by Francois Martin Hunter
For many LGBTQIA+ people, the idea of therapy can bring both hope and hesitation.
Hope that this might finally be a space to feel understood.
Hesitation because so many of us have learned, often painfully, that not all spaces are safe.
You may have had to explain yourself repeatedly.
Correct assumptions.
Defend your identity.
Or shrink parts of who you are to feel accepted.
LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy is about something different.
It’s about not having to justify your existence in the room.
What does “affirming” really mean?
Affirming therapy isn’t just about tolerance.
It’s about respect, validation, and safety.
It means your identity is not questioned, analysed, or treated as a problem to be solved.
It is understood as a meaningful and valid part of who you are.
In an affirming space:
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You are believed
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You are respected
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You are not asked to educate or defend
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Your experiences are taken seriously
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Your identity is not pathologised
You get to simply be.
Why this kind of space matters
Many LGBTQIA+ people grow up navigating subtle and overt messages that they are “too much,” “not enough,” or “wrong.”
Over time, this can shape how safe it feels to take up space, trust others, or trust yourself.
This can show up as:
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Anxiety or hypervigilance
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Shame or self-doubt
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Feeling disconnected from your body or emotions
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Relationship struggles
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A deep tiredness from always being “on guard”
Affirming therapy recognises that these responses are not personal flaws.
They are understandable reactions to living in a world that hasn’t always made space for you.
What LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy offers
Affirming therapy offers a space where you don’t have to prepare yourself before speaking. Where your identity is not the topic unless you want it to be. Where your whole self is welcome.
It can help you:
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Feel safer in your own skin
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Build trust in your emotions and needs
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Heal internalised shame
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Strengthen your sense of self
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Explore relationships with greater clarity
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Feel more grounded and whole
It’s not about changing who you are.
It’s about helping you feel more at home in who you are.
You don’t have to focus on identity unless you want to
Some people come specifically to explore identity.
Others come for anxiety, relationships, grief, or life transitions.
In affirming therapy, your sexuality or gender identity is held respectfully in the background unless you want to bring it forward.
You get to decide what matters.
You are never reduced to a label.
A space where you don’t have to explain yourself
One of the quiet gifts of affirming therapy is relief.
Relief from having to translate your life.
Relief from being misunderstood.
Relief from carrying the burden of education.
That energy can finally be used for healing.
You deserve a space that meets you with dignity
Wanting an affirming therapist isn’t about being demanding.
It’s about wanting safety.
And safety is the foundation of healing.
You deserve support that honours your identity, your story, and your emotional world without conditions.
Taking the first step
Reaching out can feel vulnerable, especially if you’ve been hurt or misunderstood before. You’re allowed to move slowly. You’re allowed to ask questions. You’re allowed to choose a space that feels right.
If you’re looking for a counselling space where you are fully accepted, respected, and supported, you’re warmly welcome to get in touch. You don’t have to explain yourself here.