LGBTQIA+
Oof. The United States has a long history of discriminating against members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Fortunately, America as a whole does seem to be getting better, but here in Texas we are STILL struggling with a staunchly conservative, heteronormative-cisgender-oriented society with an attitude. It may be your body, but a lot of people here still don’t support your choice, particularly if you’re someone who is seeking transition.
Everybody has an opinion, and a lot of those opinions are negative. Do you ever feel like too many people are just too interested in your genitals and what you are or aren’t doing with them?
Navigating life as an individual who lives in a world that doesn’t seem to accept you can be difficult. Sometimes it seems like being out and open about who you are would be much more difficult than continuing to hide or deny how you feel and convincing yourself that perhaps there is something wrong with you.
That’s where we come in. As a licensed, mental health counselor who offers LGBTQIA+ therapy, we focus on helping people who may be struggling to see and love themselves for who they really are, as well as those who have already found themselves but struggle to feel comfortable and/or supported by the people around them.
We work with people throughout the LGBTQIA+ community here in Houston, Texas, and see people for a variety of reasons. When it comes to my LGBTQIA+ clients, some of the more common concerns we help with include:
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) & Coming out
Life can get hard, especially when the way you live has its own flag. Do we even know which flag to pick up? Is SOGIE the new LGBTQI+? Can I be enby (nonbinary) and bisexual, or is that just pansexual? How do some lesbians get a gold star and what’s a TERF?
There’s a lot to figure out in the LGBTQIA+ way of life, especially if you’re only just beginning to embrace your truth. Now there’s Grindr, Tinder, OkCupid, Feeld, Taimi, and aren’t we supposed to have our own bar or something?
Trying to love yourself is a hard enough challenge without the added work of figuring out exactly who you are and how you love. Count on me to support you as you work through your own personal SOGIE and figure out how to come out.
Internalized Homophobia
One of the most horrendous things a person can be convinced to do, is to hate themselves. Getting through the double think of exploring who you are and loathing what you find can create a toxic spiral of self-destruction. Unfortunately, you can’t control other people or how the world responds to you, but you can work through how you feel and learn to respond better to yourself by working with an LGBTQIA+ therapist.
Through our work together, we can help you come to accept and love who you are wherever you may land in the LGBTQIA+ world.
Religious Abuse
While some faiths and individual churches have become more accepting and are beginning to embrace the LGBTQIA+ community, the general mood of many faiths at large is more than discouraging. Serving under a junior high school teacher turned mentor as a youth pastor, Cody saw firsthand the insidious damage faith communities can sow into people. If you are or have ever been a person of faith, this can be a hard pill to swallow and sometimes the damage is irreparable. Whether you feel a need to process your pain, reestablish your faith, or explore a new potential path, therapy can be a powerful tool in working through these unique struggles. We are personally knowledgeable in differing sexualities and beliefs, and as a mental health counselor, we’re versed in a variety of therapeutic approaches for addressing such issues.
Families of Origin and Families of Choice
Family is important, especially in the modern age when it can be so easy to lose connection with people. Our families are supposed to love us unconditionally, but that’s not always the case. Some of us are lucky to have families that love and accept us no matter what. Others are outcast, ostracized and disowned for choosing to be who we truly are. Whether you are struggling with the family you grew up in or are struggling to understand and build a family you choose for yourself, we can support you as you care for the roots that will keep you grounded.
In the past, our team has worked with the Montrose Center in Houston, Texas, other LGBT Resource Centers, supported youths who were struggling with their identity, and found advocacy groups for individuals who are considered “different.” Over the years, we have reaffirmed our commitment to seeing each person as their wonderfully unique self through my actions.
Therapy is always a great tool to turn to whenever you are struggling in life; but finding the right therapist is of the utmost importance. We’ve seen friends spend their first few sessions of therapy teaching very experienced counselors the vocabulary of their lifestyles. You deserve a therapist that understands you and whole-heartedly accepts you.
Your time and money are valuable, and when working with me, you won’t have to spend any of it catching me up on the vocabulary, current issues, or social discussions that go along with your lifestyle, sexuality, relationship dynamics, or anything else.
Our office is a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals with alternative lifestyles, and people on the polyamory/ethical non-monogamy spectrum. Whether you’re just beginning to explore who you are and how you want to show up in life, or you’re someone who has been out your whole entire life, we would be honored for the opportunity to work with you, support you, and be a resource for you.
If you’ve made it this far, at the very least, you’ve decided that you may need some support. we’re here to help. For more information, or if you or someone you know is seeking help from an LGBTQIA+ therapist, contact me using the form below to schedule a free consultation.