LGBTQ2SIA+

If you are part of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community or are questioning your sexual orientation, a psychotherapist can offer a supportive and affirmative space to explore your experience.

What Is Psychotherapy for LGBTQ2SIA+ Issues? 

Therapy can be a safe space to honour your identity—or work to know it more deeply.

Therapy can also be a forum to gain support for meeting challenges, whether personal, relational, or systemic. Social issues may hold priority if you face multiple forms of oppression beyond heteronormative bias, including those due to factors such as race, disability, or socioeconomic status. You may be coping with vulnerability to discrimination and violence, or are trying to resolve past experiences of harm.

You can expect support and affirmation regardless of your identity. The therapist will also consider your full experience, whether or not you want to explore LGBTQ2SIA+ issues specifically.

What Are Common Concerns in Therapy for LGBTQ2SIA+ Folks?

Having your experience affirmed and validated is our priority, whatever your specific concern. The concerns of queer-identified folks are diverse and broad. Your experiences around sexuality and/or gender expression, fluid in every one of us, may be only part of what you hope to address.

Issues that are sometimes related to being LGBTQ2SIA+ and that can be addressed in psychotherapy include:

• The coming out process
• Career and workplace challenges
• Discrimination, oppression, and trauma in families and the social context
• Monogamy vs. polyamory or open relationships
• Gender-affirming medical interventions
• HIV status and sero-discordance in relationships
• Self-esteem and self-acceptance
• Cultural and/or religious identity
• Extended families and kinship networks
• Community-building and political action
• Conceiving / raising a child

LGBTQ2IA+ is a broad category of individuals facing a wide range of challenges. A therapist will help you define your therapeutic interests and goals, and promote your strengths and resources for personal growth.

How Do Therapists Work with LGBTQ2SIA+-Related Concerns?

Generally speaking, therapeutic treatment might include:

• Exploring your specific and unique history and experience of being LGBTQ2IA+
• Addressing unprocessed emotional injury and internalized stigma related to heteronormativity and/or cisnormativity
• Discussing wishes and challenges related to self-disclosure, intimacy, and other areas of your life
• Considering practical changes that would improve your current quality of life
• Exploring concerns you consider separate from your LGBTQ2IA+ identity
• Discovery of your internal strengths to improve resilience and coping 

Where Can I Learn More about LGBTQ2SIA+-Related Issues in Psychotherapy?

While the practices of psychiatry, psychology, and psychotherapy have been tainted by homophobia in the past, every legitimate division of the profession aims to eliminate stigma, hetero- and cis-sexism, violence, and discrimination.

The Code of Ethics for Registered Psychotherapists in Ontario affirms (PDF) the “diversity and the dignity, and rights, of all persons” and can be viewed on the College Website.

For a glimpse into the richness of queer Canadian history and culture, check out The ArQuives, which names itself the largest independent LGBTQ2+ archives in the world.