Thriveworks LGBTQ+ counseling in Waltham, MA typically begins with an initial assessment to understand your specific needs. LGBTQ+ counselors aim to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for anyone within the LGBTQ+ community by encouraging self-acceptance and offering an understanding of your identity and experiences. The therapy addresses issues like coming out, discrimination, mental health challenges, and gender transition, and provides support for LGBTQ+ relationships.
LGBTQ+ counseling is incredibly important because it can help queer individuals accept their identity, learn self-love, and give them important tools for facing the challenges of being a queer person in today's society, among many other benefits. LGBTQ+-affirming therapists can understand the unique perspective and experiences of queer individuals as they help them process past trauma, address family conflicts, treat issues with anxiety, and more.
Giant strides have been taken toward greater acceptance and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals. However, there is still much work to be done, as those who belong to the LGBTQ community continue to experience abuse, discrimination, and harassment because of their sexual orientation. And these individuals continue to suffer with greater rates of mental illness—such as depression, anxiety, and addiction—because of this unfair treatment.
No two leaves are alike, and yet there is no antagonism between them or between the branches on which they grow.” –Mahatma Gandhi
This increased risk of struggling mentally and emotionally makes access to quality mental health care essential for members in the LGBTQ community. That said, this isn’t always their reality—it’s instead often more difficult for these individuals to find the mental health care they deserve.
Fortunately, LGBTQ members can find quality mental health care at Thriveworks Counseling in Waltham, MA. We have counselors who are LGBTQ-informed: they understand that these individuals face unique challenges, of which are often touched upon in therapy. These providers know how to help you overcome these challenges and ultimately life a life filled with love, happiness, and success.
What Is LGBTQ-Informed Counseling Like?
Thriveworks providers customize the counseling experience to the needs of each client. That said, your counselor will likely open with a few questions that will help them understand you and your counseling goals better. Examples include…
- Overall, how satisfied are you with your life at this moment?
- If you could change anything about your life right now, what would it be?
- Where do you see yourself in a year? Five years?
- What are you hoping to achieve in counseling?
Questions of the like will prove instrumental to your counseling journey—they will help you and your counselor better understand where you are and where you want to be. Self-exploration and self-discovery are keys to living a happy, healthy life; your counselor will provide you with that safe place for exploration and discovery. And they’ll even guide you on this journey by leading discussions about…
- Gender and sexual orientation
- Love and romance
- Past traumas
- Current stressors
- Self-love and acceptance
What Are the Benefits?
As mentioned previously, members of the LGBTQ community face unique challenges, which increase their risk of suffering mentally and emotionally. Here are several of those challenges:
- Prejudice and judgment
- Rejection from friends and family
- Homophobia/transphobia
- Higher rates of suicide or self-harm
Deep emotional stress is born from these challenges that many LGBTQ individuals encounter. Fortunately, work with an LGBTQ-informed counselor who is familiar with these unique obstacles can prove incredible beneficial. If you’re a member of the LGBTQ community, consider working with one of our quality providers at Thriveworks Counseling in Waltham, MA.
Set Up an Appointment at Thriveworks Counseling in Waltham Today
The unfortunate reality is that LGBTQ members have a more difficult time finding quality mental health care. This is a huge problem, especially considering all of the unique problems they face, as well as their increased risk for developing a mental illness and falling victim to self-harm. The good news, however, is that Thriveworks in Waltham, MA offers LGTBQ clients the superior mental health care they seek and deserve.
Our providers are dedicated to helping every single person who walks through our doors live a better life. And they use their advanced skills, training, and experience to accomplish that mission. What do you say? Are you ready to work with a quality provider who will help you through all of your woes? You’re just one step away from making that dream a reality. Give us a call at (781) 309-9149 to get started.
