LGBTQIA+ therapy (offered by mental health professionals as both online therapy and face-to-face counseling) can be a game-changer for those who struggle with their gender identity or identify as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer). This is because it provides queer people who are struggling or need someone to talk to with a sense of understanding and safety that they may not experience in other mental health care settings. Despite this, not every queer-identified person can access the care they need, whether due to a lack of resources or not knowing how to find help. So, why is the need for LGBTQIA+ counselors and therapists so strong, and what can you do if you need to support someone who identifies as LGBTQ+? In honor of Minority Mental Health Month, this article provides mental health resources for the LGBTQIA+ community.
First, it can be advantageous to understand the acronym LGBTQ+. LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, and the plus sign at the end is to include all other identities. There are similar acronyms you may see used, such as LGBTQIA2S+, which stands for adds in intersex, asexual, and two-spirit.
What Is LGBTQ+ Therapy?
Like allyship, a therapist or provider specializing in working with the LGBTQ+ clients isn’t just about surface-level acceptance or tolerance, or something that just happens during Pride Month. There’s a major difference between the inclusion of a community or demographic group and resources built specifically for that group, such as resources for transgender individuals, gay men, or adolescents with questions about their own gender identity. LGBTQIA+ counseling is built for LGBTQIA+ individuals and their experiences healing intergenerational trauma, healing from conversion therapy, and more. Counselors should provide a protected, conscious, and empathetic environment where someone can get care from a provider who understands how being LGBTQ+ can inform an individual’s experiences.
Marginalized communities are significantly more likely to experience mental health conditions. Especially if you experience marginalization in more ways than one, accessing care can be challenging. Statistics indicate that:
Discrimination, harassment, and bullying are all known physical and mental health detriments. Research shows that the more marginalization an individual faces, the more severe their mental health outcomes are. When the question is, “Why are LGBTQ+ people more likely to experience a mental illness or disorder?” It’s very important to note that the answer relates to the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals rather than simply being a part of the demographic.
It’s also worth noting that, sometimes it is advantageous to be in a space that’s made with you in mind. If you spend most of your time around straight, cisgender people, especially those who aren’t informed on queer topics, it can be lonely, and you may feel misunderstood.
Healthcare should always be a safe place to turn. Unfortunately, that is not always the case for marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ demographic. Stigma from healthcare professionals, providers, or mental health professionals can show up in various ways. These may include but aren’t limited to the denial of fertility treatment, withholding of puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), being turned down for healthcare services (whether those services are related to sexuality and gender or not), not finding a therapist that specializes in LGBTQ+ mental health, and failure to recognize differing sexual experiences as well as experiences surrounding your gender and how they may inform your health or healthcare needs.
The levels in which stigma shows up in healthcare may vary in a sense. Some providers can be outright intolerant with their clients, even refusing to use inclusive language on intake forms, whereas others do not know about LGBTQ+ specific healthcare needs. Sometimes a provider or therapist won’t know that they’re causing harm. Even so, this can be triggering and can serve as a barrier to having your healthcare needs addressed. This is part of why queer-affirming medical and mental health care practices are so vital. It may be harder to find supportive and affirming care in remote areas or areas that are typically less accepting of LGBTQ+ individuals.
This is why BetterHelp created the platform Pride Counseling so that those in relationships anywhere in the U.S. (from urban areas like San Francisco to rural areas like Eastern Montana and everywhere in between) can remotely access counselors specialized in serving the queer community facing complex feelings. Read below for some reviews of Pride Counseling staff therapists and their practices, from others facing a range of challenges.
“Petrovna knows what she's talking about. I often read and hear about trauma-informed therapy, but Petrovna is truly trauma-TRAINED therapy and that's made a world of difference in our relationship. She understands my struggles as a person of color and experiences as a trans nonbinary person. With her, I feel imbued with the hope that I will be able to heal from my trauma.”
Learn More About Petrovnia McIntosh
“Denise is very thoughtful and I know she is human. She lets me know that it’s ok not to be ok. She also lets me know how proud she is of me and that she is here always. She gets what it means to be a therapist!!”
Learn More About Denise Price
Not every healthcare provider is going to be a good fit for your needs. For example, your therapist’s identity may not match yours, which may be important for some people. However, everyone deserves to get the mental and physical healthcare they need. Here are some things that you can do to protect yourself in healthcare settings and practices, find providers and the right therapist for you, and get the help you need fairly quickly:
It may also be helpful to take someone with you. Many people report that they feel as though they are taken more seriously when someone else is present, and it can also be helpful to know that you will have someone there as a witness if your experience is negative. It can also be a matter of moral support.
Some individuals are not ready to start counseling, or they cannot start counseling due to barriers such as cost. Here are some other things you can do:
If you can access counselors or are wondering what’s available to you, explore your options. Many find group counseling, meeting with individual counselors, or both to be beneficial. Finding group counseling built specifically for the queer community or a specific demographic (for example, group therapy designed specifically for transgender mental health, group therapy designed specifically for LGBTQ+ individuals of a specific age group, and so on) can be invaluable.
Here are some ways to be an ally for those with LGBTQ+ identities:
Stand up not just for those you see as palatable or comfortable for you to stand up for, but for everyone of every identity, including the most marginalized identities.
If you are an LGBTQ+ adolescent or adult who is struggling, there is hope. Counseling is a process, and it is not a replacement for emergency or crisis care. If you need immediate help and are looking for someone to speak with, contact one of the hotlines below:
LGBT National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860
The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
RAINN: 1-800-656-4673
LGBTQ therapists can help LGBT clients explore gender identity and expression that may differ from the gender assigned at birth, exploration around sexual orientation, and thoughts around coming out and identifying and managing mental health issues (such as low self-esteem, eating disorders, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation), gender dysphoria, sexual identity issues, sexual assault trauma, sexual orientation change efforts, and dealing with bullying from social stigma. Finding the right queer therapist for you, as a client, is important to ensure that you are receiving the mental healthcare you need. Seeking therapy can play a pivotal role in self-acceptance and overcoming feelings of anxiety or depression.
LGBTQ affirming counselors are mental health professionals who work specifically on LGBTQ issues, ensuring that the mental wellbeing of these clients is improving. For example, if a queer-identified adolescent or adult is subjected to the threat of reparative therapy or conversion therapy, this individual could meet with an LGBTQ affirming therapist to work through these issues specifically targeting LGBTQ clients. If this threat comes from a family member, the individual may seek out family counseling as well to work through the next steps as a familial unit or on how to move away from family in a healthy way. It is important to note that LGBTQ affirming counselors may be queer therapists but also may be allies looking to uplift clients who identify as LGBTQ and provide mental health care in a therapeutic setting.
What does a Lgbtq therapist do?
What is Lgbtq affirmative therapy?
What is Lgbtq medicine?
Is BetterHelp counseling legit?
What is Counseling used for?
What does it mean to be an affirming therapist?
What therapy is best for gender dysphoria?
Does CBT work for gender dysphoria?
What can I expect from gender therapy?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Are An LGBTQ Therapist And Therapy?
An LGBTQIA+ therapist is a therapist who works in therapy from a lens that embraces the LGBTQIA+ community and specializes in working with the community to provide therapy.
LGBTQIA+ experiences can be commonly overlooked in heteronormative care or care not built specifically for the community. An LGBTQIA+ therapist will help you reach your full potential with your experiences, desires, and identity in mind. You can find an LGBTQIA+ therapist in person by searching terms like “gay, bisexual, transgender, queer therapy,” “bisexual and transgender affirming therapy,” and other similar terms, or you can find a provider who specialized in working with the LGBTQIA+ community online through a platform like BetterHelp.
What Is Pride Counselling?
Pride Counseling is a remote therapy platform that specializes in providing counseling for the LGBTQ+ community. When you sign up for this kind of therapy, you will be asked how you identify and other questions that will help you find a therapist who best meets your needs, whether for depression, anxiety, relationships, career, or any other concerns.
Why Might An Individual From The LGBTQ Community Have A Harder Time Accessing Mental Health Care?
Although it’s by no means an extensive list, some of the reasons an LGBTQIA+ individual may have a harder time accessing care or therapy due to discrimination, a lack of funds, abuse that restricts their access to healthcare services, fear of being perceived negatively, or experiencing trauma in a mental health or therapy setting, and trouble finding affirming care. This is why LGBTQIA+ affirming providers are so vital to the community. The HRC has a webpage dedicated to helping individuals locate LGBTQIA+-friendly facilities, which may be advantageous.
Additional frequently asked questions can be found below:
What is LGTBQ medicine?
LGTBQ medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on preventing disease, reducing social stigma, and promoting the health of people of the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Types of providers that practice LGTBQ medicine include mental health professionals, medical doctors, nurses, social workers, and more.
What does TFT mean in LGBT?
TFT means trauma-focused therapy, which is a mental health approach that recognizes the impact of trauma as an integral part of the healing process. TFT therapists can help with trauma-related gender identity issues, depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, PTSD, and more.