GETTING YOUR NEEDS MET AS AN LGBTQIA+ MEMBER AND CLINICIAN

Liv Houser LPC, CAADC

“Providing a safe, compassionate atmosphere is pertinent in providing quality, ethically sound, culturally

competent therapeutic services to the LGBTQIA+ population.’

In Today’s political climate I am writing this blog to cultivate a safe space for those in the LGBTQIA+ population and to shed light on these experiences.

Safety, inclusivity, support, validation- words used to describe ethical practices amongst LGBTQIA+ clients. Mental health conditions, as well as substance use disorder run rampant amongst this population due to societal judgement, lack of acceptance, and at times abuse within the family system or outside in the community. When discovering sense of self in general - throughout adolescence and young adulthood, social media has become a key player in comparison and unrealistic expectations related to physical appearance and external successes. When you look at a person’s identity, sexuality, and gender expression a whole new set of challenges arise.

Phrases often heard by this population include:

“What is wrong with you?”

“You’re going to hell”

“You can’t wear that”

“Transgender people aren’t real”

“Your diseased”

“It’s just a phase”

“You haven’t found the right “person” yet”

As well as many other Derogatory and offensive language and phrases

As a community there is a sense of inclusivity and pride that comes with safety and understanding. One step outside that bubble and people can be left with physical and emotional threats or harm brought on to them. Personally I never assume that because I identify as a lesbian and use she/her pronouns that I understand every individuals experiences, however there is a commonality of the experiences of coming out, fears of repercussions from others, lack of safety in certain areas, and feeling at times unloveable.

Substance use as a coping strategy provides a false sense of safety, or an escape from reality. When one faces fear on a daily basis, it can seem easier to “get high” or “drunk” and forget or at times avoid. There is judgement place on the LGBTQIA+ community as well as judgement placed on SUD (substance use disorder), if one goes through the recovery process it can feel even more challenging especially if there is unresolved trauma or internalized homophobia.

In regard to mental health I am going to focus on symptoms as opposed to diagnosis. Self hatred, mood shifts, worthlessness, suicidal ideations or attempts, anxiety, panic attacks all of these symptoms can be increased by challenges faced by those in the LGBTQIA+ community. This is especially true when finding your authentic self and struggling with a society in which you can feel like an outsider and are in a constant state of danger- even walking down the street.

There is a need for support for these individuals- this includes culturally competent therapists, medical doctors, and other treatment providers. Clients in this population can have a multitude of difficulties with identify, self expression, authenticity, fear, loneliness, and  self hate that require validation, understanding, empathy, and compassion.