LGBTQIA+ counseling is a type of queer affirmative counseling dedicated to assisting individuals and couples in navigating the intricate intersections of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and mental health, with a primary goal of fostering well-being, self-acceptance, and affirming a client’s life experiences as a queer individual. Although not all LGBTQ+ individuals seek specialized counseling, a substantial number discover vital support and empathy within these inclusive and affirming therapeutic settings.
Thriveworks LGBTQ+ counseling in Wilmington, NC 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. LGBTQ+ 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.
LGBTQ+ Friendly Counseling in Wilmington, NC
Self-awareness and self-acceptance are difficult but important practices for mental health, but LGBTQ+ people often have a more challenging road to these than others. Everyone deserves support and love for being who they are. Everyone deserves a safe place to process their lives, and the mental health professionals at Thriveworks Wilmington, NC are committed to support their LGBTQ+ clients on their journey to self-awareness and self-acceptance. Our office provides LGBTQ+ Friendly Counseling. Reach out today for support.
How Can LGBTQ+ Friendly Counseling Help?
Many in the LGBTQ+ community and the mental health community are fighting The Dual Stigma. Therapists are educating themselves on the type of care that their LGBTQ+ clients need and giving them competent care. If you are thinking about going to therapy, know that capable counselors are available.
The primary goal of any therapy is emotional and psychological healing. No list could contain all the psychological wounds that may need to be healing or the current challenges that could be resolved in therapy. However, “LGBTQ+ Counseling commonly addresses the emotional and psychological symptoms that occur as a result of the social stigma attached to living in a minority population, like discrimination, rejection, bullying, and victimization,” explains Jaimie Orndorff, a Licensed Psychologist at our Wilmington office. “Counseling can address sexual, romantic, or gender identity issues but these aren’t always an area of concern,” she says.
Here is a longer list of issues that might be addressed in LGBTQ+ counseling:
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- Safety concerns
- Healthy communication
- Dealing with discrimination and non-acceptance
- Gender and sexual identity
- Dating and other relationships
- How and when to come out
- Addiction
- Transcending gender roles
- Family concerns
- Eating disorders
- Depression
- Anxiety and stress
- Self-esteem issues
- Past trauma and abuse
The foundation of a healing, therapeutic relationship is trust. When clients trust that the therapist will not judge or shame them, they can dive deep into healing. Everyone needs a safe place, and everyone needs to be known and accepted for who they are.
Setting Up an Appointment at Thriveworks in Wilmington, NC for LGBTQ+ Friendly Counseling
“Anyone experiencing mental health symptoms related to LGBTQ+ issues or negatively affected by those around them facing this social stigma should consider getting help from a counselor,” says Orndorff. “You can also find online sources of support or in-person support groups to connect with others facing similar challenges.”
If mental health care is the right next step for you, know that the therapists at Thriveworks in Wilmington, NC are ready to walk with you. When you call our office, you will not be sent to an automated response or a voicemail. Scheduling specialists answer our phones and help our clients make their appointments. New clients often have their first session within the same week of their first call. Weekend and evening sessions are offered, but we do not keep a waitlist (so you will never be put on one). We also worked with many different insurance companies so that we can accept many different insurance plans. Let’s work together. Call Thriveworks in Wilmington, NC today.
