LGBTQI Counselling

LGBTQI counselling is for people that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/transgender, intersex or queer. It also includes counselling for people with gender or sexual expression that lies outside Australian society's dominant paradigm.

Whilst LGBTQI people can experience the same issues as others in the community, counselling for LGBTQI people must have an awareness of the specific issues facing members of this broad community. Not least of this is the higher incidence of mental health problems affecting members of this community.

Who LGBTQI counselling helps

LGBTQI counselling, by it's nature, helps a widely diverse group of people. Whilst including lesbian and gay members of the community, LGBTQI counselling values inclusion and diversity; this umbrella term also includes other people whose gender and/or sexual expression and/or identity are not well understood or catered to by the mainstream counselling community.

I have been working with members of the LGBTQI since my internship with VicAIDS (now VAC) more than a decade ago. I also have experience in counselling people who have open relationships, practice polyamory, or struggling with a challenging or emergent aspect of their sexuality and/or gender.

I do counselling work with individuals and couples.

Why it works

Working with clients with a wide range of gender and sexual identity requires an approach that is accepting, affirming and open. It requires an awareness of the unique issues and lived experience of this community and a familiarity with some of the unique aspects that LGBTQI people encounter in their relationships.

It also has an awareness of the stigma, discrimination and marginalisation that members of this community regularly experience. This experience can lead to shame, isolation and trauma.

Counselling for LGBTQI people also recognises that people are not defined solely by their LGBTQI experience; they have other identities – as coworkers, parents, children and citizens.

People compare counselling to talking to a good friend or to a family member. Talking to friends or a member of a family can really help you sort out problems. However, our friends and family are sometimes too close to the problem; this can lead to you saying something and regretting it; worse, friends and members of the family might be invested in a particular solution.

One of the reasons that professional counselling works is that you're working with somebody who values openness and acceptance as core principles. Further, they are committed to helping you solve your problems but not invested in any particular outcome.

What to expect

All people are entitled to be respected and accepted for who they are. Starting from this core principle, we'll spend some time talking through your situation and what you're hoping to get from counselling. I'll let you know if I can help you with your situation; if I can, we can set up some further sessions to start to address what's going on.

As the counselling progresses, you can expect to get a deeper understanding of why these situations occur, why they keep occurring, and what you can do about them.

My initial consultation is at no cost and there is no further obligation. I offer counselling in Richmond and Sunbury; let's work out if there's a way I can help you.

Reference:
National LGBTI Health Alliance (2014) ‘Working therapeutically with LGBTI clients: a practice wisdom resource‘ Newtown, NSW