Are you looking for an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist in Massachusetts who can guide you through your journey of self-discovery and empowerment?

At Handel Behavioral Health, our expert team of LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists offer individualized therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy to support your unique journey towards improved mental well-being. Our team of highly trained psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners also offer comprehensive medical assessments, medication management, and supportive LGBTQIA+ therapy in Massachusetts.

Our mental health professionals have a wide-range of experience working with LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and families. At the same time, we know that your experiences are as diverse as you are, and our providers offer care that is sensitive to your needs.

Our therapists will utilize therapeutic techniques rooted in evidence-based practices, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Solutions Focused Therapy, among many other techniques, to help you work through challenges and develop tools to achieve emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual wellness. 

Above all, we believe that everyone deserves to live a happy and fulfilling life. By working with one of our compassionate LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists, you will achieve personal fulfillment and empowerment.  

To start working with one of our LGBTQIA+ therapists online or in-person from our offices in Amherst, Wilbraham, West Springfield, Franklin, or Natick, contact us today at  (413) 343-4357.

LGBTQIA+ Counseling and Therapy Near You

We understand that seeking LGBTQIA+ therapy is a personal and courageous endeavor. That’s why our therapists offer an affirming space for everyone to feel safe and comfortable in their journey towards healing and growth. 

Whether you’re exploring your sexual orientation or gender identity, in the process of coming out, working on affirming your gender, or wanting to work with a therapist who understands lgbtqia+ issues, our compassionate providers are here to help.

What is the Importance of LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy?

LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy is a type of therapy specifically designed to create a safe and inclusive environment for anyone that identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual. It is much more than being kind and open to clients of diverse identities. 

LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapists validate clients’ lived experiences, while holding space for clients to explore their identities, with awareness of the systems which impact their lives; including those of their bodies, families, institutions, culture and society. 

The supportive framework of LGBTQIA+ counseling aims to address the unique mental health struggles that LGBTQIA+ people may face, including discrimination, stigma, prejudice, and identity-related challenges. 

Our LGBTQIA+ competent and affirming therapists in Massachusetts aim to empower you to explore, understand, and accept your identity, while developing healthy tools to address any challenges you may face.

What are Some of the Mental Health Challenges that LGBTQIA+ People Face?

The LGBTQIA+ community faces unique challenges when it comes to mental health. Stressors such as discrimination, prejudice, social stigma, can all contribute to mental health issues, such as: 

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Addiction/Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
• Eating Disorders
• Suicidal ideation/suicide
• Self-Harm/Self-Injurious Behavior

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8, or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

Some of the mental health concerns facing the LGBTQ+ community include: 

• Suicide Attempts: Sadly, the risk of a suicide attempt is doubled for LGBTQ adults, and it’s even greater in LGBTQ teens and young adults. The survey from The Trevor Project found that shockingly, 40% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in 2021.
• Trauma: Traumatic events like bullying, discrimination, harassment, and hate crimes disproportionately affect members of the LGBTQ community. According to data from the FBI, 16.7% of hate crime victims were targeted due to sexual orientation.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Studies have found that adolescents who identify as LGBTQ had a significantly greater risk of PTSD than heterosexual youth.
• Substance abuse: Drug and alcohol abuse is found to be higher among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults compared to heterosexual adults. Specifically:
  • 9% of LGBTQ adults reported opioid abuse
  • 6% reported marijuana use
  • 4% had an alcohol use disorder (alcoholism)
  • These rates are all higher than rates in heterosexual individuals.
• Eating disorders: LGBTQ+ individuals are at an increased risk of suffering from eating disorders, serious mental health conditions that can have devastating physical and emotional consequences. Consider these statistics reported by the National Eating Disorders Association:
  • Transgender individuals have higher rates of eating disorders
  • Approximately 42% of men with eating disorders identify as gay
  • Lesbian, bisexual, and mostly heterosexual females are twice as likely to struggle with binge eating behavior.
• Homelessness: According to one research study, sexual minority adults are twice as likely as the general population to have experienced homelessness in their lifetime. Moreso, 20% of sexual minorities experienced homelessness before the age of 18.

Start Working With An LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapist in Massachusetts Today:

At Handel Behavioral Health, our therapists who specialize in LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy understand the unique needs and experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community, and provide an empathetic and safe space for clients to discuss their individual experiences, concerns, and goals. 

If you or someone you know needs LGBTQIA+ counseling in Western Massachusetts, Greater Boston, Eastern Massachusetts, or surrounding areas, Handel Behavioral Health is here to help you! 

To start working with one of our LGBTQIA+ therapists online or in-person from our offices in Amherst, Wilbraham, West Springfield, Franklin, or Natick, contact us today at (413) 343-4357!

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