LBGTQ+ Therapy
Do You Want LGBTQ+-Affirming Mental Health Support?
Have you been dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health issues? Deep down, do you think that some of these challenges may be related to:
Shame or internalized stigma?
Uncertainty regarding your gender identity?
A sense of not truly belonging in your community?
Maybe you’ve long hidden certain parts of who you are from those closest to you. Or perhaps you’ve only recently come out, and it’s led to a lot of awkward or disheartening conversations with loved ones. Additionally, you may experience a lack of acceptance in social or professional spaces, as if you’re not allowed to take up space or be your authentic self. Deep down, you probably wish there was someone out there you could talk to who understood the struggles of being LGBTQ+ and accepted you for who you are.
Your Anxieties Could Lead To Emotional Exhaustion
If you’ve had to face rejection, shame, and invalidation throughout your life, chances are you’ve begun to feel emotionally exhausted. You’re probably used to overthinking certain social interactions and avoiding certain relationships out of fear of rejection. Over time, these experiences could lead to loneliness as well as a sense of disconnection from your authentic self.
If you want to live a more vibrant, connected, and authentic life, we encourage you to get in touch with us. At Emotional Wellness in New York City, our therapists are LGBTQ+ affirming and we have experience treating a wide range of mental health conditions. We’re confident that we can help you boost your self-worth, overcome shame and stigma, and build your emotional resilience.
LGBTQ+ People Struggle With Their Mental Health At Disproportionate Rates
According to the Trevor Project, roughly 56 percent of LGBTQ+ youth are unable to access the mental health care they need, over 40 percent struggle with feelings of suicidality, and nearly one in three say their poor mental health is because of anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
None of these facts are surprising. After all, many queer and trans people grow up in non-affirming households that instill shame, homophobia, and transphobia. As a result, they often grow up with traumas that significantly impact their ability to be intimate and form close relationships. And in the culture at large, expectations to conform to heteronormative and cisnormative expectations create added stress and self-doubt. So it’s no wonder the need for LGBTQ+-affirmative therapy has risen exponentially.
The LGBTQ+ Community Faces Limited Access To Mental Health Care
In our society today, there is an ongoing effort to limit access to gender affirming care and LGBTQ+-affirmative mental health treatment. This creates a culture of isolation and a fear of judgment that prevents many people from seeking help. It also heightens the collective anxiety that the LGBTQ+ community faces. The good news is that LGBTQ+ people who grow up in environments where their pronouns are respected and their sexuality or gender is affirmed are less likely to struggle with their mental health. So by working together to create a more accepting and affirming world, it’s possible for queer and trans folx to live happier and healthier lives.
Therapy Can Help LGBTQ+ People Find Acceptance And Relief
Healing is possible. With the proper support, you can find peace and embrace who you truly are. While the journey may feel overwhelming, the right tools—like trauma- informed therapy, emotional regulation, and boundary-setting—can help you build healthier relationships and cultivate greater self-compassion. Over time, you’ll be able to break free from limiting beliefs and release the shame that’s holding you back from an authentic life.
Whether you are gay, lesbian, queer, transgender, or anywhere else on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, the therapists at Emotional Wellness Mental Health Counseling are here to affirm you and create a safe, supportive space for you to explore your challenges.
For those interested in couples therapy, we also offer counseling for LGBTQ+ and same-sex couples who are looking to improve their communication, deepen their intimacy, and create lives of shared meaning together.
What To Expect In LGBTQ+ Counseling Sessions
How we approach counseling varies from client to client. Depending on what your needs and goals for therapy are, we can work on navigating gender and sexual identity, healing from past trauma, improving boundaries in relationships, and addressing maladaptive coping mechanisms like perfectionism. We’ll also focus on building self-acceptance and decreasing internalized shame, empowering you to live with more confidence and pep in your step. Our counselors draw from a wide range of therapeutic approaches to support LGBTQ+ clients, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an approach that can help you challenge negative self-talk and address internalized shame.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which focuses on grounding skills for managing stress and communication strategies for improving your relationships.
Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing (EMDR), a trauma-informed approach that can help you process and resolve experiences of rejection, shame, and invalidation.
Internal Family Systems (IFS), another trauma-informed modality that seeks to help you heal the parts of yourself that are wounded by trauma.
Throughout counseling, you’ll also gain a vast array of somatic healing skills and mindfulness techniques for developing deeper body awareness and managing your stress responses. Our therapists take a holistic approach, so no matter what challenges you’re currently up against, we believe that we can help you experience relief in your mind, body, and every area of your life.
Will my therapist truly understand my experiences as an LGBTQ+ individual?
We want to assure you that this space is here for you to be yourself without judgment. Our goal is to create a safe and affirming environment where we can explore your experiences, identity, and the challenges holding you back from your best life. We’re well-versed in working with LGBTQ+ individuals and understand the complexities that come with navigating both internal and external pressures.
What if therapy brings up painful memories or emotions I’m not ready to deal with?
In LGBTQ+ therapy, we’ll take things step by step and make sure you are in control of the pace of sessions. We’ll start by creating a strong foundation of coping tools to help you feel safe, supported, and empowered. If something feels too overwhelming to address at any point, we can pause, take a break, or focus on other areas until you are ready.
Will LGBTQ+ counseling sessions be confidential?
Therapy is a confidential space. What you choose to share or not share is entirely up to you. It’s important that you feel safe, so you can take your time figuring out how to navigate confidentiality with your family and friends. If you ever feel conflicted about how to handle disclosure, we can explore that together and come up with strategies that feel right for you.
You Deserve To Be Your Authentic Self Without Any Reservations
At Emotional Wellness, we’re here to help you release shame and fear so that you can live in a way that aligns with your goals and values. To learn more about our affirmative approach to LGBTQ+ counseling, use the contact form or call us at 347-916-9596. We look forward to working with you!
