Come As You Are
Click here for my blog post about the enduring importance of Pride events.
If you are coming to counselling as someone who is gender and/or sexuality diverse, it is crucial that your therapist does not 'tolerate' but fully accepts and celebrates you. Therapy should be a space you can come as yourself- authentically, and without shame. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community my approach is non-pathologising and queer and trans-affirming. The majority of my therapeutic experience is in working with people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary and/or queer.
You may identify as LGBTQ+ but not feel this is something you need to discuss in therapy. It may just be nice to know that you won't need to explain yourself to your therapist. This is a safe space, and I know how much that matters. Click here for an article I wrote for Counselling Directory about finding a therapist as a queer person.
Sexuality
There can be many reasons that your sexuality is a factor in you seeking therapy. Coming out may have caused tensions or breakdowns in significant relationships. Perhaps there are cultural or religious reasons that your sexuality is or was not understood or accepted. You may need to process experiences of homophobia or biphobia while being out in the world, and/or internalised homo/biphobia.
Gender
You may be coming to counselling because of discomfort, confusion or curiosity around your gender identity. You may want to discuss your gender dysphoria and euphoria. It may be that you want to explore taking hormones, undergoing gender-affirming surgery, or social transition. You may need to process experiences of transphobia, transmisogyny, and/or internalised transphobia. Maybe you identify as non-binary or gender fluid and struggle with how binary gender categories are imposed on us all.
Exploring your gender identity and expression in a safe therapeutic space is imperative. I am accepting of all genders, and have worked with trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming clients over many years. A safe and cherishing counselling relationship can be a place to experiment and safely explore your relationship to your gender, and how you navigate that in a world that does not generally allow space for gender variance.
If you are coming to counselling as someone who is gender and/or sexuality diverse, it is crucial that your therapist does not 'tolerate' but fully accepts and celebrates you. Therapy should be a space you can come as yourself- authentically, and without shame. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community my approach is non-pathologising and queer and trans-affirming. The majority of my therapeutic experience is in working with people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary and/or queer.
You may identify as LGBTQ+ but not feel this is something you need to discuss in therapy. It may just be nice to know that you won't need to explain yourself to your therapist. This is a safe space, and I know how much that matters. Click here for an article I wrote for Counselling Directory about finding a therapist as a queer person.
Sexuality
There can be many reasons that your sexuality is a factor in you seeking therapy. Coming out may have caused tensions or breakdowns in significant relationships. Perhaps there are cultural or religious reasons that your sexuality is or was not understood or accepted. You may need to process experiences of homophobia or biphobia while being out in the world, and/or internalised homo/biphobia.
Gender
You may be coming to counselling because of discomfort, confusion or curiosity around your gender identity. You may want to discuss your gender dysphoria and euphoria. It may be that you want to explore taking hormones, undergoing gender-affirming surgery, or social transition. You may need to process experiences of transphobia, transmisogyny, and/or internalised transphobia. Maybe you identify as non-binary or gender fluid and struggle with how binary gender categories are imposed on us all.
Exploring your gender identity and expression in a safe therapeutic space is imperative. I am accepting of all genders, and have worked with trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming clients over many years. A safe and cherishing counselling relationship can be a place to experiment and safely explore your relationship to your gender, and how you navigate that in a world that does not generally allow space for gender variance.