Lgbt friendly therapists nyc

Why gender and identity affirmative therapy?

Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ often face distinct challenges and stresses due to societal stigma. Research indicates that this added stress is a major factor behind LGBTQ+ people being 2 to 3 times more likely to experience anxiety, depression, substance use, and other mental health concerns throughout their lives. Unfortunately, many in the LGBTQ+ community hesitate to look for therapy, fearing potential judgment or lack of empathetic from providers.

LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy aims to offer a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can address their concerns without fear of rejection. This is crucial, as the quality of the therapist-client relationship is key to positive therapeutic outcomes. At Williamsburg Therapy Group, our team includes queer-identified, leading psychologists and psychiatrists who specialize in the diverse needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

What does LGBTQIA+ Mean?

A person’s sexual orientation refers to the gender or genders that one is romantically, erotically, and/or emotionally attracted to.

LGBTQIA+ is an abbreviation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual identities. As queer visibility and identification increase in cultures across the world and younger generations identify more readily outside traditional gender and sexuality norms (I.e., male, female, heterosexual), it is important to understand some of the associated terms.

Lesbian describes female-identified people who are attracted romantically, erotically, or emotionally to other female-identified people.

Gay describes male-identified people who are attracted romantically, erotically, or emotionally to other male-identified people. Gay is also an umbrella term to point to to the entire LGBTQIA+ community or as an individual label for anyone who does not name as heterosexual.

Bisexual describes a person who is romantically, erotically, or emotionally