Therapy for LGBTQIA2SP+ Community Clients

Why the LGBTQIA2SP+ community?

Gender identity is an important issue for today’s generations, not for the sake of labeling, but rather for the sake of being recognized for who we are, body, soul, and spirit. Recognizing one’s gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation is essential to accepting oneself and being at peace with who one is. Today, the acronym LGBTQIA2SP+ refers to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Aromantic, and Two-Spirit. The “+” refers to pansexual, non-binary, genderfluid, etc.

Sexual diversity has been around for centuries, but I think it’s fair to say that in 2021, we’re talking about it more and more. In fact, by the end of the 19th century, there were already places in Montreal where homosexuals could meet. Despite these places in Montreal, it was during the 1960s that general knowledge of sexual liberation became more widespread. Gay liberation movements began to emerge in North America.

The feminist movement of the 1970s helped establish bars for lesbian women, such as Baby Face Disco, in the late 1960s. From 1980 to the present day, gay communities have been fighting for their rights: since 2014, the fight against transphobia has gained momentum. Although there are shows that address diversity, such as Sex Education on Netflix, Si on s’aimait (one of the participants was asexual) and Entre deux draps (there is a homosexual couple), I see that there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of awareness and prevention.

Realities and issues experienced by the LGBTQ community

As a social worker, it is my duty to recognize the rights of the people I work with and support them in the injustices they experience. Why do I talk about injustices? Because, unfortunately, I still see and hear too much judgment and criticism directed at the community. There are beautiful stories of acceptance and tolerance of others, but… Regularly, on social media, in my office, and even from some of my loved ones, I witness the judgment, criticism, and insults that people say about those who identify as pansexual, queer, non-binary, bisexual, etc.

You have probably heard more than I have comments such as “yet another label” or “things were fine when there were just gay and straight people.” These types of comments are discriminatory and reductive. There are too many stories of bullying in schools and workplaces related to sexual or gender identity, sexual orientation, or simply because someone dares to talk about their sexual orientation (think of the shooting at a gay bar in Orlando in 2016). In fact, “sexual orientation influences the likelihood of being a victim of violence. It was nearly twice as high among gay men and lesbians as among heterosexuals. Among bisexuals, it is even 4.5 times higher. In the workplace, even today, many LGBTQ2S+ people, up to 25 to 30%, remain in the closet for fear that it will harm their professional lives.”[2]

In addition to discriminatory practices, there are challenges that loved ones may face, such as parents whose child says they were born in the wrong body, a spouse who wants to support their partner because they are being bullied at work, a father who does not accept that his son is homosexual, a child whose parents are divorcing because one of them wants to live their homosexuality, etc. People in the community experience difficulties, but so do their loved ones, not to mention the challenges of modern life that everyone can experience (stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trust issues, separation, addictions, etc.).

[1] 2017. Radio-Canada, https://ici.radio-canada.ca/dossier/103966/tuerie-fusillade-orlando-floride/ , site consulté le 1er novembre 2021.

[2] (2021, Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes, https://aocvf.ca/enjeux/analyse-denjeu-la-violence-vecue-par-la-communaute-lgbtq2s/ , site consulté le 28 octobre 2021.

When to consult?

Whether you are part of the community or not, it is important to seek advice before pushing yourself beyond your limits. Try to listen to your body, your mind, and your heart. You may be tired, exhausted, or worn out without knowing why… Don’t wait until you are no longer able to do your usual activities to seek help. If you feel tired (physically, psychologically, or emotionally), don’t wait—call. Your work, relationships with colleagues, family, spouse, and even your children may be affected if you don’t seek help.
If you think you have symptoms of fatigue, stress, or anxiety that you don’t understand, seek help. As they say, “prevention is better than cure.” This applies to you, but also to those around you.

How can therapy help?

Consulting with a professional can help when you feel helpless and vulnerable. The professional must respond to the needs of the person seeking help, in order to help them get to know themselves better and encourage them to question their discomfort, find answers to their questions, and guide them so that they can find fulfillment in the different areas of their life, namely: emotional, relational, sexual, social, spiritual, and professional. Here are some of the benefits of psychosocial support:

Reducing psychological suffering (anxiety, panic, etc.)
Resolving emotional or relational problems (self-esteem, failures, etc.)
Changing behaviors that are harmful to your well-being (avoidance, anger, impulsivity, etc.)
Setting life goals (accepting who I am, improving my interpersonal relationships, etc.)
Improving self-awareness (what I no longer want to accept, how I want to present myself to others, who I want in my inner circle, etc.)
Feeling that things are no longer working for us;
Feeling exhausted;
Not recognizing ourselves anymore.

*(2021, Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes, https://aocvf.ca/enjeux/analyse-denjeu-la-violence-vecue-par-la-communaute-lgbtq2s/ , site consulté le 28 octobre 2021.

Who can benefit from therapy?

People in the LGBTQ community

The sessions are designed to help you regain balance in your everyday life: work, family, love, children, colleagues, etc. The consultations will help you understand why you are not feeling well; manage your emotions better; nurture your interpersonal relationships; adequately express your discomfort and needs to others; and, above all, recognize your value and potential as a human being.

Your loved ones

Do you think someone close to you isn’t doing well? Do you find them different or no longer recognize them? You can suggest that they seek help, tell them that you are worried about them, that you no longer understand them, and that you want to help them. If you see that they are experiencing problems but don’t know how they feel, give them resources. If you want to make them understand your point of view but it’s not working, suggest that they seek professional help. It’s never a waste of time when you want to get better.

Why a social worker instead of a psychologist?

I have been working in psychosocial intervention since 2008. Many people ask me what the main difference is between a social worker and a psychologist. How can I help? First, it is important to know that social workers have a bad reputation in society: they are often mentioned in the media in relation to youth protection services and rarely as consultants. In addition, people tend to search for “psychologists” on Google, without realizing that there are other professionals who can help them, such as social workers.
The role of social workers is to understand the person’s entire environment: their work, their relationship, their friendships, their school environment, the neighborhood in which they live, the values that shape them, the education they have received, etc. We try to understand where the difficulties come from in order to offer solutions and tools that will help the person seeking help to better tolerate difficult situations and regain control over their situation.

Social workers are committed to addressing obstacles and injustices in society and focus on improving people’s health and well-being. They work with individuals to overcome the challenges of daily life and cope with difficult events. Social workers help guide, initiate, and clarify the changes people want to see in their lives. The ultimate goal of intervention is to help the person recover and flourish.

As a social worker, I see the people who consult me as individuals in their own right, with their strengths, qualities, resources, and resilience. I believe in the potential of the human beings who consult me; I accompany them in their efforts, I listen, I support, I encourage, and I am there with and for you. I have as much to learn from the people who consult me as they do from me. I feel a deep gratitude for the people who place their trust in me.