LGBTQ+ Couples Therapy: What Makes a Truly Affirming Space
Affirming is not a buzzword
A lot of therapists list LGBTQ+ affirming on their profile. Fewer actually know what that means in practice.
It means I am not going to pathologize who you are or how you love. It means your relationship will be treated with the same seriousness and care as any other relationship in this office. It means I am not going to ask you to educate me on the basics of your identity or your community. It means I understand that LGBTQ+ couples navigate stressors that straight couples simply do not, and that those stressors are real and worth addressing directly.
What LGBTQ+ couples face in relationships
Everything that any couple faces plus layers that are specific to your experience.
Family rejection and the grief that comes with it. Coming out at different speeds and what that means for the relationship. Navigating discrimination from outside the relationship that then comes inside. Minority stress. The complicated intersection of identity and faith for couples navigating religious backgrounds. Chosen family and what that means for your relationship structure.
None of those things make your relationship harder than it has to be. But they are real and they belong in the therapy room.
What you will find here
A space where nothing is off limits and nothing about who you are needs to be explained or defended. Just two people working on their relationship with someone who actually gives a damn and knows what she is doing.
LGBTQ+ couples are especially welcome here. That is not marketing. That is how I actually show up.
Immediate openings for couples counseling and individual therapy in Layton, UT and telehealth throughout Utah. To get started, call 801-525-4645 and request Candace Lance. You can also view and my profile on Psychology Today or on Therapy Den.
