It’s hard to summarize something as unique as the personal journey of someone in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and their allies. There are so many uncertainties that this community faces and knowing where to turn can be a major struggle. From those who are exploring their own sexuality, questioning their gender identity, or looking to support a loved one who is queer, no two people’s journeys look exactly the same. Questions, fears, and uncertainties, all can arise in different ways for each person within this experience. A therapist that specializes in the queer community can be extremely helpful to unpack and process what this means for you or a loved one. Sometimes there can be fear surrounding these topics, expressed in questions such as:
Specialized therapy for 2SLGBTQIA+ people and family members helps to identify where the fears, uncertainties, and biases all come from, and provide a safe place to work these through. It helps to discover the next steps in your journey and is a customized approach to exploring what this means for you. Learning to love and accept yourself (or your family member or friend) can lead to better mental health, a greater opportunity to thrive in life, and enhanced empathy and care for others.
There are many ways to describe the queer community. Some used LGBTQ2S, but others have recently made the shift to moving the 2S to the beginning as a statement of care, value, and acknowledgement to the decolonization of our mindsets even within the queer community.
