LGBTQ Counseling

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning community faces mental health problems in many of the same ways that the rest of society typically does. This population does, on average, tend to experience more negative and pervasive mental health complications. Due to prejudice and other biases, this demographic can be susceptible to bad mental health outcomes. Knowing what challenges this community faces is, in many ways, the key to being able to best effectively help.

Statistically, LGBTQ individuals are almost three times more likely than others to experience a mental health problem. Common conditions include major depression or anxiety disorders. Many LGBTIQ individuals experience can feel acute fears from coming out and depression from being discriminated against for sexual orientation and gender identities. Other frequently seen issues include post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse.

LGBTQ people end up fighting on two fronts in many ways. The prejudice and problems they face as people and even further from the stigma of poor mental health. Complications from trying to minimize this reaction frequently leave people even more isolated out of fear of inviting more abuse. It’s for these exact reasons that I see many LGBTIQ patients at my practice and why I’m so keen on being of assistance to all LGBTIQ teens and adults.