Q & A: Mental Health Support for the LGBTQ+ Community

At First Stop Health, mental health providers are here to support and provide care for members of the LGBTQ+ community. In this Q & A, Eva Maron LISW-CP, therapist at First Stop Health answers questions about mental health support for the LGBTQ+ community. 

What are some common reasons you see members of the LGBTQ+ community coming to therapy for?

A lot of the same things anyone else struggles with like depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship struggles, etc. What feels different is the added layer of navigating LGBTQIA identity in a world that isn’t always safe or accepting. Anxiety can get louder when you are constantly weighing how open you can be about yourself or wondering how others will respond. Depression can increase when someone is faced with losing the support of family or friends. 

Why is it important for members of the LGBTQ+ community to get care for their mental health?

There is often negativity directed at the queer community.  That kind of stress and isolation takes a toll over time. Having support, having a place where you can show up fully as yourself and be cared for, matters.

What unique challenges do LGBTQ+ individuals often face when it comes to mental health?

There can often be judgment, misinformation, and there is real loss sometimes: family, church, community. That is a heavy thing to carry alongside whatever other struggles someone might already be dealing with. It creates layers of trauma that do not go away just because you push them down. Therapy can be a place to unpack all of that in a way that feels safer and more manageable.

What advice would you give to someone in the LGBTQ+ community who is hesitant to try therapy?

I would tell them I get it! Not every therapist is affirming or even informed, and it is okay to be careful about who you trust. But I would also say do not let one bad fit or negative story you heard from someone else keep you from trying. You have every right to ask questions, to make sure someone is a good match, and to leave if it does not feel right. There are affirming, supportive therapists out there. It is worth finding one because you deserve that space.

How do you create a safe and affirming space for LGBTQ+ members in a virtual therapy setting?

If I think it will help someone feel safer, I am open about being part of the community myself. I also make it clear from the very first session with ALL of my clients, that this is a space where they can talk about anything without shame or judgment. Sometimes, people are not comfortable sharing that they are queer right away, because of past negative experiences, or just a general fear of being shamed or judged. I make sure that everyone knows I am a safe person, even if they haven't shared their identity with me yet. 

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