How to Find an LGBTQ+ Affirming Mental Health Provider
Looking for the right therapist or mental health provider can be an exhausting prospect. Which ones take your insurance? Do they even have availability? Who can help you feel validated, safe, and hopeful?
Given our nation's long history of discrimination, health disparities, and "corrective" treatments that have made seeking help downright dangerous for LGBTQ+ folks, finding the right therapist is critical. But where should you start looking?
Let's break this down together.
Determine Your Deal Breakers and Your Personal Goals
A great place to start your search is by understanding what you want to accomplish while in therapy. By identifying and voicing your goals early on, you can save time and money by sifting out people whose education and specialties don't suit your needs.
Here are some major points to consider:
Would you prefer a provider with training in a particular modality like transgender affirming cognitive behavioral therapy (TA-CBT)?
Or maybe you'd like to work with someone who shares the same gender identity as you?
Would you feel comfortable working with a provider who isn't LGBTQ+ themselves but is an educated, culturally aware ally?
Or maybe you'd rather get support from a member of the LGBTQ+ community who can understand some of your experiences firsthand?
Is it important to you to find someone with clinical experience dealing with sexual assault victims or domestic violence?
Do you have a specific condition you need treatment for, like depression?
Will you need a medical diagnosis or medication management?
Not 100% sure what knowledge an affirming therapist should have? In that case, you can take a look at the American Psychological Association (APA)'s practice guidelines or the list of competencies compiled by the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE).
These resources describe the attitudes, beliefs, and skills a qualified therapist should possess. Going over the above lists can help you establish your baseline expectations for how you deserve to be treated in therapy.
Now that you have defined your goals and boundaries, you can outline the qualities you're seeking in a therapist and start seeking out recommendations.
Who Should I Accept Referrals From?
Start by gathering referrals and recommendations from people you trust. Friends, coworkers, your existing healthcare providers, staff at community centers, and individuals within organizations that specialize in meeting the needs of LBGTQ+ people are all good resources to check out.
You might find referrals particularly valuable if they come from those who know you best, who understand the mental health issues you wish to address, or who share key components of your identity that you feel may be central to your healing process.
Which Organizations Can Help Me?
Identity is a brilliant and complex puzzle that makes up who you are and who you'd like to be. Thankfully, there are a number of organizations out there to suit different parts of your personal experience and identity.
Here are some places that may help you connect with the right therapist for your unique needs:
HelpPRO features a search tool that allows you to choose a therapist who is LGBTQ+ affirming. It can also help you locate relevant support groups in your area.
Psychology Today's website allows you to filter therapists in your area by issue, including options like gender (male, female, and non-binary), age, price, sexuality, ethnicity served, and more.
Substance Abuse + Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 's behavioral health treatment services locator and FindTreatment.org can help you find a treatment center for substance use disorders.
Are you currently employed? If so, you might want to check with your benefits department to see if they offer an employee assistance program that features mental health services.
Are you part of a faith community that supports the rights of LGBTQ+ people? In that case, you might discover resources and referrals through your organization.
Most colleges also offer mental health counseling to students. Some schools are currently offering telehealth services during COVID-19, but you'll want to check with your school. You can also ask for a referral at a campus LGBTQ+ center.
What If I Had a Negative Experience In Therapy Before?
Unfortunately, yours is not an isolated experience. A 2020 research review confirmed that many LGBTQ+ people had experienced poor quality mental healthcare in the past. This was primarily because their mental health provider either didn't understand their needs or held heteronormative assumptions and beliefs.
If you've had a bad experience in therapy before, you might want to spend some time contemplating what you didn't like. This way, you can ask questions to head off a similar experience with a new therapist.
The Human Rights Campaign + Mental Health America have put together this list of questions to help you ensure that a prospective mental health provider will be LGBTQ+ affirming. You might want to keep this open on your phone during your session, or you can email it to prospective providers in advance.
Here are some other practicalities you might want to approach:
Is this provider in my insurance network?
Does this provider offer telehealth or virtual visits?
Will I be able to get in with them once a week, or will I have several weeks in a row when I can't reach my provider?
Does the provider offer a sliding scale or income-based fee program?
What's their appointment cancellation policy?
Are their office hours compatible with your work schedule?
How does their office staff treat you when you call to schedule or reschedule an appointment?
Should I Go to Therapy In-Person or Try Telehealth?
Do you live in an area where your in-person options are slim and your top potential providers are booked out for several months? Does your schedule make it difficult to connect with a therapist during regular office hours? Are you cautious about going to therapy in person during a global pandemic? If so, telehealth or digital therapy might be a good choice!
The COVID-19 pandemic has broadened the remote options available for many types of healthcare. Thankfully, this has left many of us more open to the possibility of working with a remote provider.
The most significant benefit of remote counseling is that it expands your choices. This helps you connect with therapists whose expertise might be a perfect fit but might not be available near you.
In a 2018 study conducted in Austria, therapists reported benefits of online therapy, including privacy, discretion, and greater flexibility when scheduling appointments.
Recent research has further shown how having access to online therapy can be especially important to LGBTQ+ individuals in rural areas with fewer nearby therapists.
You may want to explore Pride Counseling, a subsidiary of the online therapy platform BetterHelp. Many practices like The Gay Therapy Center offer both in-person and virtual options.
If you decide to give online therapy a go, it's a good idea to read recent reviews of the providers you're considering. While everyone's experience in therapy is unique, relevant reviews can save you time and frustration by pointing out issues you might otherwise have to discover on your own.
What if I Need Help Right Now?
You're not alone. If you need immediate mental health support, you can find someone to listen and support you at any of the numbers below.
Further References
LGBT National Help Center's Hotline provides text and email support at 888-843-4564.
Call The Trevor Lifeline at 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678, or use TrevorChat.
Reach the LGBTQ+ National Help Center's National Youth Talk Line at 800-246-7743.
Call the Trans Lifeline Hotline at 877-565-8860 (US) or 877-330-6366 (Canada).
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline is available at 800-662-4357.
If you are a young person of color, text STEVE to 741741.
Meet Cassandra
Cassandra Miasnikov is an award-winning entrepreneur + mental health columnist. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and a sought-after expert for top media outlets, including International Business Times + Buzzfeed.
