How To Find A Lesbian Therapist: Mental Health Therapy For LGBTQ+ Individuals

Many queer people prefer working with a therapist who is personally familiar with the experience of being LGBTQ+ in the world today. Whether they’re facing challenges around coming out, living in a non-affirming environment, or exploring multiple identities, queer clients may feel more comfortable discussing their concerns with a similarly identifying provider. If you're a lesbian or other sapphic individual hoping to connect with a therapist who also identifies as queer, see below for tips on finding a lesbian therapist who is right for you.

Why might you want to find a lesbian therapist who understands your experience?

This can be especially true for those in the LGBTQ+ community, where there is a long history of receiving uninformed and deeply harmful treatment. In a world that's often prejudiced toward queer people, having a supportive space in therapy can be critical.

Expectations of a safe space

Most people who seek therapy expect a safe space where they can speak freely about their experiences and concerns. Ultimately, your rapport and comfort level with your therapist can be key to making progress. It's also reasonable to wonder if meeting with a therapist who shares elements of your identity may be beneficial. If you’ve felt uncomfortable with or disrespected by non-LGBTQ+ therapists before, for example,seeking a queer therapist may be a logical next step.

While a sense of safety and connection might occur regardless of sexual orientation and gender identification, it's understandable to want to talk to someone with whom you can relate based on core parts of who you are. In addition to gender and sexuality, some people would rather share their experience with a therapist who has a similar cultural, ethnic, racial, or religious background. For example, a person who is queer and Asian may wish to see a therapist who is both queer and Asian and can therefore understand their experiences stemming from both identities.

Mental health among LGBTQ+ individuals

Having a trusted provider to connect with can also be important for queer individuals because they tend to experience higher rates of mental health challenges due to their lived experiences of discrimination. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, the rates of anxiety and depression in the LGBTQ+ community are 1.5 to 2.5 times higher than among straight and cisgender people. Queer youth, trans individuals, and queer people of color are at even higher risk of mental health challenges compared to the queer community overall.

Minority stress in the LGBTQ+ community

Individuals in the LGBTQ+ community are diverse, spanning a range of socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds and other identity markers. As a result, some queer individuals may experience additional challenges due to multiple intersecting identities, an experience known as multiple minority stress. For example, a person who identifies as Black, queer, and a woman may face discrimination and barriers due to all three of these identities, not “just” queerness alone. It’s one reason why someone who identifies in a particular way may feel more comfortable with a therapist who identifies similarly and can understand their experiences.

Advantages of seeing an LGBTQA+ therapist

If you identify as queer, some of the potential advantages of seeing a therapist who also identifies as queer may include:

• You may not have to explain some things, as there might be commonalities in your experiences
• The therapist might be able to help you navigate some challenges they've also had to face by offering their first-hand perspective
• You may feel more comfortable speaking to them from the start
• They may know about resources, events, and organizations that may interest you

As an alternative, many licensed therapists who may or may not be queer specialize in providing LGBTQ+-affirming therapy. This designation typically involves having undergone specific training related to identities, key challenges, and historical barriers to quality healthcare for queer individuals. This type of provider can often help a client navigate relationship issues, trauma, emotional distress, and other concerns related or unrelated to minority stress and other common queer experiences.

Finding a therapist with other specific specializations

Depending on the concerns you may be facing, seeking a therapist who specializes in that area might also be helpful. For example, if you're living with an eating disorder or substance use challenges, you may want to select someone with a background in addressing these concerns.

Based on where you live, distance and availability may also be factors to consider if you’re seeking in-person therapy. The same applies to health insurance and pricing concerns. That said, options for sliding-scale in-person therapy and affordable online therapy may also be available.

Types of mental health professionals that may offer LGBTQ+-affirming services

As with people of any other community or identity, queer individuals may require the support of a specific type of mental health professional who can address their particular concerns. Deciding which of these options may be right for you can be the first step on your journey to finding a professional to connect with. Some common types of mental health professionals to meet with include:

• Psychiatrists
• Psychologists
• Therapists or counselors
• Couples therapists
• Social workers
• Alcohol/drug counselors
• Eating disorder specialists
• Trauma-informed specialists

Preparing questions before meeting with a prospective therapist

Another preliminary step you might take before searching for a queer-affirming therapist is preparing a list of questions to ask a prospective provider. You might ask questions about their experience, their approach, and anything else you may need to know to determine whether they could be a good fit for you. Some examples include:

• Do you have a license to practice in this state?
• Do you have any specialized training in working with those in the queer community—particularly lesbians, sapphic people, or [specific identity]?
• What's your approach when working with LGBTQ+ individuals?
• Do you see individuals, couples, or families?
• What's your experience working with people facing challenges like [condition]?
• Which therapy approach(es) do you use in your practice?
• What are your payment options? Do you accept insurance, offer sliding-scale payment options, work through a subscription program, etc.?

How to find a lesbian therapist

To find a therapist who identifies as lesbian, sapphic, queer, or LGBTQ+-affirming, you might explore the following:

• Local LGBTQIA+ mental health guilds in your area. While many major cities are home to this type of organization, not all areas will have one. That said, it can be worth searching regardless of where you might live, as there are some options outside of major metropolitan areas too—like the Queer-Affirming TherapistGuild of Kansas City and the LGBTQ-Affirmative Psychotherapist Guild of Utah.
• Local LGBTQ+ community centers or clinics near you. Places like these may be able to refer a person to a queer or queer-friendly therapist near them. For example, CenterLink is a website that allows you to locate individual LGBTQ+ centers around the country.
• Online therapy platforms. Many online therapy platforms give you the option to prioritize getting matched with a therapist who identifies as queer. We’ll talk more about online therapy below.
• Nonprofit organizations in your area. Certain nonprofits near you may specifically serve those in the LGBTQ+ community. They might offer therapy, connections to local therapists, or other support in finding care.
• Independent therapists near you. You could also search for a licensed therapist in your area who practices independently or through an LGBTQ+-affirming counseling office. You might find this type of provider through an internet search, by using a directory, or by word of mouth from queer friends or community members.

How to find a lesbian therapist you can meet with online

If you're having trouble finding a lesbian or otherwise queer-affirming therapist in your area, you might consider exploring online therapy. This format allows you to connect with a mental health professional remotely, via internet, rather than in person. To get started, you'll either need to use the above tips to find an independent provider who
practices online or select a platform and create an account.

When you get started with an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, one of the most well-known online therapy sites today, you'll be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire about your needs and preferences in a therapist. BetterHelp will then match you with a  licensed provider accordingly. Once matched, you can book a session to meet with your therapist virtually via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging.

What are the advantages of online therapy?

Online therapy can have several potential advantages. First, LGBTQ+ individuals who  live in rural areas or places that are not considered queer-friendly might have trouble finding an affirming therapist near them. Online therapy with a platform like BetterHelp can connect a person to a pool of tens of thousands of licensed therapy providers,
increasing the individual's chances of finding a good fit.

Meeting with a therapist virtually can also be more comfortable for many people. For example, someone who is struggling with gender dysphoria might find it less stressful to meet with a therapist via phone call from home rather than having to get dressed, commute, and interact with office staff in order to receive care. Also note that online therapy sessions are often more affordable than in-person sessions without insurance, which can be helpful for those facing financial barriers to care.

How can you find a therapist quickly?

Finding the right therapist for you can take time. If you’re looking to get started with a therapist as soon as possible, online therapy may be worth exploring. For instance, many BetterHelp users can be matched with a provider in as little as 48 hours and can schedule their first appointment after this point.

If you require more immediate support, you might consider contacting a hotline. There are both queer-specific and general options available, including:

• LGBT National Hotlines : Call 888-843-4564 (or one of the three additional hotlines available on their website specifically for coming out, queer youth, and queer seniors, respectively)
• Trans Lifeline: Call 1-877-565-8860
• The Trevor Project 24/7 Youth Suicide Prevention hotline: Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Is online LGBTQ+-affirming therapy effective?

There's a growing body of research to suggest that virtual therapy in general can often be as effective as in-person therapy. For example, a 2021 review suggests that online therapy may be “no less efficacious” than traditional in-person care in many cases.

There's also evidence to suggest that online therapy may be an effective modality for delivering queer-affirming care in particular. A study from the same year indicates that “digital technologies are a promising platform for the delivery of affirmative therapies for LGBTQA+ populations.” In other words, you can typically feel confident in the quality of care you'll receive from a licensed therapist, whether you meet with them in person or virtually.