LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy

Harrison Psychology Group specialises in therapy and counselling for the LGBTQ+ community, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer and questioning people. The LGBTQ+ community is a diverse group of people who come from all walks of life, united by a shared experience of discrimination and prejudice that unfortunately negatively impacts their mental health and wellbeing. LGBTQ+ therapy is not one-size-fits-all, but talking to a therapist who is versed in LGBTQ+ issues can help people deal with the unique challenges that come with being LGBTQ+. It can also help people understand and accept their identities, or simply provide a safe and affirmative environment for LGBTQ+ people to seek support, even if it is unrelated to identity exploration.

Every person has a different sexual orientation and gender identity. However, society normalises certain expressions and minoritises others. It can be difficult to deal with the social stigma of a non-heteronormative sexual orientation and gender identity. Also, you may feel like you have to keep your identity hidden, which can cause a great deal of stress and loss. Counselling and therapy can help you to handle the challenges you are facing around these struggles. It can also help you to build a healthy, more positive identity, and open up more fulfilling relationships with others.

The team at Harrison Psychology Group offer a safe, non-judgmental and confidential space for you to explore your thoughts and feelings. Therefore, wherever you fall on the spectrum, we can really help you to explore and understand your sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and to develop a more positive self-image.

If you are LGBTQ+ and in need of a safe space to explore your mental health without fear of judgement or discrimination, please do not hesitate to contact us via our contact form, calling 07944 112333 or emailing admin@harrisonpsychologygroup.com. We are here for you and want to help in any way we can.


Sexuality Counselling

‘Sexual orientation’ and ‘sexuality’ are related but different. Sexual orientation is about how you identify and who you are attracted to whereas sexuality is how you express yourself as a sexual being. Sexuality counselling can be helpful of gay, lesbian, bi and trans people for a variety of reasons. For example, it can be a space for people who are struggling with certain aspects of changes to their sexuality, or for people who simply want to build sexual confidence and learn more about their sexual selves. It can also be helpful for people who are experiencing specific problems with their sexual relationships.

The therapist you are matched with will help you to understand your sexuality and how it affects your life. They will also help you to deal with many of the issues resulting from the social stigma of being LGBTQ+. This includes minority stress, histories of trauma, issues of self-confidence, body image, or anxiety. If you are struggling with any of these things, Harrison Psychology Group can help. We understand the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people and can provide the support you need to explore having a happier and more fulfilled sex life.

You’ll be able to open up knowing your therapist understands you and won't judge you for your sexual orientation, gender identity, or relationship structure. In addition to being LGBTQ+ affirmative and mostly LGBTQ+ identifying, our experienced therapists adhere to the highest standards of professional practice and have the highest level of qualifications and training. 


Our Approach to LGBTQ+ Therapy

An image of a silhouette of a man with a rainbow coming out of his head illustrating LGBTQ therapy and gay counselling

At Harrison Psychology Group, our core goal is to provide fully informed and affirmative therapy and counselling to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning. To us, practicing affirmatively means that we do not pathologise LGBTQ+ identities and instead listen and trust the lived experience of our clients. We understand the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ people face in society and in their relationships. We also take into account the intersection of different identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, and religion) and how these can impact experiences of belonging, community, marginalisation, and mental health.

Historically, the world of psychology has not only failed to understand and address the psychological experiences of LGBTQ+ people, but it has also caused more harm than good. Even now, psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists continue to misunderstand and pathologise LGBTQ+ people. In a therapeutic setting, this can be incredibly damaging to clients who are seeking help and trying to speak openly about their lives.

Looking back at the history of psychology, it’s clear that there has always been a lack of understanding and acknowledgement of the experiences of LGBTQ+ people. For much of the 20th century, ‘homosexuality’ was considered a mental illness and was treated as such. ‘Homosexuality’ was only officially declassified as a mental disorder in 1977, and non-cisgender identities in 2013. This change was largely led by the work of queer psychologists who challenged the status quo and pushed for reform.

Our therapists maintain specialised expertise in working supportively with these communities and many of us also identify within the community. We provide an affirming, non-judgmental and inclusive environment for our clients. We are here to listen, validate and support you in your journey.

Online LGBTQ+ Therapy

Two hands reaching for each other through video conferencing windows illustrating online LGBT counselling

Online LGBTQ+ therapy, provided over Skype or Zoom, can provide a safe and confidential space for people to explore their identity and get support from a therapist who understands the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ people face. Counselling for lesbian, gay, bi trans and queer people, online or not, can help with a wide range of issues, including coming out, dealing with homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, exploring gender identity, managing anxiety and depression, and resolving relationship issues.

Online therapy is proven to be just as effective as sessions held in person and can be very beneficial for people who live in rural areas or who do not have access to LGBTQ-specific therapy services. If you are interested in finding an LGBTQ+ specific therapist, contact us today via our contact form and someone will get back to you about making an appointment within a couple of days.


LGBTQ+ Mental Health

A young woman sits in front of a rainbow to illustrate LGBT gay and lesbian mental health

The LGBTQ+ community has higher rates of mental health problems than the general population. Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, substance misuse and other mental health difficulties.

There are a number of possible explanations for the higher rates of mental health problems among LGBTQ+ individuals. One is that as a minority community, LGBTQ+ people experience higher levels of stress due to discrimination and prejudice. They may also have difficulty finding accepting and supportive social support networks. Additionally, they may be more likely to experience trauma as a result of violence or sexual abuse.

As a practice, we believe it is important to provide the support that is specific to the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. At Harrison Psychology Group, we proudly work affirmatively with people of all gender identities and sexual orientations, and we offer a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals to explore their difficulties.


Topics related to sexual orientation that can be discussed in therapy:

  • How to deal with coming out to family & friends 

  • How to accept and embrace your own sexual orientation

  • How to explore your sexuality 

  • How to deal with discrimination,  homophobia and biphobia

  • How to manage internalised homophobia and biphobia

  • How to live with bi-invisibility & erasure 

  • How to explore relationship diversity and consensual non-monogamy

  • Exploring compulsive sex and Chemsex

  • Understanding and developing an interest in kink and/or BDSM

  • How to better manage relationship struggles

  • How to understand family struggles

  • Living with infertility

  • LGB parenting and family planning


Topics related to gender that can be discussed in therapy:

An image of a person holding up a drawing of a trans symbol illustrating trans therapy topics such as coming out as trans or coping with transphobia

  • Coming out as trans or non-binary

  • Accepting your trans or non-binary identity

  • Coping with transphobia 

  • Working through internalised transphobia 

  • Exploring gender identity and gender expression

  • Social & physical transitioning 

  • Relationship diversity & consensual non-monogamy

  • Relationship difficulties & counselling

  • Fertility issues for trans and non-binary people

  • Parenting as trans and non-binary parents

  • Exploring family struggles 

  • Experiencing gender dysphoria

  • Experiencing body dysmorphia

Frequently Asked Questions

  • LGBTQ+ is an umbrella term that refers to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning. The term “queer”, though historically pejorative, has been reclaimed to be used to describe people in the LGBTQ+ community.

  • Sexual orientation describes a person’s attraction to another person, and for many people is a large part of their identity and what makes them ‘them’. Whilst everyone has a sexual orientation, there are different ways of experiencing this. Society has generally told us in implicit and explicit ways that certain sexual orientations are better or more ‘normal’ than others. We don’t believe this to be the case, and often work with people around the harm that these assumptions have caused.

  • Gender identity describes a person’s sense of self. It relates to how they feel inside – and potentially express – in relation to masculinity, femininity, neither or both. It is different from sexual orientation. Gender identity is a personal experience. It is different for everyone. Like sexual orientation, society has generally told us that there are certain ways of feeling and expressing gender that are more acceptable than others. We don’t believe this to be the case, and often work with people around the harm that these assumptions have caused.

  • Gender dysphoria describes the distress some people experience due to a mismatch between their gender identity and their sex assigned at birth.

  • Your sexuality is how you express yourself as a sexual being. This may relate to what turns you on and off, and also how you experience sexual play and relationships with yourself or others. Sexuality changes throughout our lives.

  • Coming out is the process of sharing your sexual orientation or gender identity with others. It is a personal decision. People who come out often feel a sense of relief. They are able to move towards acceptance and celebration of their identities. Coming out can also be a difficult experience. People who come out may face rejection from family and friends. They may also face discrimination and prejudice. Counselling and therapy can provide support and guidance for people who are navigating the process of coming out as gay, lesbian, bi, trans and queer.

  • Conversion therapy is a type of therapy that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It is also sometimes called “reparative therapy”. Conversion therapy is based on the false belief that being LGBTQ+ is a mental disorder that can be cured. There is no scientific evidence to support this claim. In fact, conversion therapy is not only ineffective but also harmful. It has been linked to devastating effects on mental health. Conversion therapy is not supported by any major medical or mental health organisations. Whilst it is not banned in the UK, the majority of clinical accreditation bodies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding against its practice. We at Harrison Psychology Group do not support or practice conversion therapy.

Contact Us

If you are LGBTQ+ and in need of a safe space to explore your mental health without fear of judgement or discrimination, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here for you and want to help in any way we can.

Please contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation.

Email. admin@harrisonpsychologygroup.com
Phone. 07944 112333