Why and How to Find an LGBTQ-friendly Therapist
The field of psychology has a dark history.
Not long ago, inhumane therapies were used to treat gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals. This includes conversion and electroshock therapy.
Some practices even attempted to blame homosexuality on childhood trauma. It was not until 1973 that homosexuality was removed from the DSM II and no longer considered a mental aliment.
Still, after centuries of mistreatment, the LGBTQ+ community remained afraid to seek therapy for their actual mental health issues.
This was the start of a culture of fear and uncertainty between the psychology and LGBTQ+ communities.
Today, mental health professionals struggle to properly serve LGBTQ+ clients and their unique issues. The disconnect starts in the existing literature on the subject.
Researchers neglect this specialized area of study in favor of honing in on the “traditional patient”. The gap presents itself next in institutions, such as colleges that teach aspiring mental health professionals.
Thankfully, the American Psychological Association requires graduate study programs to prove their curriculum demonstrates respect for diversity.
Although, this rule does not cover religious-affiliated colleges. Such schools can implement policies that discriminate against the LGBTQ+ population.
As a result, graduate students, who are all meant to be learning the same thing, end up providing care dependent upon where they graduated from.
The patients who seek them out may only know their credentials, not which school they come from.
Some argue that regardless of the school one hails from, all practitioners have unique values. One could go to an extremely liberal college and become a homophobic therapist.
The logic is sound, but it does not negate that the problem stems from poor mandatory policies. If the rule applied to all institutions, the community could be reassured that their therapist was taught nondiscriminatory practices.
The personal values argument is an entire issue within itself. Any given therapist can indeed have anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes.
Nevertheless, the solution goes back to the APA.
To quote the APA Practice Guidelines for LGB Clients, "[guidelines for serving LGB clients] should not be...definitive and are not...to take precedence over the judgment of psychologists.”
Basically, the APA only suggests that certified practitioners respect LGBTQ+ people. No legally binding requirement says your therapist cannot allow their homophobic beliefs into the treatment room.
Incediently, LGBTQ+ patients of closed-minded professionals are exposed to unhelpful or detrimental treatment environments. If the point of treatment is to improve our mental state, why bother going if we risk damaging it?
The reaction is often to not go, but that will not improve your mental health either. It may worsen your struggles and lead to severe, unsavory outcomes.
So what is one to do?
We have to take the qualification process into our own hands. We must define our own standards and not stray.
Below are my tips for finding an LGBTQ-friendly therapist…
If you are reading this blog, you have the single best tool already! The internet is your best friend when on the hunt.
There are many trustworthy websites to help you get started. Two of the most familiar ones are Psychology Today and AGLP (The Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists). You can find a more extensive list of free directories on our resource page.
Three key things to remember if you go this route:
Check for accreditation! Some common ones are MD (medical doctor), LMHC (licensed mental health counselor), and LCSW (licensed clinical social worker). There is no credential called a Therapy License. Make sure you know the exact license someone has.
An online list could be outdated. Make sure to check when the last update was.
Do not give out your personal information without verifying the integrity of the source.
When using online directories, you may find that none of the suggested practices are near you. If this is the case, do not worry!
There are other ways. For example, many cities across the US have LGBTQ+ centers and organizations. Reach out to your local center and ask for recommendations.
Sometimes, the center may have LGBTQ-friendly therapists on staff. It never hurts to ask.
If you cannot find local aid, hop back on your phone or computer. While many people are (understandably) skeptical of doing therapy online, there are safe and secure platforms.
BetterHelp is one example of an app that can pair you with an LGBTQ-friendly therapist upon request. However, I would not use apps as a first resort.
To refer back to BetterHelp, although it is cheaper than traditional therapy, it does not accept insurance. This might put a damper on the lower rates. Depending on your insurance, it might be cheaper or equal in cost to do offline counseling.
Speaking of costs, therapy, in general, can be very expensive. It is common for practices to charge between $60-250 per session in the United States.
Additionally, some members of the LGBTQ+ population are at a greater risk of being uninsured.
In 2019, 24.9% of black (non-Hispanic) LGBTQ+ people had no health insurance.
These numbers are daunting and can discourage some from seeking help. I prompt you to remember that your mental wellness, like your physical health, is a non-negotiable expense.
If you have a broken arm, would you ignore it to save money? You could. However, the long-term effects outweigh the short-term financial hardship.
All kinds of consequences can occur if you neglect your mental health. These include psychotic episodes, suicidal ideation or attempt, obesity, heart disease, and more.
I do not intend to downplay the complex financial situations individuals face. I am not foolish. It is no mystery that no matter how much a person wants to get help, the money might not even be there to spend.
Instead, I present you with cost-friendly options for treatment. I admit the level of care may not be the same as private practices due to high client loads. However, rejecting help is seldom a productive choice.
Here are some tips to discover budget and LGBTQ-friendly therapy resources:
Get touch with centers! The US Department of Health and Human Services has a nationwide search tool you can use to find centers. One flaw to note is you cannot filter the results to show LGBTQ-friendly options. You will have to do your own research.
Apply for Therapy Funds. Some organizations reward scholarships and grants to marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ people, who need therapy-related financial support.
Use free or low-cost online therapy. One example is iPrevail, which offers “free peer coaching and $9.99 per month to talk with a professional,” according to Healthline. Some online options allow you to request an LGBTQ-friendly therapist.
Note that with any service, it is pertinent to ask questions beforehand. This is especially helpful when the practitioner's values are unclear.
I recommend asking the following questions to assess their values, as well as general compatibility:
Do you accept my insurance?
How do you price services?
Are you a member of AGLP or GLMA?
Is this a religious-based practice?
What is your cancellation policy?
Do you offer virtual visits?
Finally, I like to be straightforward. If you are not the type to dance around topics, directly ask if they are LGBTQ-friendly. I assume you will get an equally direct answer, for better or worse.
While I would love to include every option on the planet for you, I am one person. It is impossible for me to offer every resource out there. That is why I ask the readers to comment their tips and suggestions. Help CALM create a diverse network of support resources.
We appreciate your contribution!
Sources:
https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/guidelines
https://www.them.us/story/how-to-find-a-queer-therapist
https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2021-07/lgbt-health-ib.pdf
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/online-therapist-for-free#comparison
Disclaimer: No organizations, apps, or services mentioned in this blog are sponsoring or affiliated with CALM. Using any service comes with risks, terms, and requirements that you agree to on your own accord.
