Finding a Queer-Friendly Therapist
Need a therapist? It can be exhausting trying to find one, let alone someone good at working with LGBTQ+ folks. Any therapist can advertise to LGBTQ+ clients, and there isn’t a hard-and-fast way to know if a therapist is equipped to work with LGBTQ+ clients or your specific experiences of queerness.
It’s getting better, thanks to Envision: You, who provides LGBTQ+-specialized mental health training to therapists and providers across the state! Fortunately, here in Denver, we have accessible, LGBTQ+-centered mental health services.
Community Mental Health Resources
Glass Lawler Mental Health at The Center on Colfax has collaborated with Denver Health Mental Health Services to provide LGBTQ+-specialized therapy, offering 12 free therapy sessions. (303)-733-7743.
Denver Element provides LGBTQ+ substance recovery-centered treatment through 1:1 therapy, therapy groups, and social groups. They accept Ryan White funding, Medicaid, Medicare, Etna, Cigna, and sliding scale. (710)-382-5900
The Transgender Center of the Rockies currently has a waitlist for individual therapy. If you are not in a position to wait, they have a robust list of referrals of trusted gender-competent therapy referrals. TCR currently accepts Medicaid and offers a sliding scale fee that will be reviewed during the intake to meet your financial needs. (303)-761-0200
Private Practice
If you are in the position to pay out of pocket or have insurance, you can also go the private practice route. Taking this direction to find a therapist requires you to determine if the therapist has the knowledge and skills to work with LGBTQ+ clients. I know that puts a lot of pressure on you, and it can feel daunting, so here are some tips.
First, knowing the difference between therapists who advertise themselves as LGBTQ+ Friendly, Affirming, or Specialized is key!
Friendly: Honestly, I raise my eyebrow when I see therapists advertise that they are “LGBTQ+-friendly.” It suggests a sense of tolerance rather than understanding. Anyone can say that they’re LGBTQ+-friendly, but that doesn’t mean they’re truly informed on how you walk through the world.
Affirming: LGBTQ+ affirming therapy is a safe bet because “affirming” typically means that the therapist has a shared experience within LGBTQ+ communities or a strong sense of allyship. Affirming therapy can also mean that the therapist is committed to participating in social justice for LGBTQ+ folks in some way. Or it often means the therapist includes queer theory in their practice and is educated on LGBTQ+ psychology.
Specialized: I recommend (when possible) seeking an LGBTQ+-specialized therapist. Specialized means that their education and training were selected and completed for LGBTQ+-oriented mental health considerations. Some graduate schools offer an LGBTQ+ specialization, which requires a consistent focus on LGBTQ+ considerations throughout the two-year program. Similarly, some mental health agencies provide in-depth and rigorous LGBTQ+ training.
Searching
If you are going to the private practice route, I suggest using Psychology Today to search for a therapist. Filtering therapists is essential. With Psychology Today, you can get specific, and I suggest you do. Some basic but essential search filters include:
–City and state
-Gender
-Race
-Specialties (like addiction, gender identity, sex therapy, sex-positive, non-monogamy) There isn’t a specific LGBTQ+ filter in Psychology Today, but selecting filters related to or common in LGBTQ+ culture will land you more within the rainbow.
-Sexual Orientation (this is a critical filter to turn on.)
-In-person/ video therapy is up to you.
-Price and insurance – Be realistic with what you can afford every week.
Select Three
Then, start weeding through the therapists. It’s better to begin overly specific and loosen your search than to read and call dozens of therapists. Finding a therapist is a lot like dating. You need to feel it out before committing. Most therapists offer a free 15-to-20-minute consultation to get a feel for each other before committing to treatment. I suggest interviewing at least three therapists before moving forward with one.
In the Consultation
In a consultation, ask all your questions. Have them written down beforehand and in front of you when you first meet with the therapist/s. In addition to the personal questions, asking these questions is often helpful:
-Where does their experience with LGBTQ+ mental health originate from?
-What LGBTQ+ education, certifications, and training have they completed?
-What relationship do they have with the LGBTQ+ community?
-How do they identify?
-Why do they like working with LGBTQ+ clients?
Don’t be afraid to ask the questions that are important to you. Your relationship with a therapist is important, vulnerable, and special. Before committing, ensure you are comfortable and confident with the therapist and that it is the right fit. Trust your internal instincts about this.
If you work with a therapist for a few weeks and it doesn’t feel like the right vibe or a good fit, don’t hesitate to bring it up with that therapist or try to find a new one. Again, it’s a lot like dating—You don’t know unless you try, but just because you’re in a relationship doesn’t mean you have to stay in it. Good luck, and I applaud anyone’s bravery in identifying that therapy would be helpful and the strength it takes to ask for help.
Let’s stay connected! Check out my column HELLO HOMO online at outfrontmagazine.com!
