LGBT Counselling

Name: Safe Place Therapy
Price range: $$

Our approach to LGBT counselling

LGBTQ communities experience various forms of subtle discrimination and social isolation. This happens to individuals and to groups.

Open homophobia is still a reality and right now, those identifying as Trans are fighting a difficult and sometimes upsetting battle for rights, acceptance and simply being allowed to live their lives in the way they choose.

Old attitudes and prejudices die hard, even if they are apparently masked or publicly suppressed. We have come a long way but there is still a long way to go.

All that means it is not surprising that finding a LGBT counselling practitioner or gay psychologist can still be hard in Australia.

We constantly ask ourselves ‘will this person get me’ or understand the journey of coming out, internalised homophobia/biphobia/transphobia or ongoing discrimination I face?

There are many things heterosexual counsellors may think they understand, but without in-depth learning they fall short of basic knowledge of what it means to be LGBTQIA+.

Some people forget it wasn’t so long ago that there were still therapists offering ‘treatment’. Some still subconsciously hold that view. Therapy only works when the therapist and the client can get on each other’s ‘wavelength’. If there’s doubt, subconscious prejudice, stereotyping, suspicion, mistrust or simple ignorance, then therapy is generally ineffective.

So, finding a sympathetic counsellor is not as straightforward as it seems.

Our issues in the LGBTQIA+ community are unique. This means we need gay counselling or LGBTQ counselling from a professional who really understands. Sexuality and gender are far more than simply who we love and what clothes we wear. If you have not walked in our shoes, you can’t really relate to some of our experiences as well as someone who has.

Our team makes us unique

Safe Place Therapy counsellors are experienced in working with many different people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and also people who are gender diverse or non-binary. One major cause of mental distress and mental problems is trying to reconcile who you really are, with how the world or significant others choose to see you.

This starts in childhood as we begin to awaken to ourselves as us, not simply an extension of other people. Then when we hit the teenage years, we already have all the usual Teen coming of age issues to deal with. These are complicated by further identity issues. Then once we are fully adult, all the relationship issues are ours to face, in a world that often hasn’t yet fully caught on.

Some very conservative communities, employers or work colleagues, and even family members continue to be unsympathetic or even hostile. It’s especially difficult when we feel we are trapped in that dilemma.

As we draw towards our later years, some of us find we have led lives where we wanted to – or in some cases had to – be other than our true selves. There comes a point where many of us decide that enough is enough.

So, LGBTQ counselling is for anyone and everyone who wants or needs it. It doesn’t matter your age or your circumstances.

We support you

Your gender identity and sexual orientation is one part of you. How you identify should be respected and celebrated. You are you and no one should be encouraging you to be anyone else.

This means learning what pronouns you would like us to use or opening up the conversation if you are dealing with gender dysphoria or are curious about your sexuality.

We provide affirmative counselling with kindness, understanding and an open heart and mind to hear your story and support you!