Why LGBTQI People Prefer LGBTQI Therapists
When it comes to therapy, both straight and LGBTQI people alike can benefit from the service. But unlike our straight counterparts, LGBTQI people face different challenges when seeking help. Imagine placing all your hope in someone and relying on them to help you heal, but that person doesn’t have a single clue about what you’re going through. The mental health issues associated with the LGBTQI community are newer and more specific. For many straight therapists, our issues are uncharted territory. In order to get the proper care that we need, many in the community are turning to LGBTQI therapists.
Discrimination From Straight Therapists
Many LGBTQI clients who call me will struggle with the question “Um, uh, have you ever treated a gay person before”. For many people, it is an uncomfortable question to ask on a first conversation, but that uncomfortable feeling outweighs thinking that they might have to sit with someone who is supposed to help, but doesn’t understand them. Clients often fear that since straight therapists have never personally experienced the struggles associated with coming out and discrimination specific to the LGBTQI community, they might not be able to help. For LGBTQI people seeking therapy, having to fear discrimination or even that a therapist won’t understand can often add a layer of anxiety that can be counterproductive when looking for treatment. With all that being said, sometimes it’s just nice for clients to not have to wonder, and therefore they choose a therapist who is in the LGBTQI community themselves.
Shared Life Experiences
When people in the community seek help, they don’t want to spend time explaining issues that should really be considered a base level of knowledge. They want to feel comfortable and understood. When they’re sitting across from a person who has gone through many of the same experiences, there’s a level of complication that’s removed. Because of multiple shared life experiences, they can move past discomfort and get down to making some real progress.
No Judgment
I have heard from my clients that it is important to them that their therapist shares some of the same experiences and have expressed that they feel that a LGBTQI therapist won’t pass undue judgment. With a straight therapist, patients have to wonder if they’re being judged or scrutinized, even if that person doesn’t verbalize any type of discrimination. An LGBTQI therapist understands what that pressure feels like and the effects it can have. They treat the therapy sessions like a true safe space that’s judgment-free. Even though a majority of straight therapists in California can also do this, when a client chooses an LGBTQI therapist, they don’t have to wonder.
LGBTQI Therapists Are Informed
For people outside of the community, it can be difficult to understand the mechanics of birth sex, gender identity, and various types of sexuality. When a patient is seeking treatment, they don’t want to spend time educating a therapist. There’s nothing worse than reaching out for someone’s expertise and having the roles reversed. When people in the community enlist the service of a therapist, they’re assuming there’s a base level of education there so that treatment can begin on the right foot. If you do choose to go with a straight therapist, you can ask them questions on the phone before setting up an appointment to see if they are familiar with certain concepts important to you. You can also ask questions as simple as definition of terms. Here is an example: If you are transgender, you can pay attention to terminology the therapist uses to determine their level of understanding. Do they use gender affirming surgery compared to gender reassignment surgery.
A Positive Experience
Therapy is often needed because of negative experiences such as discrimination, violence, or a lack of acceptance. When an LGBTQI person reaches out for therapy, they’re hoping to undo the effects of those incidents. With an LGBTQI therapist on their side, they can ensure that therapy doesn’t turn into another bullet point on a long list of triggers. Instead, they’ll receive the level of empathy and understanding that they long for and deserve. It is my belief that there are many straight allies out there who advocate for the LGBTQI community in their spare time and are very informed of our issues. The point of this blog post is to give you points to consider when choosing a therapist that you are going to feel most comfortable with.