LGBTQ Therapy
Are You An LGBTQ+ Person Who’s Dealing With Mental Health Challenges?
- Have you experienced isolation, discrimination, or marginalization?
- Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition?
- Do you want help navigating relationship issues and processing your identity?
Maybe the discrimination and exclusion you’ve faced has left you feeling anxious and depressed. Perhaps you’ve been traumatized by political or religious groups and you long to find a community of people that accepts you for who you are. Deep down, there’s probably nothing you want more than to have a safe space where you can be yourself, share your joys and sorrows freely, and experience unconditional acceptance. As a result, you may be thinking that it’s time to talk to an LGBTQ-affirming therapist.
Perhaps You Want Help Exploring Your Sexuality And Gender Identity
Maybe you’re in the midst of transitioning or you’ve found yourself coming to terms with your gender identity for the first time. You might have questions about your sexuality that you want to explore on a deeper level, but you’re not sure where to start.
On the other hand, perhaps you’re an LGBTQ+ person who’s planning on starting a family and you want more guidance around parenting. Or maybe you’re having problems in your marriage or relationship—you and your partner aren’t on the same page when it comes to intimacy and you have trouble communicating peacefully or effectively.
Whether you want help with marital issues, mental health challenges, or questions related to sexuality and gender identity, we are confident that our approach to therapy can assist you. Here at RealTalkCT, our therapists are LGBTQ+ affirming, trained in a wide variety of therapeutic approaches, and experienced at working with queer folx from all walks of life. Our mission is to give those in the LGBTQ+ community a haven where they can feel seen, heard, and accepted for who they are.
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LGBTQ+ Folx Are Growing Up In An Increasingly Hostile World
Right now there is a backwards movement to strip LGBTQ+ members of their right to marry, their right to gender neutral bathrooms, and their right to exist as functioning humans in our society. There is an increase in bullying and hate speech directed toward them. Schools are not the safe space they were designed to be, and although many workplaces claim they are committed to diversity and inclusion, the truth is that many LGBTQ+ folx don’t feel safe or accepted at work.
In the face of all this hostility, it’s no wonder so many LGBTQ+ people struggle with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. The world is a scary and dangerous place right now. And although there is more awareness around LGBTQ+ issues than there ever was, the truth is that there aren’t enough counselors who are trained and equipped to work with this population.
Even In A Hostile World, Getting The Right Support Can Make A Huge Difference
Because many of the factors affecting the queer community are rooted in systemic problems, some people mistakenly believe that individual therapy can’t make a difference. However, improved mental health often leads to improved physical health, which can lead to longer life expectancy. Improved coping skills can also lead to stronger self-advocacy, which can spearhead change on micro and macro levels.
Additionally, every person deserves to lead a happier, more fulfilling life—and that’s what therapy with RealTalkCT is all about. Many queer people have had negative experiences with mental health care, and that’s why we are so committed to giving them an experience that’s empowering, encouraging, and—above all—healing.
Therapy Can Help LGBTQ+ People Embrace Their Authentic Selves And Explore Their Gender Identity
As counselors who specialize in working with the LGBTQ+ community, we seek to create a haven of radical acceptance and unconditional positive regard for everyone who walks through our doors. We encourage you to explore your truest and most authentic self and work internally with acceptance and self-love.
Once this is achieved, it becomes easier to focus on building skills and taking practical steps to improve your life. Together, we can work on communication, boundary-setting, stress regulation, decreasing isolation, and bolstering social support.
All of our counselors here at RealTalkCT are LGBTQ+-affirming and many of us are LGBTQ+-identified ourselves. We work with anyone within the LGBTQ+ community, whether they’re in the midst of transitioning, not yet fully out, or in polyamorous and ethically non-monogamous relationships.
We also provide couples and family counseling for LBGTQ+ folx, offering support for those who want to better their relationships, improve their parenting, and bring more peace into their households.
What To Expect In LGBTQ+ Counseling Sessions
What we work on ultimately depends on your needs and goals, as we strive to individualize therapy as much as possible. Whether you want support with challenges related to coming out, transitioning, navigating family relationships, or dealing with mental health issues like anxiety and depression, our therapists would be happy to assist you. We can help you improve your problem-solving and decision-making skills and discuss resources for decreasing isolation and strengthening community.
We draw from a wide variety of approaches in therapy with LGBTQ+ folx. Our counselors can utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you challenge negative beliefs about yourself, Narrative Therapy to help you retell your life stories from a more empowering perspective, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help you understand how the different parts of your personality interact with each other.
On the practical side of things, we can focus on skill-building with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), empowering you to regulate your emotions and navigate relationship challenges with ease. Some of our therapists can also incorporate mindfulness skills like meditation and breathwork to help you stay grounded when you feel stressed out.
Above all, however, we want to help you cultivate a loving relationship with yourself and appreciate everything about the unique individual that you are. Having this foundation of self-love and self-acceptance makes everything else in your life—such as your career and your relationships with others—easier to manage.
You May Have Some Questions And Concerns About LGBTQ Therapy…
How long will therapy take to make a difference?
It takes time, patience, and practice to make deep changes, but the experience of meeting a skilled therapist and envisioning a better future can provide you with hope that your life can improve. That said, you can still learn concrete tools and obtain helpful resources in a session or two. Regardless of how long therapy takes, we encourage you to be kind to yourself and focus on taking your journey one small step at a time.
What if I become reliant on therapy?
One of the main goals of LGBTQ+ therapy is to increase your independence and self-advocacy. This way, you have the support and resources needed to thrive on your own outside of sessions. After all, although you are welcome to pursue therapy long-term, the goal is not to keep you in therapy forever. Together, we can develop a short-term plan for focusing on autonomy, increasing support and resources, and enhancing your coping skills.
I had a bad experience with a therapist in the past. How will this be different?
All of our therapists are allies of the LGBTQ+ community. We recognize that many queer people have had bad experiences with counselors in the past, so we make sure to always match our clients with an affirming therapist. We always advise potential clients to schedule a free consultation with any new therapist. That way, you can assess whether or not the therapist is a good fit ahead of time and make an informed decision.
You Deserve To Have A Place Where You Can Be Who You Are
At RealTalk CT, our goal is to create that place for you, empowering you to heal from the scars of the past and embrace a more hopeful future. To learn more about our approach to LGBTQ+ therapy, call 959-210-6800 or use our contact page to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.