Queer Therapy
LGBT and queer people can experience prejudice and discrimination in their lives. As an experienced LGBT therapist I aim to be aware of this and will work with you to unpick and understand the impact of potentially internalised and negative messages about our sexuality and identity.
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Among many areas of our lives, coming out can be a difficult time for many queer people; often this can be a reason for coming to therapy in the first place. Queer people can often experience social structures in damaging and oppressive ways and thus a goal of therapy may be to find ways to understand and recognise the consequences of a heteronormative world. The coming out process can have a significant impact on our identity, we can often lose stability in our lives and face rejection in close relationships - starting therapy can be a way to explore this.
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Starting therapy, a therapist’s gender and sexual identity can be important for some people. I am myself am a gay man and often describe myself as queer too. I find this can be useful working with LGBT clients and find that our shared experiences can help in therapy.
What to Expect
A psychological therapy or talking therapy can help with unwanted thoughts, feelings and emotions. My approach to therapy is aligned with psychodynamic psychotherapy which comes from an understanding that we are shaped by our relationships and experiences with others.
We may be both conscious and unconscious of these processes, resulting in both known and hidden feelings, desires, wishes and thoughts which relate to both past and present difficulties. Overwhelming and painful feelings give rise to ways of coping, or defending ourselves from distress. It can be helpful to understand and to work on areas that no longer serve us well.
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During your assessment a particular problem area will be identified and will be the focus of the therapy.
Who is therapy for?
Therapy is suitable for those who are curious about themselves and wish to explore and understand their problems at a deeper level. Therapy can also be useful for couples or families to explore their relationships.
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How does therapy work?
Therapy works through a safe and trusting relationship between us. This is why it is really important to find the right therapist for you.
Dynamic patterns of feeling, relating and behaving are evident in all relationships, and are expected to arise with us. These current dynamics can be safely and helpfully explored within therapy.
Therapy can lead to new understandings and changes in the way you feel and relate to yourself, and other people.
What you can expect in therapy
Usually you will meet with myself at a regular and agreed time . This is typically weekly or fortnightly. You will be expected to bring your own concerns and there will be space and time to explore what is on your mind. We will try to understand what you say and try to talk about this in a helpful way. Sometimes your feelings will involve the therapy and me. This can at first feel difficult and risky, but your problems will be helped by facing and understanding them, even if this may be uncomfortable.
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My role is not normally to give advice, or suggest a course of action. If you are a person who likes more structure, or direction we can discuss this at the start of therapy.
When and where does it take place
I am currently only offering virtual appointments.
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