LGBTQ+
Community
Therapy & The LGBTQ+ Community
Fluid Psychotherapy is proud to be founded by a member of the queer community and supported by therapists from both within the community or Allies of the community and with a long history of work in the field of equality and diversity.
Despite major steps forward in equality in recent years, people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer+ are still too often victims of homophobia, biphobia or transphobia, this is despite rapidly growing cultural acceptance of diverse sexual and romantic orientations and gender identifications, oppression, discrimination, and marginalization of LGBTQ people persists.
Coping with discrimination and oppression, coming out to one’s family, and sorting out an “authentic” sense of self in the face of social expectations and pressures can lead to higher levels of depression, anxiety, substance use, and other mental health concerns for LGBTQ+ people.
We also recognise that identification within the LGBTQ+ community may not be your reason for accessing Therapy, but knowledge that this aspect of your lived experience is held and valued by your therapist may be an important element when souring the right therapy.
Elements
Often we hear experiences of health professionals who pathologise and hyper focus on sexuality as an umbrella to challenge and question many other aspects of health or life.
Fluid Psychotherapy values the importance in recognising your connection and your experience beyond your sexuality, whilst respecting your connection to it, and working within your frame of reference.
Our experiences and connections within the LGBTQ+ community as individuals and as therapist we hope means that you should never feel limited or in fear of having to be the educator to your therapist, your lived experience should be valued and how you identify should be protected and safe to explore.
There may be specific elements connected to your journey as a member of the LGBTQ+ community that you do wish to explore and seek support within therapy, these may be (but are not limited to).
Specific Elements
- Exploring queer & gender identities
- Exploring and navigating choices around sex, sexual function & intimacy
- Coping with discrimination, abuse and phobia
- Navigating thoughts around identity and sexual orientation
- Experiences of social, religious and cultural impact & stigma
- Coming out to partners/families/friends/ communities etc
- Impact of rejection from others, people invalidating your orientation or feeling forced to explain and defend yourself.
- Experiences of or fears of abuse & trauma
- Other aspects may include: self-worth/self-compassion/self-care, body image, Depression, anxiety, relationships, grief/loss, and life role/life
Fluidity
Fluidity is representative of a journey, transition or change, for many identifying within the LGBTQ+ spectrum, this journey may be one that is still being travelled, one that with anticipation lies ahead, one that we have passed through or one of self-discovery and connection that we hope never ends.
Fluidity and transition often have a unique place of importance for those from diverse queer communities, as often the focus is on the journey itself, and not the goals, dreams, and aspirations of a fulfilled life.
The value of your individual experience and how you navigate change and adapt through this journey will be part of how you approach and live your life full of choice. Understanding the often harsh, complex, and uncertain impact of these times can also hold great value once we move to understand and navigate them in a safe, accepting space.
The fluid movement through therapy at its core is about supporting change, understanding, and choice, to a place of recognition of your value as a human being, alongside your identity and not being judged because of it.