therapy typically takes the form of one-on-one psychotherapy sessions between you as an individual client, and a dedicated therapist.
LGBTQIA+ therapists are specially trained and qualified to provide counselling for LGBTQIA+ related issues such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and self-acceptance. Their role is to support you in facing the unique challenges that sexual minorities face in a heteronormative world.
Research shows that those in the queer community are more than twice as likely as heterosexual and cisgendered people to develop a mental health disorder during their lifetimes. It can also be more difficult for LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking counselling services to get the help they need, compared to heterosexual and cisgender individuals.
At Counseling Perspective, we welcome people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Our team of affirmative counsellors is experienced in providing trauma-informed support and guidance to our LGBTQIA+ clients.
How Do LGBTQIA+ Counsellors Help?
LGBTQIA+ therapists are experienced professional counsellors who are qualified to provide psychological services to LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Depending on your situation, your LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist may draw on a variety of therapeutic techniques to help you. These may include CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), and Mindfulness-based approaches for dealing with trauma.
As well as helping you to manage and heal from any mental health issues, your therapist can also support you in dealing with concerns such as:
- Questioning your sexual orientation and sexual identity
- Coping with emotional distress caused by gender dysphoria
- Deciding whether to come out to your family members and friends
- Navigating family relationships and intimate relationship issues
- Managing discrimination and social expectations in everyday life
Frequently Asked Questions
LGBTQ people are at higher risk for certain mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, low self-esteem, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.
This increased risk stems from the challenges of living in a society where LGBTQ people face systemic discrimination, social stigma, and difficulty in finding acceptance among their family, friends and colleagues. Lacking a social support system can cause feelings of sadness, stress and isolation, which can in turn lead to mental health issues.
There isn't a single answer to this question - it's different for everyone. Some LGBT people find that coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender is empowering and helps them to feel more comfortable in their own skin. However, others find coming and being out to be difficult and stressful.
The decision of whether or not to come out as LGBT is yours and yours alone. If you do decide to come out, your therapist can help you with aspects such as planning the coming out process, establishing social support networks beforehand, and preparing for the possible reactions of others.
Sexual orientation refers to the predominant sexual and romantic attractions a person has towards others. Sexual orientation is innate to each individual and cannot be changed.
You may be attracted toward the opposite sex or gender (heterosexuality), the same sex or gender (homosexuality), or to both sexes or more than one gender (bisexuality or pansexuality).
You can also feel little to no sexual or romantic attraction towards others (asexuality and aromanticism).
Gender identity is the gender which a person sees themselves as. This may or may not be the sex that they were assigned at birth. For example, a person with a female sex assigned at birth may identify as a male.
Gender identity is not the same as sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is about who someone is attracted to. For example, a woman may be attracted to men, women, or both. Someone’s gender identity does not have to do with their sexual orientation.
Gender identity is also different from gender expression. Gender expression is how someone outwardly shows their gender. This could be through clothing, hairstyle, make-up, body language, or voice. Someone’s gender expression does not have to match their gender identity.
Gender dysphoria is a condition in which a person experiences anxiety, discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.
People with gender dysphoria may identify as being the opposite sex to the one they were assigned at birth, or they may identify as being neither male nor female.
Gender dysphoria is not the same as homosexuality – people with gender dysphoria may be attracted to people of either sex. Treatment for gender dysphoria usually involves psychological counselling and, in some cases, hormone therapy or surgery to change the physical appearance to match the person's preferred gender identity.
Other Counselling & Mental Health Services
