The US has considered or passed a record number of bills that threaten LGBTQ+ rights in the past few years — which has greatly impacted the mental health of queer Americans.
The Trevor Project found in its 2023 survey that nearly 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ people ages 13 to 24, felt their mental health was poor all or most of the time during 2022 due to this onslaught of legislation. Another study found an uptick in searches about suicide around the passing of anti-trans legislation.
Already, queer adults are twice as likely as heterosexual people to experience mental illness, and transgender folks are almost four times as likely to experience mental health conditions as cisgender people. They can also all struggle to get the mental healthcare they need. While in some places it can simply be challenging to find providers who specialize in LGTBQ+ issues, Dr. Raj Singh, an internist based in Nevada, says queer folks also might delay care due to “fear of judgment or mistreatment by medical providers.”
If you or a loved one is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a wealth of resources. If you’re not currently in crisis, but have recently been experiencing signs of anxiety or depression, finding mental health care is vital to prevent symptoms from worsening.
While you can see a primary care provider for a mental health evaluation, you can also book an appointment with a therapist directly. Finding a therapist who can help you deftly navigate the unique challenges of being queer can be life changing. We talked to experts for some tips on how to seamlessly find your best, queer-affirming match.
1. Understand the term ‘queer-affirming’ healthcare.
When looking for a therapist, you might see providers offering queer-friendly or queer-affirming healthcare. While queer-friendly healthcare is a general definition describing healthcare that aims to be non-discriminatory and open to queer clients, queer-affirming care has a bit more depth.
“Unlike general therapy or queer-friendly therapy, queer-affirming therapy centers on the needs and the specific experiences of the queer community and addresses issues such as homophobia, transphobia, and societal stigma,” says Lana Lipe, a licensed clinical social worker.“It rejects the notion that being queer is a problem that needs to be fixed or normalized.”
The core message of LGBTQ-affirming therapy is that being queer is worthy of celebration despite society telling us otherwise. This is invaluable for people who have faced discrimination due to their identities.
“Fear and uncertainty about the future, as well as discrimination and harassment, can cause significant mental and physical health challenges for LGBTQ+ people,” says Lipe. “It is crucial for all healthcare professionals to be aware of these patterns and provide targeted support for queer clients and our community.”
2. Use your network.
When looking for a new therapist, licensed clinical social worker Laura Silverstein recommends patients “seek out recommendations from other people in the community, queer community organizations, or online forums.”
You can also find queer-affirming therapists on Zocdoc by inputting “LGBT Care” as your visit reason. From there, you can filter by specialty, insurance and other filters, to see what therapists are available in your area. You can also filter by a doctor’s gender identity. If you’re worried about paying for therapy, we have a guide that can help you understand all of your options.
3. Pay attention to meaningful details.
Queer people are accustomed to carefully navigating healthcare rather than just approaching it without worry. This is doubly important in therapy, where the effectiveness of care depends on the rapport and unity built between therapist and client.
During the search for a therapist, Laura Silverstein, a licensed clinical social worker, recommends patients, “pay close attention to the words practitioners use on their websites and bios.” Look to see if they mention specializing in LGBTQ issues. Silverstein recommends asking yourself some of these questions based on what you see on their profiles:
- Does the language they use resonate with you?
- If they work with couples, do they call it ‘couples therapy’ or ‘marriage counseling’?
- Do they use the words ‘partners,’ or ‘husband’ and ‘wife’?”
Usually, before you have your first visit with a therapist, you have a consultation call. During these calls with potential therapists you can ask about their stance on LGBTQ issues and how they may support the community, Silverstein says. Mental Health America has a handy document that contains examples of relevant questions.
You also might want to pay attention to the office’s environment on the first visit. The best queer-affirming providers “create an inclusive office environment by providing gender-neutral bathrooms, using gender-neutral language, and having art displays that support LGBTQ rights,” Singh says.
The most important thing I do when vetting out potential therapists is to “trust your gut,” Silverstein says.