Thursday 20 September 2018

Selecting A LGBT Psychotherapist Brooklyn

By Diane West


When you are experiencing mental health issues, it is crucial to find the right professional who will understand your personal needs. The decision to seek help from a therapist is personal, especially for lesbian and gay people. The therapy process itself is personal which is why you should select someone you can easily relate to and understand your personal experience. Below are things to keep in mind when choosing an LGBT psychotherapist Brooklyn.

First, look for someone who understands and can relate to your life experience. A gay therapist is the best choice because he or she is going to make you feel comfortable. Such people are likely to open up about their sexual orientation. If they can do that, it means they will also be willing to listen and openly discuss your sexual life. Therefore, look for a gay therapist since they will create a safe environment where you can talk about issues that are facing you without fear.

The next tip is checking the training and experience of the expert. Aside from the sexual orientation of the person, he or she must be a professional. Check the background education and training of the person. The person must be licensed and competent in sex therapy and other problems that face LGBT persons like depression, coming out and the diseases that they are likely to face.

Also, be wary of those psychotherapists who guarantee results. No one can cure homosexuality regardless of the efforts they put. Therefore, be cautious of those experts who make a lot of promises. After three months or more when you realize there is no change in your desires and behavior, your self esteem might be affected negatively. The person should only guide you to accept who you are and learn to cope with life not curing you.

Another issue you need to keep in mind when looking for a psychotherapist is sex. It is a topic that must be discussed. Find out if the prospective therapists are willing to create a forum where you can openly discuss issues surrounding intimacy and sex. If they are not willing to openly talk about that, they might be gay affirmative. Such therapists cannot be trusted since they can make your situation even worse.

The psychotherapist must adhere to the codes and ethics of this profession. He or she should not have any sexual behavior or intimacy with the customer. Some people are unethical and might take advantage of their weak clients and have sexual relations. Keep yourself safe by ensuring that despite talking about sexual issues, there are boundaries that exist between you two.

Rather than having to do a lot of background checks and homework about the therapist, you can use word of mouth feedback to get a few names of LGBT therapists in your locality. Visit local gay centers and ask them about the experts they work with. References from friends and relatives are another great source in your search for a psychologist.

In conclusion, finding a gay therapist or gay-friendly therapist will not be easy. The wrong choice might put you in a worse state. Follow the above tips when choosing and make the final decision by following your guts. A face to face meeting is also vital.




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