LGBTQ Affirming Therapy

Affirming Therapy in Illinois for LGBTQIA+ Adults & Their Relationships

  • Therapy for LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and non-traditional relationships such as polyamory, kink, and more. 

  • We treat depression, anxiety, trauma, and other general mental health concerns. We also cover topics such as gender, sex, substance use, identity, AuDHD, and more.

  • Our therapists are warm and relational and use effective therapy modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and more.

  • Most sessions are 45-60 minutes long and each session is fully personalized to you and your concerns. This is your space.

  • We accept Blue Cross PPO, Blue Choice PPO, and Aetna PPO insurances or clients may self-pay.

  • We offer in person sessions in Chicago and virtual sessions throughout Illinois.

  • To learn more, check out our FAQ page.

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.

Therapy that doesn’t ask you to explain yourself.

  • LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy is mental health care that respects and understands queer identities as valid and whole, not something to be questioned, minimized, or “worked through.” An affirming therapist does not assume heterosexuality, gender norms, or relationship structures, and does not ask you to explain or justify who you are. At Freelife, affirming therapy means care that centers your lived experience and supports you without judgment.

  • Therapy can help queer folks navigate stress, anxiety, relationships, trauma, and life transitions, while also addressing experiences like discrimination, identity fatigue, shame, or feeling unseen. It offers a space to explore your identity safely, strengthen coping tools, build emotional insight, and feel more grounded in yourself and your relationships.

  • No. Being queer is not a problem that needs fixing. Therapy can be helpful if you want support, clarity, or a place to process your experiences, but it’s never a requirement. At Freelife, therapy is about offering support when and if you want it, not about pathologizing identity.

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.

The Therapy Process—Explained

Intake

We start by getting to know you, your goals, and what’s bringing you to therapy in a way that feels welcoming and low-pressure.

Assessment

Together, we explore patterns, history, and current challenges to better understand what support will be most helpful for you.

Treatment

Your therapist works with you using evidence-based, affirming approaches tailored to your needs, identity, and pace.

Integration

You practice applying what you’re learning in real life, building insight, resilience, and trust in yourself over time.

Follow-Up

We check in, adjust as needed, and make sure your care continues to support your growth beyond each session.

You deserve support that sees all of you.

Book a Consultation

Contact us.

Featured
Why Does My Family Affect Me So Much Even as an Adult?
Why Does My Family Affect Me So Much Even as an Adult?

Many people are surprised by how much their family relationships continue to affect them as adults. For queer and LGBTQIA+ individuals, their experiences may include rejection, pressure to hide parts of their identity, or feeling accepted only under certain conditions. If those experiences still feel painful today, it does not mean you're stuck in the past. More often, it means those relationships and experiences mattered deeply and left a lasting impact.

Misgendering Isn't Harmless—Here's What People Miss
Misgendering Isn't Harmless—Here's What People Miss

Misgendering, particularly when it continues after correction, communicates: my habits or my discomfort or my beliefs about gender are more important than how you need to be seen.

Chosen Family: The People Who Love You on Purpose
Chosen Family: The People Who Love You on Purpose

There is a difference between the people who are assigned to you and the people who choose you. Chosen family is one of the most important concepts in queer life, and it deserves more than a passing mention. It deserves real examination.

Related Blog Posts

Frequently Asked Questions

  • LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy can support a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, relationship challenges, identity exploration, and life transitions. It also creates space to process experiences that are more common for queer folks, such as minority stress, identity fatigue, discrimination, shame, or navigating safety and visibility in different environments.

  • There’s no set number of sessions. Some people come to therapy for short-term support around a specific issue, while others choose longer-term care for deeper exploration and ongoing support. Your therapist will collaborate with you to determine what feels most helpful, and you can adjust your goals at any time.

  • Yes. Affirming therapy uses the same evidence-based approaches as general therapy, but within a framework that understands and respects queer identities. For many LGBTQIA+ people, working with an affirming therapist can actually make therapy more effective because you do not have to spend time educating your provider or defending who you are.

  • No. You do not need to be out to anyone to begin therapy. Affirming therapy meets you where you are, whether you are out, questioning, selectively out, or not out at all. Your therapist will respect your pace, privacy, and safety.

  • Freelife accepts Blue Cross and Blue Shield PPO, Blue Choice PPO, and Aetna PPO insurance plans. Clients using these plans will be responsible for the portion of costs dictated by their individual plans (co-pays).

    Clients not using these insurance plans will be responsible for paying for their sessions themselves. Freelife is happy to provide a superbill to these clients if they would like to submit this to their insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement.

  • Freelife therapists offer both virtual and in-person options.

    We utilize technology powered by Google which is HIPAA compliant and easy to use.

    We also offer in-person sessions at our office located at 1300 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657.