Where To Find Affirming Online LGBTQIA+ 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 therapists 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 help. 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+-affirming therapy needed

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 

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text 988 to talk to a crisis provider over SMS. They are available 24/7 to offer support. 988 also offers an online chat for those with an internet connection.

Some people may not be comfortable addressing the above topics with mental health professionals in person. To alleviate these potential concerns, online therapy platforms allow clients to connect with mental health practitioners from the comfort of home. Compared to in-person therapy, virtual therapy services can provide a more convenient and comfortable way for those in this community to utilize mental health services. With online therapy, you can work with one of thousands of licensed therapists through video call, voice call, or in-app messaging. You can also contact your therapist anytime. So, if you forgot to mention something during a therapy 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. 

Another benefit of online therapy 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 therapy, virtual therapy platforms work with a team of qualified professionals from across the US (and even outside of the country). Typically, virtual therapy 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. 

Virtual therapy 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, therapist availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply) to have sessions with a qualified therapist. These costs are often less than those of in-person therapy through a one-on-one practice (which can average $100-200 per session), even with insurance coverage.

Virtual therapy can help you address a range of life challenges and mental health concerns. Licensed virtual therapists 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 therapy and relationship therapy. And through some virtual services, clients can attend group therapy sessions. 

There are, however, some situations in which online therapy 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 therapy platforms do not provide psychiatric medication management or diagnoses. 

Minority stress and affirming care

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 therapists may do the following to better support their clients: 

• 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
• Respect the diversity of LGBTQ+ individuals
• Use terminology correctly
• Use the clients’ pronouns and names

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

Where can I find an LGBTQIA+-affirming 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 therapy at community centers 

Online 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 therapy for mental health conditions and LGBTQ+-related 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. 

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.