Therapy should be a space where you get to feel completely, authentically yourself.
For LGBTQ+ people, that might mean working with an LGBTQ+ affirmative therapist.
LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy recognises that you exist in a society that can sometimes hurt you, invalidate you, and even discriminate against you, for who you are. It offers you a space where you can release that stress, and you don't have to perform.
We all deserve therapists and counsellors that see us – and support us – fully.
In this article, find out more about what LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy is, and how to find LGBTQ-friendly mental health services.
How does being LGBTQ affect mental health?
Being LGBTQ doesn't automatically mean that you'll have poor mental health. And – despite what some problematic old stereotypes might tell you – being queer or trans is not itself a mental health problem.
Many of us in the LGBTQ+ community are thriving. And many of us may face mental health difficulties that are totally unrelated to our identities.
But it's important that we talk about LGBTQ mental health – because our community does statistically face higher levels of distress.
This isn't necessarily because of our identities, but it could be related to living in a society, family, and/or culture that doesn't accept us.
Homophobia, transphobia, family rejection, and internalised shame can all contribute to mental health problems.
In the therapy world, we call this minority stress. That's the academic term for the stress that's caused by living as a minority in society.
This could show up as stigma, discrimination, shame, or even experiencing harassment or hate crimes.
It's important to recognise that for people who have multiple marginalised identities, this minority stress might be even more impactful.
For example, LGBTQIA+ people of colour may have to navigate racism in society on top of homophobia and/or transphobia.
LGBTQ+ mental health statistics
Below are some key facts about LGBTQIA+ mental health.
These statistics might feel distressing to read – take your time, and notice any feelings that they trigger for you. Take a break from reading this page if you need to.
The facts:
- Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are more likely to experience self-harm and suicidal thoughts than straight people. (Source.)
- Transgender and gender diverse people are much more likely to report having a mental health condition than their cisgender peers. (Source.)
- A Stonewall report in 2018 found that more than half of LGBT people surveyed had experienced depression in the past year.
- The same report also showed that 46% of trans people and 31% of cis LGB people had thought about taking their own life in the past year. (Source.)
LGBTQ affirmative therapy
So what is LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy?
It's all about affirming your LGBTQ+ identity while giving you mental health support. A good LGBTQ+ affirmative counsellor won't focus on your identity above everything else, and they won't treat your identity as a problem – they'll just see it as part of the whole of you.
In sessions, you should be able to tell that your therapist is LGBTQ+ affirmative from these clues:
- They accept who you are, and use your chosen name and pronouns, without challenge.
- They seem to know and understand LGBTQ+ culture and issues, and don't show any discomfort discussing them.
- They are a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
- They talk about the systems and societal factors that impact you as an LGBTQ+ person – like homophobia and transphobia.
- They don't ever make you feel like being LGBTQ+ is a problem or something that needs to be "fixed" in therapy.
GSRD therapy
Sometimes, LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy might be described as "GSRD therapy", or "GSRD affirmative therapy".
GSRD stands for Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity.
Some experts prefer to use this acronym as it covers a broader spectrum of diverse clients that come to therapy. For example, it includes people in the kink and non-monogamous communities.
Conversion practices
The opposite of LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy is conversion practices. This is any attempt to influence or change your gender identity or sexuality, sometimes disguised as "therapy".
In the National LGBT Survey in 2017, 5% of respondents shared that they had been offered conversion "therapy" to "cure" them of their LGBTQ+ identity.
A further 2% shared that they had undergone conversion practices.
The government recently published a draft Bill to ban conversion practices in England and Wales – in a move that was long overdue. If the Bill is passed by Parliament, it will become law, and conversion practices will be illegal.
How to find an LGBTQ affirmative therapist
To find a private LGBTQ+ affirmative therapist in the UK, you could use one of these specialist directories:
- Pink Therapy (for LGBTQ+ people).
- Gendered Intelligence (for transgender and gender-diverse people).
You could also try searching on a general directory like Psychology Today or Counselling Directory, and filtering for "LGBTQ".
The following organisations also offer free or low-cost mental LGBTQ-friendly mental health services:
- ELOP (London)
- London Friend (London)
- MindOut (Sussex)
- The Clare Project (Sussex)
- LGBT Foundation (Manchester)
- 42nd Street (Manchester)
And you can get nationwide support by phone or online from Switchboard, Gendered Intelligence, and Spectra.
For a self-care companion that you can carry in your pocket, you might also want to try Voda. Our app doesn't provide therapy, but it is built and reviewed by LGBTQ+ affirmative therapists – so it's made to support you in your journey to being fully you.
Why LGBTQ counselling matters
Counselling should be a space where you can bring your whole self, without apology or censorship.
For LGBTQ+ people, that space can feel even more precious – because it can be harder for us to encounter it day-to-day.
That's why LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy is so important. Not because being LGBTQ+ is a problem, but because we all deserve a therapist who can know and see us as fully as possible.
Begin your self-care journey today with Voda – the app built by LGBTQ+ therapists.
