Where To Find Affirming Online LGBTQ Counseling That Is Affordable

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals often experience minority stress due to stigma, prejudice, heteronormativity, rejection, discrimination, and internalized homophobia. As a result of these stressors, LGBTQ+ individuals are 2.5 times more likely to experience mental health challenges, like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, than cisgender heterosexual individuals.

If you’re an LGBTQ+ youth or young adult in crisis, reach out to The Trevor Project hotline by calling 1-866-488-7386 or texting “START” to 678-678. You can also use their online chat. 

LGBTQ+ affirmative counselors have experience helping people navigate minority stress, often approaching sessions with a positive, respectful, and affirming viewpoint for people with all gender identities and sexual orientations. If you’re interested in meeting with an affirming professional, it may be helpful to know the best places to find them and how they can provide you with counseling services that fit your needs. Below, we’re going to discuss the importance of mental health care for those in the LGBTQ+ (also called the LGBTQIA) community and outline options for connecting with a mental health provider through virtual counseling.

Why is LGBTQIA+ therapy needed

Stigma and discrimination can be challenging for anyone who does not identify as cisgender and heterosexual. While some LGBTQ+ individuals experience a strong sense of pride in their identity, heteronormativity can put members of this community at a higher risk of mental illness and mental health issues. Overall, members of the this community are more than twice as likely as heterosexual individuals to have mental health conditions in their lifetime, and transgender people are almost four times as likely to experience a mental health condition than cisgender individuals. 

Common challenges impacting mental health

Challenges faced by individuals in the LGBTQ+ community may include: 

• The exploration of gender identity and sexual orientation
• Complications from coming out
• Fear of rejection
• Rejection from social support due to one’s LGBT+ identity  
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Substance misuse
• Gender dysphoria
• Traumatic experiences
• Shame
• Mental and physical health discrimination 
• Deadnaming and other forms of harassment
• Suicidal thoughts and self-harm
• Intersectional challenges for those who are LGBTQ+ and BIPOC, individuals with a physical disability, religious minorities, or low socioeconomic status 

The need for personalized online LGBTQ counseling

Some people may not be comfortable addressing the above topics with mental health professionals in person. To alleviate these potential concerns, online counseling platforms allow clients to connect with mental health practitioners from the comfort of home. Compared to in-person counseling, virtual counseling services can provide a more convenient and comfortable way for those in this community to utilize mental health services. With online counseling, you can work with one of thousands of licensed counselors through video call, voice call, or in-app messaging. You can also contact your counselor anytime through most online counseling platforms. So, if you forgot to mention something during a counseling session, or you want to ask a question about a related topic, you can send them a message, and they’ll typically respond within 24 hours. 

Using online LGBTQ counseling to find the right therapist

Another benefit of online counseling is its ability to connect clients with a greater number of mental health providers than may otherwise be available. Unlike most forms of traditional in-person counseling, virtual counseling platforms work with a team of qualified professionals from across the US (and even outside of the country). Typically, online counseling platforms like BetterHelp provide questionnaires that ask each client about their goals, preferences regarding a mental health professional, and desire to receive care related to personal concerns. Using this information, they can connect each client with the right mental health provider for them. 

Addressing a variety of mental health needs with online therapy services

Virtual counseling is also a cost-effective form of mental health care. For example, BetterHelp memberships start at $65 per week (based on factors such as your location, referral source, preferences, counselor availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply) to have sessions with a qualified counselor. These costs are often less than those of in-person counseling through a one-on-one practice (which can average $100-200 per session), even with insurance coverage.

Virtual counseling can help you address a range of life challenges and mental health concerns. Licensed virtual counselors can provide guidance on relationship issues, symptoms of a mental health disorder, career difficulties, and other challenges. Many online platforms—such as the Gay Therapy Center—provide both individual counseling and relationship counseling. And through some virtual services, clients can attend group counseling sessions. 

There are, however, some situations in which online counseling may not be the right option for you. With certain mental health conditions—like schizophrenia or severe substance use disorder—in-person treatment is typically recommended. Additionally, many virtual counseling platforms do not provide psychiatric medication management or diagnoses. 

Minority stress and affirming care

For some people in the LGBTQ+ community, counseling can be a useful resource for managing challenges and receiving positive affirmation and support. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that LGBTQI-inclusive mental health providers can help clients achieve improved mental health outcomes. 

In addition, researchers have found that affirming care can build self-esteem and improve overall quality of life. In contrast, a lack of affirming care can result in adverse outcomes, including depression, homelessness, rejection, and suicide.

What is LGBTQIA+ counseling?

LGBT affirmative counselors may do the following to better support their clients when providing mental health care: 

• Meet a variety of core competencies for LGBTQ+ counseling
• Maintain an up-to-date list of local LGBTQ+ resources and services
• Question heteronormative assumptions
• Provide LGBTQ+-friendly reading materials, paperwork, and other resources 
• Challenge biases related to sexual orientation or gender identity
• Respect the diversity of LGBTQ+ individuals
• Use terminology correctly
• Use the clients’ pronouns and names

Affirmative counseling can be used for clients of any age. Counselors provide verbal and non-verbal forms of support to discover each client’s goals for counseling regarding their identity. 

Finding an LGBTQIA+ affirming counselor or therapist

It can be difficult to find a therapist that meets your needs, but a trusted resource may be able to provide you with recommendations for finding a therapist. Consider the following resources for finding an affirming therapist. 

Friends and family 

If you have friends, colleagues, or family members who are in the queer community, you might choose to ask them if they have recommendations. Some individuals may have had prior experience with an affirming and kind provider. 

Healthcare professionals 

If you have a positive relationship with your healthcare provider, you might ask for recommendations for affirming therapy. In addition, if you’re working with a provider for gender-affirming surgery, they may ask you to meet with a therapist first to receive a recommendation. In these cases, the provider may help you find a therapist or refer you to someone they know. 

In-person counseling at community centers 

Local centers often have licensed affirmative therapists available onsite to provide therapy services or the ability to provide recommendations for local mental health resources. 

Online counseling directories 

There are several virtual resources, including the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) referral directory, the GLBT National Help Center’s LGBT Near Me guide for local resources, the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network’s Mental Health Directory, and other virtual search tools.  

If you do not have health insurance, you cannot afford a co-pay, or if the therapist you want to see doesn’t accept your insurance, you may reach out to them and ask whether they use a sliding scale or can offer discounts to work with you. You may also be able to find free or more affordable affirming therapy, support groups, and other resources from your local community center or various national organizations.

Online counseling and online therapy services for LGBTQ+ related mental health concerns

For individuals living outside of major cities, without insurance, or with demanding schedules, in-person affirming therapy may be more challenging to find. In these cases, virtual counseling could be more reachable and affordable. While it can take weeks or months to establish care with an in-person therapist, people seeking LGBTQ+-affirming therapy through platforms like BetterHelp are often matched with a licensed therapist in as little as 48 hours. 

Effectiveness of virtual therapy in supporting LGBTQ+ community needs

In addition to increasing affirming therapy, virtual therapy can be effective for a wide range of mental health conditions. A 2017 review of 373 peer-reviewed studies found that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) effectively addressed many conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders, which are common among people who identify as LGBTQ+. A 2013 study by the University of Zurich found that internet-based psychotherapy was more effective than in-person therapy at reducing depression symptoms in the medium term.