Gay counselor
The Lies and Dangers of Efforts to Modify Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
Organizational Positions on Reparative Therapy
Declaration on the Impropriety and Dangers of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts
We, as national organizations standing for millions of licensed medical and mental health tend professionals, educators, and advocates, come together to state our professional and scientific consensus on the impropriety, inefficacy, and detriments of practices that seek to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender culture, commonly referred to as “conversion therapy.”
We remain firmly together in back of legislative and policy efforts to curtail the unscientific and dangerous exercise of sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts.
American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry
"The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry finds no evidence to support the application of any “therapeutic intervention” operating under the premise that a specific sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression is patho
Mental health support if you're lesbian, gay, pansexual or trans (LGBTQ+)
Mental health problems such as depression or self-harm can affect any of us, but they're more usual among people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBTQ+).
This may be linked to LGBTQ+ people's experience of discrimination, homophobia or transphobia, bullying, social isolation, or rejection because of their sexuality.
Other things, such as their age, religion, where they exist, and their ethnicity can append extra complications to an already difficult situation.
How talking therapy can help
It might not be easy, but getting help with issues you're struggling to deal with on your own is one of the most important things you can do.
Talking with a therapist who's trained to perform with LGBTQ+ people may help with issues such as:
- difficulty accepting your sexual orientation
- coping with other people's reactions to your sexuality
- feeling your body does not reflect your true gender (gender dysphoria)
- transitioning
- low self-esteem
- self-harm
- suicidal thoughts
- depression
- coping with bullying
What can an LGBTQ-affirming therapist help with?
LGBTQ-affirmative therapists can support clients who are questioning their sexuality or gender self explore those questions, as well as help those who identify as Gay navigate the bias and heteronormativity that arises in everyday life. Clients who have been shamed or abused for their identity, especially by their family of origin, may struggle with depression or substance exploitation as a result; affirmative therapy can help them mend and come to see their individuality as a provider of pride, not shame.What is LGBTQ-affirming therapy?
Affirmative therapy is an approach that focuses on validating and respecting the identity of sexual and gender minority clients, particularly those whose identities have been rejected or shamed by others. LGBTQ-affirmative therapists will be versed in the negative effects of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and heteronormativity (the assumption that heterosexuality is “normal” and superior) and help clients navigate the challenges they present—as adequately as relationship problems, family tension, or ot
Gay Therapy: How to find the right Gay Therapist
In the Combined States, LGBTQ people experience alarmingly high rates of mental illness, with over 39% of the LGBTQIA+ population reporting experiencing a mental illness within the past year. According to the American Psychiatric Association, LGBTQ people are twice as likely as heterosexual men and women to life mental illness. Other estimates set that rate higher, reporting that LGBTQ people are times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance abuse than heterosexual individuals.
LGBTQ people often face barriers to healthcare such as social stigma, discrimination, and prejudice, making it difficult for gay people to access quality mental health treatment. Many LGBTQIA+ individuals understand that not all mental health professionals understand their life experiences, and negative interactions with providers might lead individuals to dodge seeking help when they demand it most.
Whether youre thinking about starting therapy for the first time or looking for a therapist who understands you, its important to reme