LGBTQ+
You may have arrived here if:
You identify as LGBTQIA+.
You are questioning your sexuality or gender and want to explore these more.
You want a space to discuss your hopes, dreams and fears.
Being yourself feels like it is not an option.
You experience difficulties with your family, culture, faith or job around LGBTQ+ issues.
You feel a sense of shame for who you are.
You want to come out, or you feel you are being forced to come out.
Standing up and being your authentic self feels like an impossible idea.
You want to address your sexuality and gender through the eyes of your own culture.
You are in a relationship and want to explore non-monogamy.
You are struggling with internalised homophobia and transphobia.
You have a friend or family member who has come out to you and you want to process this experience.
What is LGBTQIA+?
The acronym is a word used to group different identifying people groups together, those who would identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer, Questioning, Intersex and Ace.
Lesbian - A woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women. Some non-binary people may also identify with this term.
Gay - Refers to a man who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards men. Also a generic term for lesbian and gay sexuality. Some non-binary people may also identify with this term.
Bisexual - Bi’ is an umbrella term used to describe a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards more than one gender.
Transexual - An umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.
Queer - Queer is a term used by those wanting to reject specific labels of romantic orientation, sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Questioning- The process of exploring your own sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Intersex- A term used to describe a person who may have the biological attributes of both sexes or whose biological attributes do not fit with societal assumptions about what constitutes male or female.
Ace - An umbrella term used specifically to describe a lack of, varying, or occasional experiences of sexual attraction.
How will therapy help me with this?
Therapy can provide you with the space as a person who identifies as LGBTQIA+ to share freely and safely about what it is like to be you and work towards your therapeutic goals. If you want to come and explore themes around your sexuality or gender, you are fully welcome to do so, the space is for you to speak and share your story. This space is fully affirming and accepting of LGBTQIA+ people.
How might we interact with my LGBTQ+ Identity?
We can interact with your identity, emerging identity or thoughts in a way that is most useful for you. We may understand what it is like for you as an individual, how you would like to express and show up as yourself, how your identity influences your core beliefs about yourself, your family and friends, culture, faith and how you are in the world.
We might simply use your identity as a way to frame the conversation, we can focus on it, or not. You can lead the way and decide how much we talk about things.
Additional Information
In line with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists Ethical Guidance and Framework, I do not offer any Conversion Therapy as all major UK Therapeutic bodies are united against any form of conversion therapy. Conversion Therapy is classed as any practices to change an individuals sexuality or gender to a more acceptable, heteronormative identity, e.g. Gay to Straight or Trans Male to Female.
