Homosexual now seek out therapist who affirm their lifestyle choice
Below is an article that is very odd. Odd because homosexual people who find themselves in distress, anxiety, needing counseling only want to go to therapists that support their gay ideology and worldview. By doing this they shut themselves off from truth and healing. Sadly, once again we see what scripture says in Romans 1 one fruit of this homosexual sin as foolish, blind hearts claiming to be wise, they become fools.
The article is below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Despite all the strides we’ve made in taking the stigma out of mental health issues, finding your dream therapist is still about as hard as twisting into a yoga-shaped pretzel or running a marathon. And for LGBTQ+ folks, who have an increased risk of depression, attempted suicide, PTSD, and addiction, the hurdle of finding a therapist can be particularly overwhelming.
From conversion therapy to electroshock therapy, many LGBTQ+ people have been forced to undergo psychological “treatments” designed to “cure” them of their sexuality. In the United States alone, an estimated 698,000 adults have received conversion therapy, despite the fact that the underlying science behind the practice has been largely debunked and has been associated with reports of increased depression, suicidality, and “self-hatred.”
As a queer, white, cis-gender woman with an affordable health-care plan, I admit that I have an incredible amount of privilege. But still, I’ve had a hard time finding a therapist who *doesn’t* come into the sessions with internalized biases about my queerness and bisexuality. (Like, assuming I was heartbroken about splitting with my boyfriend only because he was the first guy I’d ever dated, not because, you know, I legit cared about him and our relationship.)
Being a therapist who is an LGBTQ+ ally goes beyond having a gay brother and/or being in favor of gay marriage. It’s about being trained specifically in how to work with us, and being competent enough to understand the specific mental health issues that LGBTQ+ folks face.
So, how do you find a therapist who is definitively and absolutely an LGBTQ+ ally and can give you the kind of support you need and deserve? There are various online resources out there for queer folks seeking a therapist, which can be helpful.
Scroll down for your complete guide to finding an LGBTQ+ friendly therapist that’s right for your needs.
Sadly, you can’t just wish a great therapist into existence—you’re going to have to make time to do some homework.
As with anyone looking for a therapist, you should first determine the type that fits your needs. Do you want a psychiatrist because you think you might need a prescription medication for your depression? Or are you simply looking for someone to talk to (and thus, might only want a counselor or a social worker)? Figure that out.
Once you know the type of specialist you want, you can find a match that’s truly LGBTQ+ friendly by using any of the following expert-backed resources:
American Society Of Sex Educations, Counselors, and Therapists (ASECT)
“All therapists who belong to this group have received at least one major training module specifically on the LGBTQ+ population,” says McDaniel. “Experts with this certification are known to be more affirming, sex-positive, and understanding of an array of types of human sexual behaviors.” (Translation: They’re better qualified to meet your needs—and more likely to be open-minded and accepting.) You can find an ASECT certified professional by country, state, and speciality by searching their database.
National coalition for sexual freedom
“The NCSF is a national grassroots-based nonprofit organization that basically works to protect the rights of consenting adults who practice alternative (read: not heterosexual) forms of relationships and sexual expression,” explains Liz Powell, PsyD, an LGBTQ-friendly sex educator. “They have a directory of Kink Aware Professionals that’s a great place to start for therapists who are open to a diverse range of sexualities and sexual lifestyles.”
World Professional Association For Transgender Health (WPATH)
“WPATH has a list of people who are WPATH-certified which is about trans and gender nonconforming folks,” says McDaniel. Its members follow a specific set of ethical guidelines and standards of care in order to “promote health, research, education, respect, dignity, and equality for transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people in all cultural settings.” Search their directory here.
RAD Remedy
RAD Remedy is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect trans, gender non-conforming, intersex, and queer folks to accurate, safe, respectful health options. “They have a lot of different LGBT-affirming providers of all types, including therapists,” says McDaniel. Enter “therapist” or “individual therapy” into the Find section when you search, and type your city or zip code into the Near section. This combo will bring up therapists near you.
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)
The GLMA has a provider directory where LGBTQ+ folks can search for primary care providers, specialists, therapists, dentists and other health professionals in their area. In order to be listed in the directory, providers must affirm their agreement with statements like, “I believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities are within the spectrum of normal human experience and are not in themselves pathological, “unnatural,” or sinful. I therefore do not promote or support attempts to change patients’ sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Your city’s LGBTQ+ resource center
“LGBTQ+ centers in cities will also usually have a list of providers in the area, and in some places there are dedicated organizations for providers who specialize in work with sexual and gender minorities,” says Dr. Powell. Most of the lists they have available are for healthcare providers in general who ID as LGBTQ+ allies, as opposed to just therapists, so it may take a little hunting.
Psychology Today
Psychology Today is a reputable source that’s easily searchable thanks to filters that allow you to narrow your search by gender, race/ethnicity, specific problems, treatment modalities, and yes, whether or not they’re an LGBTQ+ ally. “Searching for a therapist on Psychology today is like digging through a thrift store, but it’s easy to use and a great place to start,” says McDaniel. Just FYI: the system relies on people identifying themselves as allies, rather than being independently vetted. “So it may bring up some therapists who don’t routinely work with queer folks. But at the very least, you won’t get pull up any bigots, ” says McDaniel.
“The truth is that not all therapists are LGBTQ+ allies,” says Rena McDaniel, licensed clinical counselor and sex therapist based in Chicago. While it’s a therapist’s job to be completely non-partial and address topics head-on… “historically, the mental health and health field has been a huge place of discrimination for queer folks. And, sadly, that’s still the case,” says McDaniel.
From conversion therapy to electroshock therapy, many LGBTQ+ people have been forced to undergo psychological “treatments” designed to “cure” them of their sexuality. In the United States alone, an estimated 698,000 adults have received conversion therapy, despite the fact that the underlying science behind the practice has been largely debunked and has been associated with reports of increased depression, suicidality, and “self-hatred.”
As a queer, white, cis-gender woman with an affordable health-care plan, I admit that I have an incredible amount of privilege. But still, I’ve had a hard time finding a therapist who *doesn’t* come into the sessions with internalized biases about my queerness and bisexuality. (Like, assuming I was heartbroken about splitting with my boyfriend only because he was the first guy I’d ever dated, not because, you know, I legit cared about him and our relationship.)
Being a therapist who is an LGBTQ+ ally goes beyond having a gay brother and/or being in favor of gay marriage. It’s about being trained specifically in how to work with us, and being competent enough to understand the specific mental health issues that LGBTQ+ folks face.
So, how do you find a therapist who is definitively and absolutely an LGBTQ+ ally and can give you the kind of support you need and deserve? There are various online resources out there for queer folks seeking a therapist, which can be helpful.
Scroll down for your complete guide to finding an LGBTQ+ friendly therapist that’s right for your needs.
Sadly, you can’t just wish a great therapist into existence—you’re going to have to make time to do some homework.
As with anyone looking for a therapist, you should first determine the type that fits your needs. Do you want a psychiatrist because you think you might need a prescription medication for your depression? Or are you simply looking for someone to talk to (and thus, might only want a counselor or a social worker)? Figure that out.
Once you know the type of specialist you want, you can find a match that’s truly LGBTQ+ friendly by using any of the following expert-backed resources:
American Society Of Sex Educations, Counselors, and Therapists (ASECT)
“All therapists who belong to this group have received at least one major training module specifically on the LGBTQ+ population,” says McDaniel. “Experts with this certification are known to be more affirming, sex-positive, and understanding of an array of types of human sexual behaviors.” (Translation: They’re better qualified to meet your needs—and more likely to be open-minded and accepting.) You can find an ASECT certified professional by country, state, and speciality by searching their database.
National coalition for sexual freedom
“The NCSF is a national grassroots-based nonprofit organization that basically works to protect the rights of consenting adults who practice alternative (read: not heterosexual) forms of relationships and sexual expression,” explains Liz Powell, PsyD, an LGBTQ-friendly sex educator. “They have a directory of Kink Aware Professionals that’s a great place to start for therapists who are open to a diverse range of sexualities and sexual lifestyles.”
World Professional Association For Transgender Health (WPATH)
“WPATH has a list of people who are WPATH-certified which is about trans and gender nonconforming folks,” says McDaniel. Its members follow a specific set of ethical guidelines and standards of care in order to “promote health, research, education, respect, dignity, and equality for transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people in all cultural settings.” Search their directory here.
RAD Remedy
RAD Remedy is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect trans, gender non-conforming, intersex, and queer folks to accurate, safe, respectful health options. “They have a lot of different LGBT-affirming providers of all types, including therapists,” says McDaniel. Enter “therapist” or “individual therapy” into the Find section when you search, and type your city or zip code into the Near section. This combo will bring up therapists near you.
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)
The GLMA has a provider directory where LGBTQ+ folks can search for primary care providers, specialists, therapists, dentists and other health professionals in their area. In order to be listed in the directory, providers must affirm their agreement with statements like, “I believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities are within the spectrum of normal human experience and are not in themselves pathological, “unnatural,” or sinful. I therefore do not promote or support attempts to change patients’ sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Your city’s LGBTQ+ resource center
“LGBTQ+ centers in cities will also usually have a list of providers in the area, and in some places there are dedicated organizations for providers who specialize in work with sexual and gender minorities,” says Dr. Powell. Most of the lists they have available are for healthcare providers in general who ID as LGBTQ+ allies, as opposed to just therapists, so it may take a little hunting.
Psychology Today
Psychology Today is a reputable source that’s easily searchable thanks to filters that allow you to narrow your search by gender, race/ethnicity, specific problems, treatment modalities, and yes, whether or not they’re an LGBTQ+ ally. “Searching for a therapist on Psychology today is like digging through a thrift store, but it’s easy to use and a great place to start,” says McDaniel. Just FYI: the system relies on people identifying themselves as allies, rather than being independently vetted. “So it may bring up some therapists who don’t routinely work with queer folks. But at the very least, you won’t get pull up any bigots, ” says McDaniel.
