LGBTQ+ Counseling and Support
LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Questioning/Queer. Sometimes the abbreviation is expanded to include an “I” for Intersexed, which refers to an individual whose “biological” sex neither fits the reproductive criteria for male nor female; or an “A” for Asexual.
Although society has become more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, most individuals in the LGBTQ community will struggle with a variety of unique issues at one time or another.
How Can LGBTQ Therapy & Counseling Help Me?
Working with a counselor who is qualified to respond to LGBTQ issues with understanding and care can help you address your therapeutic concerns—even if your issue does not overtly relate to your status as a member of the LGBTQ community. A competent counselor who is trained in LGBTQ issues can help you appreciate the multi-layered cultural and societal concerns that may factor into your situation or wire your thought processes (even outside of your awareness).
As counseling options, your therapist may recommend:
- Individual counseling to address any of the unique issues outlined above or specific mental health concern, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, etc.
- LGBTQ support groups to encourage networking and a sense of community with your LGBTQ peers, and to expose you to a range of LGBTQ narratives that are both related to and distinct from your own experiences.
- Couples counseling which should acknowledge where relevant, the extraordinary stressors that are placed upon LGBTQ persons, individually and collectively, and help you process these challenges as they arise in the context of your relationship.
- Family counseling which recognizes the spectrum of issues faced by LGBTQ families, from pursuing adoption rights to planning birth to raising children with two mommies or two daddies, etc.
Whether you seek individual counseling to address a mental health concern, couples counseling to enhance the quality of your relationship, or family counseling to bond more deeply as a unit, your therapist should view your situation free from the lens of bias and make you feel at ease. At Lifeologie Counseling Dallas, we pride ourselves on addressing the many facets that create the whole person: LGBTQ+–and beyond.
