LGBTQ Affirming Therapy
Identity Matters
Who you are, who you love, and how you love has an enormous impact on how you see yourself, others, and the world around you. As LGBTQ people, we grow up in a world that often does not welcome and affirm us and this can greatly impact how we feel about ourselves and our sense of safety and belonging with others. Your therapist at Freelife will take great care to understand you and the impact of growing up and living as an LGBTQ person has on your health and happiness.
Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive Clients
Trans affirming care is a critical component to supporting the wellbeing of gender expansive/non-conforming clients. Freelife therapists have extensive experience providing therapy with trans individuals and couples as well as offering training to other providers in the community. While gender is just one aspect of our identity, it can be a powerful one, and Freelife therapists will take care to value what your gender means to you and your health. You may just beginning to explore your gender and seeking knowledgeable and compassionate support in that journey. You might also feel very grounded in your gender identity and expression and want to focus on other aspects of your mental health with a therapist who will understand you without over-focusing on your gender or needing you to educate them. Freelife therapists are comfortable meeting you where you are and working collaboratively towards your goals.
Gay, Bi, Lesbian, Queer, and Asexual Individuals and Relationships
Our sexuality can be an important part of who we are. Not just in who we desire and how we form relationships, but also as a part our identity that dictates how our others treat and value us. We understand that people seek love and sex differently and some not at all. Your therapist at Freelife will take the time to get to know you and carefully understand how your sexual identity informs how you see yourself, how others in your life have treated you, and how you feel in your relationships. For some clients, this may be new and an exploration of desires. For others, it may be important to have a therapist who understands and affirms your sexuality while focusing therapy on other aspects of mental health.
What does "LGBTQ+ affirming therapy" actually mean, and how is it different from regular therapy?
LGBTQ+ affirming therapy is care that fully values who you are, who you love, and how you love, rather than treating your identity as a problem to be fixed or a detail to be tolerated. Our identities have an enormous impact on how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. As LGBTQ+ people, we grow up in a world that often does not welcome and affirm us, and this can greatly impact how we feel about ourselves and our sense of safety and belonging with others.
Regular therapy may address anxiety, depression, or relationship concerns without considering how identity shapes those experiences. At Freelife, your therapist will take great care to understand you and the impact that growing up and living as an LGBTQ+ person has on your health and happiness. Your identity is understood as part of your story, never as the cause of your struggles.
Many people desire or need more than one sexual or romantic partner to feel fulfilled in life. Seeking or living in open, poly, or ENM relationships presents a unique set of challenges and rewards that deserve specialized care and understanding by your therapist in order to best support your wellness and happiness. Freelife therapists have training and experience supporting clients whose sexual and romantic lives differ from what much of society expects or demands of them. We can help you balance achieving a life of fulfillment while successfully navigating the unique complexities of open, poly, and ENM life.
Family rejection
Painful reactions from family can leave lasting wounds. Therapy offers space to grieve, set boundaries, and build a sense of chosen family and support.
Coming out
Whether you are considering coming out for the first time or navigating it in a new setting, your therapist can help you think through timing, safety, and what feels right for you.
Minority stress
Living in a world that does not always affirm you can lead to anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, and exhaustion. Your therapist will help you understand and cope with these effects.
Relationships
Our sexuality is not just about who we desire and how we form relationships, but also shapes how others treat and value us. We understand that people seek love and sex differently, and some not at all. For partners looking for support together, Freelife also offers LGBT couples counseling.
Identity exploration
You may be questioning your gender or sexuality and seeking knowledgeable and compassionate support as you explore.
What issues can affirming therapy help with (coming out, family rejection, identity exploration, minority stress, relationships)?
LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy can support you through a wide range of experiences, including:
Do I have to be "out" or certain about my identity to start therapy?
No. You do not need to be out to anyone, and you do not need to have your identity figured out before starting therapy. Many clients come to Freelife while they are still questioning, exploring new desires, or simply noticing that something about how they have been living does not quite fit.
Therapy is a confidential space where you can explore at your own pace, without pressure to label yourself or share anything before you are ready. Freelife therapists are comfortable meeting you where you are and working collaboratively toward your goals, whatever those turn out to be.
Is affirming therapy only for people questioning their identity, or also for those who are settled in it?
Affirming therapy is for both. You may be just beginning to explore your gender or sexuality and want knowledgeable, compassionate support on that journey. You might also feel very grounded in your identity and expression and want to focus on other aspects of your mental health, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or life transitions.
For clients who are settled in their identity, it is important to have a therapist who understands and affirms you without over-focusing on your gender or sexuality. While identity is just one aspect of who we are, it can be a powerful one. Your Freelife therapist will value what your identity means to you while keeping therapy centered on what you want to work on.
Do you have therapists who share LGBTQ+ identities or lived experience?
Yes. Freelife is a practice where many of us understand firsthand what it means to grow up and live as an LGBTQ+ person. For some clients, working with a therapist who shares part of their identity or lived experience creates an added sense of safety and understanding from the very first session.
Every Freelife therapist, regardless of their own identity, brings specialized training and extensive experience in affirming care. If sharing an identity with your therapist is important to you, let us know when you reach out and we will do our best to match you with someone who fits.
What should I expect in a first session with an affirming therapist?
Your first session is a chance to get to know your therapist and share what brings you to therapy. Your therapist will ask about your current concerns, your history, and what you hope to get out of your work together. You will be asked about your name and pronouns, and you are always welcome to share as much or as little about your identity as feels comfortable.
Your therapist at Freelife will take the time to get to know you and carefully understand how your identity informs how you see yourself, how others in your life have treated you, and how you feel in your relationships. By the end of the session, you should have a clearer sense of how therapy can help and what your next steps might look like.
Frequently Asked Questions
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LGBTQ+ affirming therapy is billed the same way as other therapy services, so coverage depends on your specific insurance plan. Contact our office and we can help you understand your benefits and payment options.
Progress depends on consistency and active participation.
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Yes. Many clients feel more comfortable with a therapist who shares part of their identity. Let us know your preferences when you reach out, and we will do our best to find the right match.
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Freelife offers affirming support for teens as well as adults. LGBTQ+ teens often face unique challenges at school and at home, and having an affirming therapist can make a meaningful difference during these formative years.
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Yes. Telehealth sessions allow you to receive LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy from the comfort and privacy of your own space, which can be especially helpful if finding local affirming care is difficult.
Contact us.
