In recent years, queer-informed and queer-affirming psychotherapy has gained recognition as a vital approach for supporting LGBTQIA2+ individuals on their mental health journeys. This approach is separate from merely queer-allied and LGBTQ+-allied counselling/psychotherapy. It isn’t just about acknowledging sexual orientation or gender identity—it’s about understanding the unique social, cultural, and personal contexts that shape each client’s experiences, challenges, and strengths. Queer-informed psychotherapy goes beyond traditional frameworks by centering the lived experiences of queer people and addressing the impact of systemic discrimination, heteronormativity, and cisnormativity.

Queer-informed therapists recognize that the issues LGBTQIA+ clients face are not solely internal but are deeply intertwined with societal structures– the outside world and its limited supports for non-normative sexualities and identities. This approach prioritizes creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their identities, process the effects of discrimination, and foster resilience. Whether queer folks are seeking support for anxiety, relationships, identity exploration, or trauma, queer-informed therapy prioritizes honouring their identity and experiences.

Additionally, queer-informed therapy often involves an understanding of the broader LGBTQIA+ cultural landscape, including queer and trans trauma (like religious abuse, medical abuse, the coming-out process, familial abandonment, etc.), the validity of chosen families, gender affirmation, and the intersectionality of various identities. For example, clients might want to explore trauma processing, somatic work, spirituality, community, or creative self-expression as part of their healing process. By integrating these elements, queer-informed therapists offer a holistic approach that allows clients to heal and thrive as their authentic selves.

Internalized homophobia and internalized transphobia

Dr. Joe Kort emphasizes the importance of approaching “internalized homophobia” and “internalized transphobia” (and by extension, internalized queerphobia, lesbophobia, etc.) in working with the LGBTQIA2+ community. LGBTQ2+ folks endlessly engage in a meandering coming-out process. This is done either explicitly or implicitly as we navigate the culture. Coming-out inevitably becomes a part of the work, even if the client is at the end of this process. Coming-out is difficult, not uncommonly traumatic, and often needs tending to in some way.

Coming-out

Queer-informed psychotherapy, when relevant, centres the nuanced stages of coming out originally outlined by Dr. Vivienne Cass. These stages are always transitory– we queer and trans folks are rarely just in one stage.

1. Identity confusion

In this stage, folks are often confused about their sexuality and identity. You might be in denial about the feelings they are experiencing. You might take out this confusion in anger or sadness. You might come to therapy as you (or others) notice these emotions and confusion and seek help in understanding why this is.

2. Identity comparison

During identity comparison, folks are aware of their identity diverging from what they may have previously assumed. In this stage you might compare different identities/sexualities and what they mean to them (e.g., asexual, polyamorous, queer, gay, bisexual, cisgender, non-binary, etc.). You might take comfort or confusion in the plethora of possible identities out there. You might come to therapy for help in better understanding who you are.

3. Identity tolerance

Identity tolerance involves coming to terms with your self. You might not have the perfect label (many people never do), but you have come to tolerate that something about you is different than others. Tolerance (as opposed to acceptance) speaks to this difference not exactly being desired, but is observed and allowed. There isn’t denial (at least by yourself).

4. Identity acceptance

The shift from identity tolerance to identity acceptance is an important one, where not only is the difference in your identity known and understood, you have also accepted it as a part of who you are. It may or may not be an important part of your understanding of self, but you are able to accept it as a part of your self.

5. Identity pride

Identity pride is an interesting and exciting time for an LGBTQ2IA+ person. Sometimes folks refer to this stage as a “second adolescence” (especially when identity pride comes at a later time in life). This is because many of us did not have the opportunity to be fully ourselves during our actual first adolescence (which can be a source of trauma). During this stage, we might take advantage of many of the missed opportunities of our youth– especially in connecting to the broader community. Here, we can address our internalized homophobia/transphobia/queerphobia/…, and move into self-love. This is an important developmental stage. Take joy in it!

6. Identity synthesis

Notice we don’t end at the identity pride stage. After going through identity pride, we end with identity synthesis. Synthesis speaks to the combination of ideas to form a new unified whole. We grow out of “adolescence” and into adulthood. In this stage, we might be less compartimentalized from the non-LGBTQ2IA+ community, and instead see how we can unify ourselves between all of our communities. Maybe your sexuality does not define your identity anymore, and is merely a joyful aspect of it. How can we healthily be ourselves everywhere, and continue loving your self? These are the questions of the identity synthesis stage.

Ultimately, queer-informed and affirming psychotherapy celebrates and supports the resilience of LGBTQIA2+ people while offering support that is affirming, inclusive, and empowering. This therapy approach not only nurtures individual growth but also contributes to a larger movement of social justice and healing within the queer community.

If you’re interested in learning more about what queer-informed and affirming psychotherapy might actually look like in practice, I offer free 20-minute consultations. These are no-obligation meet-and-greets to learn more about me, my process, ask any questions you may have, and for both of us to see if we might fit together for this work. Please book here.