Key Takeaways Key Takeaways
  • LGBTQ+ individuals often face unique mental health experiences that require specialized understanding. Therapy can become particularly effective when individuals don’t have to constantly explain or justify their identity, creating an environment for deeper and more immediate therapeutic progress.

  • Working with a therapist who identifies as LGBTQ+ can provide significant benefits, including instant connection, validation of experiences, and a sense of immediate safety, making it easier to address complex emotional concerns without hesitation.

  • Effective LGBTQ+ affirming care does not necessarily require shared identity. Therapists without an LGBTQ+ identity often possess extensive cultural competency and actively educate themselves about the diverse LGBTQ+ community through ongoing research and training. However, individuals should proactively ask therapists targeted questions during initial sessions to ensure a strong fit and genuine understanding.

LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy: Should Your Therapist Be LGBTQ+?

Finding a therapist can feel overwhelming – there are so many factors to consider, from location and insurance to therapeutic approaches and specializations. It’s one of those important decisions that can significantly impact your mental health journey, yet many people don’t know where to start. If you’re feeling lost in the search process, you’re not alone. There are strategies that can help you navigate this process and find someone who’s truly the right fit for your needs. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, remember that the first session is your opportunity to really get a feel for whether this person will work for you—and there are specific questions you can ask to determine compatibility before committing to ongoing sessions.

But when you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, finding the right therapist can be even more complex.

LGBTQ+ individuals face unique mental health challenges, including:

  • Minority stress from discrimination
  • Identity development concerns
  • Family rejection or acceptance issues
  • Workplace discrimination
  • Healthcare access barriers
  • Higher rates of anxiety and depression

This brings up a question many LGBTQ+ individuals face: Should your therapist also be LGBTQ+? Or can a straight, cisgender therapist who’s knowledgeable and affirming provide equally effective support? It’s a personal decision that depends on your comfort level, specific needs, and what feels right for your healing journey.

Benefits to Choosing a Therapist Who Identifies as LGBTQ+

Immediate Understanding and Connection

Nicholette Leanza, MA, LPCC-S, an LGBTQ+ therapist herself, explains: “Being LGBTQ+ myself often creates this instant connection with my clients. There’s no need to explain what it’s really like to be LGBTQ or educate me on the basics—we can skip all that and get right to the real work.”

Immediate Safety and Acceptance

Leanza describes a visible shift that happens when she comes out to her LGBTQ+ clients: “They stop wondering if they’ll have to justify their pronouns, explain their relationship structure, or defend their identity. They know they won’t face judgment or have to start from square one explaining their world. There’s often an instant sense of safety, too—like they’ve found someone who gets the unspoken stuff.”

This immediate sense of safety can be particularly valuable for those who have faced discrimination or stigma. As James Hutto, MS, LPC points out, “LGBTQ+ individuals can often experience stigma and discrimination from society, so finding someone who may have experienced or at least has an understanding of those topics can increase their level of comfort in participating in therapy.”

Skipping the Education Phase

When you work with an LGBTQ+ therapist, you can often jump straight into addressing your actual concerns rather than spending time explaining basic concepts about your identity or community. This can make therapy feel more efficient and focused on your specific mental health needs.

Can Straight, LGBTQ-Affirming Therapists Be Just as Effective?

While shared identity can enhance immediate connection, therapists who are not LGBTQ+ themselves can also provide highly effective care if they are genuinely affirming and committed to understanding LGBTQ+ experiences.

According to Hutto, it is crucially important to stay informed and culturally competent to maintain an LGBTQ-affirming practice: “One of the ways I ensure my practice remains genuinely LGBTQ-affirming and supportive is by staying up-to-date with the LGBTQ community, whether it’s general pop culture or political legislation. Being informed allows me to develop deeper empathy and understanding for my clients, and it signals to them that I genuinely care about their experiences. Additionally, keeping up with research and best practices for working with LGBTQ+ individuals ensures that my care remains affirming and supportive. Since the LGBTQ+ community is incredibly diverse, I actively read books and articles on specific topics, such as working with LGBTQ+ adolescents and older adults, to better understand the variety of experiences within the community.”

Being informed allows me to develop deeper empathy and understanding for my clients, and it signals to them that I genuinely care about their experiences.

Hutto makes a strong case that therapists without a shared LGBTQ+ identity can still effectively support LGBTQ+ individuals: “In our training to receive our license, we have courses and training that work on giving us tools to be culturally competent so that we are able to work with people of different backgrounds and identities. In addition, here at Lifestance, our website allows clinicians to identify if they specialize working with the LGBTQ+ population, which will help LGBTQ+ individuals find therapists they might feel more comfortable working with.”

Bottom Line

The most important factor in choosing a therapist isn’t necessarily their sexual orientation or gender identity – it’s finding someone who makes you feel safe, understood, and supported in your healing journey. Whether that person shares your identity or is a committed ally, what matters most is their competency, their genuine commitment to understanding your experiences, and your comfort level with them.

Trust your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, continue your search. On the LifeStance website, you can easily filter therapists by selecting “Communities Served” to find LGBTQ+ affirming providers. Many therapists also share their identities and specializations clearly in their profiles. You deserve a therapist who fully supports your identity, fosters growth, and ensures you can be authentically yourself during your therapeutic journey.

Authored By 

LifeStance Health

LifeStance is a mental healthcare company focused on providing evidence-based, medically driven treatment services for children, adolescents, and adults.


Contributed By

Nicholette Leanza, MA, LPCC-S

Nicholette is a faculty member at John Carroll University’s Clinical Counseling program, and she is also the host of the LifeStance podcast, Convos from the Couch.

James Hutto IV, LPC

James Hutto IV completed his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Benedictine University. James starts with a client-centered approach to help clients feel comfortable opening up and sharing their story. He provides a warm and welcoming environment to allow clients to be their authentic self. James recognizes cultural background as an important component of the individual and their unique experiences and works with the client to help recognize their patterns in a larger context of their lifespan and environment.

James has a specific interest in working with members of the LGBTQ+ community to help them claim their identity. Whether a person is questioning their identity, looking for acceptance from their community, or out and proud, James can help them navigate their way to living their best life. Additionally, James works well with young adults looking to find their footing in the adult world.

He assists with exploring family dynamics, career development and imposter syndrome, and learning how to stay sane in a crazy world. James also works with clients as young as 11 to help them manage their way through the identity formation phase starting in junior high and high school.

In his free time, James enjoys reading, playing board games with his family, and bowling. James looks forward to working with you and helping you find your way in life!