What Makes a Therapist LGBTQ+ Affirming?

Finding a therapist is about more than just credentials—it’s about feeling safe, seen, and supported. For LGBTQ+ clients, this need becomes even more essential. Affirming therapy isn’t just “inclusive” in name. It’s a deeply intentional, ongoing practice of showing up with knowledge, respect, and care for LGBTQ+ identities and experiences.

So what actually makes a therapist LGBTQ+ affirming?

Let’s break it down.

1. Affirming = Actively Supportive

An LGBTQ+ affirming therapist doesn’t just accept your identity—they affirm it.

That means they:

• Use your correct name and pronouns (and fix it if they mess up).

• Don’t pathologize your gender or sexuality.

• Celebrate your identity as a strength—not a symptom.

Affirming therapists work to reduce shame and empower you to explore your experiences fully, whether you're processing trauma, navigating coming out, exploring gender, or just managing everyday stress.

2. They’ve Done (and Keep Doing) the Work

Being affirming isn’t a checkbox. It’s an ongoing commitment to learning and unlearning.

Look for therapists who:

• Pursue training specific to LGBTQ+ mental health.

• Understand intersectionality—how things like race, disability, or religion intersect with queer identity.

• Welcome feedback and are open to being corrected or challenged.

Therapists who are truly affirming know that the LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith, and they’re willing to hold space for complexity.

3. They Understand the Real-World Context

LGBTQ+ clients don’t exist in a vacuum. Affirming therapists understand the impact of:

• Family rejection or lack of support

• Religious trauma

• School, work, or healthcare discrimination

• Internalized shame or survival coping mechanisms

They also support clients through gender-affirming care decisions, identity exploration, and relationships that may not fit heteronormative or cisnormative molds.

4. They Create a Safe, Nonjudgmental Space

Affirming therapy means you never have to:

• Educate your therapist about the basics of your identity

• Defend your pronouns or relationship structure

• Brace yourself for microaggressions

The space should feel like yours—a place where your identity is never the issue, but always welcomed in the healing process.

5. They Center YOU in Your Healing

Being LGBTQ+ affirming doesn’t mean every session is about gender or sexuality. It means your therapist can walk with you through any issue—from trauma to anxiety to grief—with full respect for the lens of your lived experience.

Whether you're exploring gender, coping with chronic stress, navigating heartbreak, or just needing someone to get it—you deserve therapy that meets you where you are.

How to Find an LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapist

• Look for therapists who use affirming language in their bios (not just “LGBTQ+ friendly”).

• Ask if they’ve completed LGBTQ+ specific training.

• Check if they list gender-affirming services, like support letters or identity exploration.

• Notice how you feel during the first session. Safety matters more than polish.

Want to Work with Someone Affirming?

Many of the therapists I work alongside at Alfrey and Pruitt Counseling specialize in LGBTQ+ mental health, trauma recovery, and identity-affirming care. Whether you're in Grand Island or anywhere in Nebraska, you're welcome here.