How to Find an LGBTQ+ Therapist

When you decide to start therapy, it can be difficult to find the right therapist who can meet your needs and can truly understand you. LGBTQ+ clients specifically might want to find a therapist who shares their identity and understands their experience existing in a cisnormative and heteronormative world.

However, many therapists do not choose to share identity information in a way that is easily accessible to potential clients.

Why You Might Want an LGBTQ+ Therapist

Minority stress refers to high, chronic stress levels that members of marginalized communities experience due to systemic oppression, lack of access to competent, affirming care, and trauma from bullying or hate crimes. Members of sexual or romantic orientation and gender identity minorities' experience of minority stress has been linked to poorer mental health outcomes.

Research suggests that because of this stress, LGBTQ+ people have elevated rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide risk compared to cishet individuals. They are also two to four times more likely to use mental and behavioral health services compared to heterosexual, cisgender people.

Bullying, microaggressions, and hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community have a strong impact on mental health. Many who have experienced these issues directly suffer from trauma symptoms as a result, with LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing much higher rates of trauma than straight and cisgender populations.

Many LGBTQ+ individuals have experienced trauma related to medical care. Providers may make assumptions based on their own biases about patients’ sexual histories or pathologize patients’ orientations. For example, a physician might be concerned about an asexual patient having a "low sex drive" and push to "treat" this issue rather than accepting the patient's orientation.

Transgender individuals often experience pushback and gatekeeping from the medical community when seeking care to transition medically. They might be asked to "prove" their gender identity sufficiently to providers and can experience invalidation or be denied procedures if they do not present themselves in a specific way.

The most important part of therapy is the relationship between you and your therapist. A therapist who shares an aspect of your experience as a minoritized individual and who will not need to learn about your identity and background might be a good fit for you.

Therapists who lack cultural competence when working with LGBTQ+ people may display subtle or even overt prejudices that can undermine the therapeutic alliance. 

LGBTQ+ Therapists and LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists

Depending on your personal comfort level and preferences, you might want a therapist who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, or you might feel comfortable seeing an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist.

LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists

An LGBTQ+ affirming therapist can take continuing education courses to remain up to date on language and identities. Many therapists indicate on their website or their directory page that they are LGBTQ+ affirming.

Research suggests that training in how to deliver LGBTQ+ affirmative care can help therapists deliver more competent care for LGBTQ+ people.

LGBTQ+ Therapists

Some LGBTQ+ therapists indicate on their profiles that they are members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you feel safest seeing a fellow LGBTQ+ individual as your therapist, you can seek out someone who has chosen to share this information.

Other ways you might connect with an LGBTQ+ therapist include asking friends, healthcare professionals, or staff members at LGBTQ+ community centers for referrals to a mental health professional who is part of the LGBTQ+ community. You might also consider contacting a college or university mental health center to ask for recommendations for a therapist who shares your identity.

Experiences With LGBTQ+ or LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists

In one small study of 25 non-binary participants, researchers found some people reported feeling more comfortable with a therapist who was also non-binary. "According to me, it is important to know the gender identity or sexuality of a therapist […] as it creates a "safe space" and makes me feel that there is a basic understanding that I could never find in a cis or straight person," explained one 22-year-old participant.

In contrast, some did not feel their therapist's identity or orientation had a significant effect on their therapeutic abilities. "In my opinion, it is not important information, also because it is an extremely personal matter. I may be dealing with a male therapist who is cis but who still has a whole range of skills and openings," explained a 28-year-old participant in the study.

Where to Find an LGBTQ+ Therapist

Many therapist directories have options for therapists to indicate that they are LGBTQ+ affirming. However, if you are looking for a therapist who is also LGBTQ+, you can use some of these resources:

• Therapy Den: Therapy Den is an online therapist directory that features profiles from therapists all over the United States. When searching for a therapist, you can filter by whether or not the therapist is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. You can also specify the therapist’s gender identity, including specifically requesting a transgender, nonbinary, or genderfluid therapist.
• Therapy for QPOC: Standing for Therapy for Queer People of Color, this organization’s mission is “to connect Queer and Trans People of Color to affirming anti-oppressive mental health professionals.” You can specify your preferred gender identity from 15 options in their database.
• Inclusive Therapists: Inclusive Therapists seeks to provide accessible and affirming care for marginalized identities, including those based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, and disability. You can filter your search based on therapist specialization in these areas or the therapist’s personal identity.
  

Things to Keep in Mind

No one therapist will share every aspect of your identity, and even a therapist who has some things in common with you might have a different experience based on their background and unique life story.

If you plan to use health insurance to pay for your therapy services, you will want to find a therapist who can take your insurance. The three directories listed above include a filter option based on your insurance provider.

Unfortunately, a therapist whose specialization, personality, and identity seem like a perfect match for your needs might not accept your insurance. Out-of-network providers can sometimes put together a superbill that you can submit to the insurance company for reimbursement, but this requires you to pay out of pocket for therapy services first, and this is not always an accessible option.

Many people are using online therapy (also known as telehealth) due to increased accessibility of care, the convenience of being seen from home, and the ability to see providers who are outside of the immediate geographic area.

Keep in mind that your therapist needs to be licensed to practice at your physical location at the time of service in order to be in compliance with federal laws. Such requirements were relaxed during the COVID-19 epidemic so people could access teletherapy more readily during the pandemic.

Today, many states have joined the Psychology Interjuristictional Compact (PSYPACT), which allows providers to practice teletherapy and face-to-face therapy across state boundaries.

Getting Started

Utilizing the search directories above, you can browse therapists licensed to practice in your geographic area whose specializations and personal identity match your needs and preferences.

If you see a therapist and do not feel they are a good fit, they might be able to recommend someone who can better meet your needs.