LGBTQA+ Mental Health Well-Being Counselling - FAQs
- Gay Friendly - Queer Friendly - LGBTQA+ Friendly - Trans Friendly -
What's the difference between Gay Friendly - Queer Friendly - LGBTQA+ Friendly - Trans Friendly Therapy and Counselling or speaking with a Queer Informed Counsellor?
Gay, Queer, LGBTQA+, Trans and Bi friendly therapists and counsellors are usually allies or part of the LGBTQA+ communities and provide accepting and affirming support for their clients. Their niche area of practice may not be LGBTQA+ specific.
A Queer Informed Therapeutic Counselling approach has a unique understanding of the impacts living in a cisgender heterosexual normative society can have on the mental wellbeing of LGBTQA+ individuals and their communities.
- Queer Informed understands the Minority Stress model and how this may present as other 'diagnosed' mental health concerns.
- Queer informed takes a person centred, holistic non-medicalising approach, with a focus on your presenting concerns.
- Queer informed acknowledges and understands the challenges faced by the pluri-sexual (Bi, Pan +) communities from outside and within the LGBTQA+ Communities and recognises that no matter the relationship you are in, your sexual orientation does not change.
- Queer informed recognises the unique 'family' structures we create for ourselves, such as chosen family, and that connection to community supports our wellbeing
- Queer informed acknowledges individuals who are Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Pansexual, Trans, Non-Binary, & further Diverse Sexualities & Genders don't have mental health concerns because we are of Diverse Sexual-Orientation & or Gender (LGBTQA+), but because of wider societies heteronormative & cis normative attitudes, that impact on our mental health well-being.
- Queer informed means you don't need to 'educate' your Counsellor about your concerns to do with your Diverse Sexual-orientation and or Gender, this is the Counsellors responsibility to stay up to date.
Obsidian Counselling is more than "friendly" to our Queer communities, Carolyn (she/her) has personal and living experience as a queer cis human, and utilises a Queer Informed lens with her clients.
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Why choose Carolyn at Obsidian Counselling to support your mental well-being?
when you are part of the LGBTQA+SB communities or questioning or concealing your authentic gender and or sexual-orientation?
- Lived and living experience of Inviting In my authentic sexual-orientation Self
- An active ally of the Trans, Non-Binary (Enby) and further Gender Diverse Communities, and affirm, validate, celebrate, and advocate for these communities. Whilst I cannot write referrals or diagnose, I follow the informed consent model with a person-centred, holistic non-medicalising approach and support you in the here and now. Provide suggestions to trusted Allied Mental Health Professionals who can diagnose if required.
- An ongoing passion to support the mental health and emotional well-being of my our LGBTQA+ communities.
- An active ally of the pluri-sexual (Bisexual, Pansexual, plus), asexual and gay male communities
- Understanding of the unique shared but individual experiences of questioning, concealing and the Inviting In Narrative (aka "Coming Out" Story) our authentic LGBTQA+ Self
- Continuing professional development is keeping up to date with information, research and local and world events that impact our communities.
I won't ask you to explain to me what gender or sexuality diversity is, but what I do ask you to share with me, is how you experience your gender and or sexual orientation, and anything that impacts on you personally.
