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LGBTQ Therapy

Affirming Therapy for the LGBTQ Community

Yellow therapy couch where clients sit for LGBTQ therapy

What is “LGBTQ therapy”?

“LGBTQ therapy” refers to psychotherapy that is inclusive, affirming, and attuned to the unique experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals. While not all LGBTQ clients seek therapy to address identity-related concerns, many benefit from working with a therapist who understands the broader context of their lives.

The Experiences Bringing You to LGBTQ Therapy

Whether or not your current struggles are directly related to your identity, it can be meaningful to work with a therapist who understands the complexities of queer and trans experience. I welcome clients across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, including those who are still in the process of exploration. For some, therapy is a space to explore questions or experiences tied to identity or sexuality.  For others, it’s about having a space where their identity is understood without needing to be the center of the conversation. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, relationships, or questions about identity, I offer a space that’s non-judgmental and attuned. 

LGBTQ therapy might be helpful to you if:

  • You want a space where your identity is affirmed and understood

  • You want to explore questions about your sexuality and/or gender in a therapy setting

  • You’re navigating family, cultural, or religious dynamics around identity

  • You’re dealing with internalized shame or self-doubt

  • You’re experiencing anxiety, burnout, or relational challenges

  • You’re processing a recent life change or transition

  • You’re seeking a therapist who understands LGBTQ experiences, whether or not identity is your focus

Common concerns I help with:

  • Anxiety, overthinking, and chronic worry

  • Relationship and dating struggles

  • Shame, self-criticism, and perfectionism

  • Identity exploration around gender or sexuality

  • Conflict around religion, culture, or family

  • Life transitions, including career changes or gender transition

  • Stress and burnout

  • Depression

  • Coming out

You don’t need to be in crisis to begin.

You don’t need to be in crisis to begin therapy. LGBTQ therapy offers a chance to slow down and look at your experience more closely—even if you’re not yet sure what exactly needs to change. It can be a place to understand what’s happening beneath the surface and begin to explore what might be possible.

You’re not alone in what you’re feeling.

Research consistently shows that LGBTQ individuals experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation than their non-LGBTQ peers.

  • A report by the American Psychiatric Association found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are more than twice as likely to experience a mental health condition compared to heterosexual adults.

  • Transgender adults are nearly four times as likely to experience a mental health condition as cisgender adults.

Many LGBTQIA+ people come to therapy feeling worn down—by anxiety, isolation, pressure to perform, or difficulty finding a sense of belonging. Sometimes these experiences are directly tied to identity; other times, they’re shaped by early family dynamics, cultural expectations, or relational patterns that have developed over time.

You may be navigating everyday challenges—grief, burnout, creative blocks, relationship conflict—and want to do so with a therapist who sees your LGBTQ identity as a meaningful part of the picture. At other times, the focus of therapy might center more directly on your identity itself. For many LGBTQIA+ people, issues like coming out, navigating family rejection, questioning gender or sexuality, or healing from discrimination can shape emotional life in complex ways. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) notes that more than half of LGBTQ individuals report experiencing discrimination from a mental health provider, which can make finding affirming support feel especially difficult. The right therapist can help you work through your feelings about gender identity, sexual orientation, and related experiences.

LGBTQ therapy can provide a space to explore your feelings without judgment. Whether you're seeking therapy to better understand your identity or to work through other challenges, it can make a difference to work with a therapist who understands the nuances of your experience as an LGBTQ person.

Affirming and Nonjudgmental Therapy for LGBTQ New Yorkers

Emily Siegel, therapist offering LGBTQ therapy in New York

EMILY SIEGEL, LICENSED PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Living as an LGBTQIA+ person often involves navigating complex emotional terrain. Many clients come to therapy feeling anxious, disconnected, or isolated. These challenges may reflect not only individual experiences, but also the broader impact of social messaging, family dynamics, and past relationships. LGBTQ therapy can be a way to understand how these influences have shaped your inner world, without making them the sole focus of treatment.

My therapeutic approach is designed to help you make sense of your inner experience and begin to shift longstanding patterns. My style is is nonjudgmental, engaged, and steady, with a focus on long-lasting and meaningful change. In our work together, we’ll take time to understand both present-day challenges and deeper emotional dynamics. Sessions are collaborative and tailored to your needs. We will speak openly about how the process is going along the way. 

I draw from a broad range of therapeutic methods, including psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, and mindfulness-based methods. This combination of approaches allows us to target your individual needs. 

I’ve worked with LGBTQIA+ clients across a wide range of backgrounds and identities. My approach is thoughtful and attuned to the nuances of each person’s experience.  

Over time, therapy can bring relief from the burdens of self-monitoring, shame, or uncertainty. Many people find that with consistent support, they begin to feel more clarity and steadiness in day-to-day life.

Bird flying in the clouds, symbolic of confidence and growth through LGBTQ therapy

What to expect in LGBTQ therapy?

Therapy begins with an opportunity for us to get to know each other and clarify your reasons for seeking support. We’ll discuss your history and current challenges and focus on developing insight.

The therapeutic process often involves addressing both the issues that brought you in and how aspects of identity influence those concerns (if applicable). I work with clients in therapy to identify patterns shaped by cultural or relational contexts, including those connected to sexual orientation or gender identity.

Sessions are 45 minutes long and are held once a week. I offer a three-session consultation period at the start, which gives you a chance to see if working together feels like the right fit. At the end of this period, I provide feedback on the work we’ve begun and share my thoughts on how therapy might proceed moving forward.

The pace and focus of therapy are tailored to your needs, with an emphasis on creating a steady and supportive environment. Many people find that over time, therapy brings greater clarity, relief, and ease in daily life. 

Unsure about starting LGBTQ therapy?

It’s not unusual to have questions about whether therapy is the right fit. You may feel unsure about whether or not your challenges warrant treatment, or uncertain about what the process will involve. You don’t need to have a clear goal before starting—figuring that out can be part of our work together.

Some people have been in therapy before but felt it stayed on the surface. Others are concerned that slowing down to look at things more closely will be uncomfortable. We can discuss these concerns openly and move at a pace that feels manageable.

FAQ’s

  • That’s okay. Many LGBTQ people come to therapy for reasons unrelated to their identity. At the same time, it can still be important to know that your therapist understands and affirms your gender identity and/or sexual orientation.

  • You don’t need to have a label. Therapy can be a space to explore identity without pressure. I work with many people who are questioning or uncertain.

  • Unfortunately, many LGBTQIA+ people have had invalidating experiences in therapy. If you’ve been hurt in past work, we can speak openly about what didn’t feel right and what you’re hoping will be different.

  • Many people have had mixed or limited experiences with therapy in the past. Sometimes the approach wasn’t the right fit, or the work didn’t go as deep as it needed to. If you’re considering starting again, we can talk openly about what felt helpful or unhelpful in previous work and what you’re hoping will feel different this time.

Begin with a Conversation

If you’re looking for LGBTQ therapy in New York, I invite you to schedule a free consultation. This 15-minute phone call is an opportunity to ask questions, discuss what you’re experiencing, and get a sense of whether we might be a good fit. There’s no pressure to decide—just an opportunity to see what support could look like.

302 5th Ave
New York, NY 10001