The Significance of Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Identity Through Affirming Care & Therapy

Dear nonprofits and professionals,

As a queer therapist with specialized training in LGBTQIA+ mental health, I’ve centered my work around the queer experience of therapy. I am deeply interested in creating queer and trans affirming spaces. I believe that optimal growth and healing takes place within a therapeutic context that is safe, validating, affirming, and relational. I know how powerful it can be to find a therapist who not only supports but truly affirms your identity. LGBTQIA+ folks, especially professionals navigating both personal and workplace challenges, need a space that feels safe, inclusive, and empowering. 

It doesn’t feel right to dive into LGBTQIA+ affirming care without first acknowledging the harm this field has inflicted on queer and trans communities. There’s a long, painful history of mental health care marginalizing and pathologizing LGBTQIA+ individuals. I could write a whole blog post about that history—about conversion therapy, the fact that homosexuality and transsexualism have been diagnosable mental illnesses in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), or the gatekeeping that still prevents many trans folks from accessing affirming care. But in this article, I want to focus on how far we’ve come and what affirming care looks like today.

We’ve made progress, and it’s exciting to witness. I’m both a consumer and a practitioner of psychotherapy at a time when we’re seeing a growing dedication to LGBTQIA+ affirming care. But what exactly does that mean, and why is it so important?

What is LGBTQIA+ Affirming Care?

LGBTQIA+ affirming care is about celebrating sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. It's therapy that centers the strengths and resilience of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities. Affirming providers understand the minority stress that comes with living in a heteronormative, cisnormative society, and they work to create a safe, supportive space where queer and trans clients can feel seen, validated, and empowered.

Rather than approaching therapy with the idea that being queer or trans is something to "fix" or "overcome," affirming therapists focus on queer joy and collaboration with clients. We respect your expertise in your own life and help you navigate the unique challenges of your identity, without judgment or erasure.

Why is Affirming Care So Important?

Affirming care is crucial because LGBTQIA+ folks have historically been harmed by the very systems meant to help us. While the field as a whole has shifted in a positive direction, many therapists are still not equipped to understand or fully support queer and trans experiences. Misgendering, dismissing LGBTQIA+ relationships, or failing to understand the impact of minority stress can do real harm in therapy.

Finding a therapist who is truly affirming—who doesn’t just tolerate your identity but celebrates it—can make all the difference in your therapy journey.

How Can I Find an LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapist?

Here are some tips for finding a therapist who will support and affirm you:

1. Search local LGBTQIA+ Centers: Many local LGBTQ+ resource centers offer mental health services or can point you to affirming providers. A great place to start is the directory of LGBTQIA+ centers in the U.S. here.

2. Use Online Directories: Websites like Psychology Today, Therapy Den, and Inclusive Therapists allow you to filter for therapists who are LGBTQIA+ affirming. Look for keywords like "LGBTQ-friendly," "LGBTQIA+ Affirming," or "Trans Affirming" in their profiles.

3. Ask the Right Questions During Consultations: Most therapists offer a brief consultation call before your first session. Use this time to ask about their experience working with queer and trans clients, their training, and their approach to affirming care. You can ask questions like, “Have you worked with LGBTQIA+ clients before?” or “How do you approach supporting queer and trans individuals?”
   Clients don’t always feel comfortable asking me directly about my identities, but I appreciate it when they do. I would rather clients ask me directly, “Are you queer?” if it matters to them. It opens up a conversation about my identities as a queer, Latina, cis-gender woman, and what that might mean for our therapeutic relationship.

4. Review Their Background and Experience: Look into the therapist's work history. Have they worked extensively with LGBTQIA+ clients? What kind of training have they had on queer and trans issues?

5. Ask Your Community: Word of mouth is often one of the best ways to find affirming providers. Ask your queer friends, colleagues, or family members if they have any recommendations.

6. Trust Your Gut: Therapy is a deeply personal process, and it's important to trust your instincts. If a therapist doesn’t feel like the right fit, or if something feels off in how they talk about your identity, it’s okay to move on and find someone who makes you feel safe and supported.

LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy can be a game-changer in your mental health journey. Whether you’re dealing with personal challenges, professional stress, or simply looking for a space to process your experiences, finding a therapist who truly sees and celebrates you for who you are is essential.

Sincerely,

Queers

About the Contributor: Ari Sifuentes (she/her), M.A., LMFT

Ari Sifuentes (she/her), M.A., is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #142691 in private practice, with specialized training in adolescent and LGBTQIA+ mental health. Ari is a queer, Latina, cis-woman, and her approach to therapy is collaborative, creative, trauma-informed, and strengths-based. Ari’s practice is based in the Bay Area, California, and she is passionate about cultivating a therapeutic space that goes beyond "LGBTQIA-friendly," and is instead, whole-heartedly queer and trans affirming. 

Website: arisifuentes.com 

Instagram: @arisifuentestherapy

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