Choosing An LGBT Psychotherapist Brooklyn

By Diane West


A lot of people think that psychotherapy is only for the people dealing with depression, anxiety, and other life issues. Talking about your thoughts and desires to someone who is nonjudgmental is beneficial especially for lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender people. These people often have a problem deciding the type of psychologist to see. However, the decision should be personal and nobody should be coerced to do it. Here are the tips for choosing an LGBT psychotherapist Brooklyn.

The first step is looking for someone whom you feel comfortable around. If someone seems to avoid the topic of LGBT people and their sexual life, then he or she is likely to judge you hence making you feel guilty about your sexuality. That is why you should start by considering therapists who are gay, of friendly to gay people. They will be willing to speak about their experiences hence making you free to speak about yours.

Although psychotherapists who are members of the gay community are good, make sure they have the education and training in various issues that you are experiencing. Get someone who is certified and licensed in issues of sexuality, HIV/AIDS, self-destructive behavior and depression. The person should also have a reference list to prove that they have experience treating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Get some competent to help you with your needs.

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.

Moreover, get recommendations from the local gay and lesbian center. It is easy to find centers like these. They often know of a few psychotherapists who counsel LGBT people. Talk to these centers and get a few names and addresses. You friends also can be a trustworthy source of referrals.

Lastly, picking the right person is not very easy. Take your time and do some background checks on the person. Arranging an interview will be wise. Be keen to make some observations during the interview to find the right match.




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