Finding A Gay Friendly Therapist In Long Beach
Finding a Gay or Lesbian Therapist in Long Beach…
Many gay and lesbian people avoid getting medical and emotional help because of past discrimination they have faced. This is why it can be helpful to find a gay friendly therapist or therapist who is gay or lesbian themselves so you don’t have to worry about what they might be thinking about you as you talk about your issues. You can stay focused on your story and not what your therapist might be thinking. This can be especially true of gay and lesbian clients who are seeking couples therapy or another issue where being out to your therapist is necessary.
Often, gay and lesbian people feel like they have to be perceived as perfect by straight people because otherwise those straight people might think “see that lifestyle doesn’t work”. This can be a major problem in the gay and lesbian community seeking therapy, but can also prevent them from asking for help from their straight friends. This issue has forced us to ignore some major problems in our community for fear of exposing a weak spot to the other side (straight people/ straight friends who perceive you as a strong relationship so you can’t admit faults). The truth is every relationship has problems, even lesbian relationships and gay relationships. If you feel more comfortable seeking a therapist who is gay or lesbian themselves, then do that. Don’t allow society and the discrimination they have, influence your ability to be the best person you can be.
Because of the discrimination I have faced in seeking my own medical care, it took me a while to trust again. As a lesbian, I personally understand many of the issues that are holding you back. I have been discriminated, even in Long Beach, where I would expect the best treatment compared to other places in the country. Still, we face discrimination here. If you are looking for a gay friendly therapist in Long Beach, whether you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or a transgender person, rest assured you will not have to worry about those issues here.