LGBTQIA+ Therapy in Concord, NC
Online Therapy for LGBTQIA+ in North Carolina, South Carolina, & Virginia
Growing up existing in a world that treats you as different, wrong, or broken leads to isolation, confusion, and pain. As a queer person with lived experience, I deeply understand this feeling.
With LGBTQIA+ therapy, I offer my clients a safe environment to heal their trauma, explore their identity, and reclaim an authentic life built on their own terms.
Is LGBTQIA+ therapy right for you?
You walk down the sidewalk with your head down not making eye contact. You stare at that colorful shirt or new jewelry wondering if you’ll ever be able to wear them in public. Your boss dead names you. Your coworker assumes your partner’s gender. You’re denied housing, resources, or medical care for unexplained “reasons”…
Living with an identity that is different from what society believes is acceptable is often isolating, dangerous, and traumatizing. Being attacked for your hairstyle, clothes, or even the way you talk. Watching politicians debate your basic human rights. Feeling misunderstood, criticized and judged by just about everyone around you.
Growing up LGBTQIA+ for most people means not being understood, not having supportive or safe families, being bullied for being different, and even experiencing neglect and abuse. Sadly, surviving this kind of childhood is not even the end of it.
Moving into adulthood, you are not only still exposed to harmful people, ideologies, and systems, but you have to navigate life weighed down by years of childhood trauma and internalized fears that something is wrong with you.
What inclusive therapy for LGBTQIA+ can help with…
Identity:
Explore your gender identity
Discover your gender expression
Process imposed identity constructs
Evaluate identity belief systems
Explore sexual, romantic, and relational orientations
Feel more comfortable in your body
Find cohesion with who you are on the inside and how you present to others
Claim authentic peace with who you are
Trauma:
Identify past experiences that harmed your sense of identity or connection
Heal from interpersonal and systemic trauma, abuse, discrimination, and oppression
Process attachment trauma and how it affects current relationships
Explore internalized phobias and judgement
Deconstruct harmful beliefs or misguided values
Learn how to stop the cycle of family trauma
Replace harmful coping skills and influences with affirming community and supports
Relationships:
Review how childhood relationships formed the foundation for how you relate to others
Explore views and beliefs around relationships
Identify your needs and wants in different relationships
Build healthy communication skills
Create healthy boundaries that foster connect and not push others away
Develop curated relationships that work best for you and not just follow external expectations, restrictions, and traditions
How trauma therapy for LGBTQIA+ can help you!
Not feeling safe or accepted forces us to use our survival skills. Masking our true selves has literally saved our lives. But years of denying our own authenticity creates tension, and our unhealed trauma wears down our body, mind, and spirit.
As a queer person, I grew up in an environment that tried to force me to be someone I am not and punished me for not conforming. I am able to provide personal validation and understanding for my LGBTQIA+ clients in our therapy sessions.
I help my clients embrace their authentic, nonconforming selves and support them through healing a lifetime of trauma, releasing harmful internal messages, and taking back control of their life.
If you have been searching for a safe space to heal trauma and reclaim your identity, schedule your free consultation with a queer therapist today. I can’t wait to meet you!
Other Therapy Services in Concord, NC
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Depression Therapy
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Childhood Trauma Therapy
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Polyamory Therapy
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Religious Trauma Therapy
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Narcissistic Abuse Therapy
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Group Therapy
Looking for LGBTQIA+ Resources?
Check out our mental health resource page for recommended local LGBTQIA+ providers and organizations, inclusive 24/7 crisis helplines, and educational resources for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies.
~ LGBTQIA+ Therapy in Concord, NC ~
Frequently Asked Questions
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The best way to feel this out is to meet with a therapist and speak with them. Ask them specific questions about their experience with LGBTQIA+ clients. Notice if they use your correct name and pronouns. Ask about their views on current events, politics, and queer culture.
If a therapist refuses to answer or says it is not appropriate to share personal views or discuss politics, move on! Therapy is absolutely political. Your identity and experience is valid. Your safety is a priority especially in the therapy space!
A safe, accepting, and knowledgable therapist will be open to these discussions and will provide honest answers to all of your questions. Your best gage is your gut so pay attention to how you feel. If you would like to meet with me to ask any questions, fill out the interest form here. I would be happy to meet with you!
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Therapy is all about helping you understand yourself more fully. You can explore who you are, where you came from, and how you want to live your life. In a LGBTQIA+ safe space, this can also include explore your gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity, relationship structures, and many other aspects of one’s identity.
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Therapy is a really unique space where anything is on the table to discuss. If it is important to you, than let’s talk about it! Something as integral to your life as your sexual identity is absolutely worth discussing. Your relationships, romance, sexual experiences, health, and safety are all aspects of who you are and contribute to your mental health and wellbeing. Understandably, some of these topics can be difficult to share due to societal/religious/cultural/familial stigma, past trauma, or internalized beliefs. We will always go at your pace and check in on your comfort.
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People within the LGBTQIA+ community have infinitely different stories of how and when they come out. It is absolutely not wrong to not be out. Coming out is a very layered decision and experience. It is different for everyone. Folks choose not to come out at all or only with certain people for so many valid reasons. Safety, stability, and comfortability are so important. In therapy, we can dive into your personal experience and explore what feels best for you to make the decision for yourself.
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If you are interested in beginning trauma therapy, you can complete this interest form to get started! You can also email me at michelle@radicalserenity.com or call/text me at 980-202-2480.