LGBTQIA Therapy
My family doesn’t know I am queer.
I’m seeking an LGBTQIA therapist.
Am I transgender?
You wake up and get dressed and take a second and third look in the mirror to make sure you don’t look too effeminate/masculine or gay. You walk downstairs to greet your family and maybe you put effort into changing your voice pitch. You feel tense as you leave for work. This tense feeling is with you all day and only leaves when you are alone or around select people. You feel like you can’t be yourself around most people. You return home after a long day of masking* out in public. Your family asks about seeing you with someone of the same sex, and you immediately tense up at the table and respond “that’s just a friend”. This is a typical day for you where you are only getting moments of comfortability in solitude.
Most of us who align ourselves with this community did not have queer elders to look up to during our formative years.
We watched as our parents and straight allies easily navigate relationships dynamics or have role models to look up to. Watching those around us left us longing for connection and guidance. Who do you turn to for sympathy when you are outed or struggling with power dynamics living in a homophobic or transphobic environment? Whether you are out or closeted, there are emotional struggles that come along with this these identities. Being vulnerable, trusting people, and feeling safe are just a few examples.
Creating safe spaces and community is easier said than done.
You are tired of living a life that doesn’t feel authentic. If you are Black or Brown, you already have to navigate a white world that itself is exhausting. You also don’t want to feel rushed to share a part of yourself that you haven’t completely figured out yet.
You might be thinking:
I’m comfortable staying discreet and in the closet
I don’t think I’m ready to come out yet or disclose that part of me to my family/friends
What if my family kicks me out or disowns me if I come out?
If I could just get the courage to live my life out loud and forget what anyone thinks about me…
While in LGBTQIA therapy, we teach you how to be comfortable in your own skin using a technique called motivational interviewing. It is an empowering tool that is focused on the client’s autonomy. We teach clients how to be brave and how to protect themselves. We know that change and growth are scary, but living a life that doesn’t feel authentic to you is even scarier. Whether you are in a same sex relationship and want to work on communication or need guidance on how to come out to your family, our therapists who specialize in LGBTQIA therapy, can help.
*Masking = changing or “masking” one's natural personality to conform to societal or cultural pressures.