Embracing who you are
You may find yourself on this page if:
You have tried to reach out for support, but felt shunned or worse rejected by your faith community You may be feeling disconnected from your family, as they don’t understand You want to be a part of your faith community, but may have heard that you are wrong for “being you” You just can’t understand if God is love, how some can treat you in such an unloving way.
Perhaps you have felt like you have to hide some aspects of your gender or sexuality, so that you can fit in with your existing community. And yet, we know that “fitting in” is NOT the same as feeling as If you belong.
YOU are welcome here, all the aspects of who you are. This is a safe space for you to take a breath, exhale and Be present. This is a safe place to be seen as the amazing beautiful complex being that you are. I can help you hold space with the tension and explore the areas that may be holding you back or are sources of pain.
My goal is to help you connect with that deep sense of self, identify your values, your beliefs, And to live a life that is authentic and reflects who you are.
To be clear, I seek to support and help you find alignment across all the aspects of your identity. NOT to indoctrinate you into anything, not to suggest you have to change anything about yourself.
What is LGBTQ+ Affirming Counseling?
People within the LGBTQ + community share many things in common outside of sexuality and identity. Many seek therapy for things like self-esteem concerns, anxiety, relationship issues, and more. Regardless of the reason, someone from the community might seek counseling, it is important that their therapist will be accepting and supportive.
LGBTQ+ Affirming Counseling was developed to address the unique emotional and mental health needs of members of the LGBTQ+ community. Therapists who offer affirmative counseling provide their LGBTQIA + clients a safe space to develop a healthy sense of self and strengthen their voice.
Tenets Of LGBTQ+ Affirming Counseling
LGBTQ+ Affirming Counseling can help someone challenged with mental health issues or Just navigate their life, family and choices in a more thoughtful and meaningful way. Here are some of the main tenets of LGBTQ+ Affirming Counseling:
Safe Spaces
The most important aspect of effective therapy is creating a safe space for the client to explore their emotions, overcome challenges and heal from any trauma. In LGBTQ+ Affirmative Counseling, individuals are welcomed without any judgment or preconceived notions.
Finding a True Ally
Once a safe space and genuine trust have been established, an alliance can be fostered where the LGBTQ individual feels they are supported and celebrated.
Examine Faith of Others Verses YOUR Individual Beliefs
Sadly, some faith communities have been less that loving to individuals of the LGBTQ community. Some even harmful! You need a safe place where you will not be shamed or guilted about questioning a belief system that that was handed down to you by a family of origin or some other group.
The process of faith deconstruction is where you examine your beliefs on God and or Spirituality. The goal is to investigate what YOU, the individual believes about God. This can be a deeply personal journey where you navigate the shifts in spirituality. It can also prompt intense feelings of anxiety and fear of being once again- labeled some derogatory term by a group of people who just do not know your heart.
If you are experiencing a challenging time right now and would like to work with an LGBTQ + Affirming therapist, please reach out to me. I offer both in office as well as telehealth sessions and am happy to discuss how I may be able to help.
