What does LGBTQ+ stand for?

The current LGBTQ+ acronym represents those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersex, and asexual. This can also include those that are questioning their sexuality and are uncertain about how to identify oneself.

Are You Struggling To Find Your Identity or Navigate Your LGBTQ+ Concerns?

Do you struggle with understanding your own sexual identity or worry about what others will think? Perhaps you are experiencing discrimination because of your sexual identity that is causing distress, anxiety or sadness. Or maybe you are so overwhelmed with negative thoughts about yourself that you distance yourself from your family and friends. Maybe you are considering going through a gender transition and uncertain about how to process your thoughts and feelings. Feelings of sadness, worry, anger, grief and isolation can take a toll on your well-being and negatively affect your life in many ways.

Negative Thoughts, Emotions And Behaviors Are Very Common

Most individuals experience periods in their lives when they feel overwhelmed with sadness and worry. While some can overcome their issues with the help of family members and loved ones, others get stuck and sometimes cope by isolating themselves. Many factors contribute to why so many individuals struggle in life. Our society’s perception and lack of cultural acceptance can negatively impact those that identify as LGBTQ+ and, unfortunately, when people are overwhelmed with these challenges, they commonly fear seeking help.

The good news is that you don’t have to navigate difficult thoughts, feelings and issues on your own. A skilled and compassionate therapist can help you deepen your self-awareness, address pressing problems and develop effective solutions. We have therapists on staff that specialize in working with those that identify as LGBTQ+ that truly get it.

Get The Support You Need To Live A Fulfilling Life

In a relaxed, non-judgmental and quiet environment, you will have the opportunity to work with an experienced Life Balanced Counseling therapist to create an individualized plan to help you achieve your goals. During individual counseling, each hour you spend in sessions will be focused on providing you the support and guidance needed to work through challenges, enhance confidence and joy and achieve your goals.

Sessions provide you with an open space to speak about your personal struggles and share your frustrations. Not only will your therapist listen compassionately, but he or she can help you get to the root cause of your issues and effectively problem solve. Regardless of what’s causing you distress or unease, you can heal and find relief. You and your therapist can work together to create an agenda in which you prioritize your needs and responsibilities as well as ultimately lowering your stress level.

Your therapist can also teach you tools and techniques that can help you feel more confident, calm, connected and happy. If you struggle with sexual identity issues, you will have the chance to process your thoughts and figure out your thoughts and feelings. If you are doing a gender transition, you can gain support from a professional during the challenges of going through difficult medical procedures. You can also learn helpful tools, such as breathing techniques or journaling, to calm yourself down in the moments that are stressful or when fears set in.

No matter what you’re struggling with, your therapist can recommend external resources, such as engaging books or support groups, to compliment individual counseling sessions. In addition, he or she can also incorporate your interests into sessions. For example, if you have a creative side, your individual counseling sessions can be tailored to include art therapy or music therapy.

The therapists at Life Balance Counseling have helped many individuals with diverse issues find happiness, stability and peace in life. You, too, can achieve your goals and feel confident that you can overcome anything life may bring in the future.

I am interested in LGBTQ+ counseling, but I still have a few questions and concerns…

I am afraid of what others will think of me if I attend individual counseling. 

Our sessions are 100 percent confidential. You do not need to worry about anyone finding out about your individual counseling unless you choose to share you experience. If you do decide to tell your family or friends about your decision to seek help, it’s likely that they will be happy to learn that you are taking the steps to improve your life. Life struggles are so common that you should not feel ashamed to ask for a helping hand.

Will I need to go on medication if I attend individual counseling?

We do not prescribe medication at Life Balance Counseling. Instead, we approach therapy using holistic techniques to allow you to naturally heal yourself without medication. This approach tends to be more lasting. Rather than treating symptoms with medication, your therapist can help you learn lifelong tools that can be used to sustain well-being. However, if you are interested in trying medication, we can refer you to an experienced psychiatrist to explore options.

I already have someone to talk to. Can young adult counseling still help me?

Individual counseling sessions offer you the opportunity to speak to a nonbiased and non-judgmental professional. If you currently rely on a family member or friend as your support system, he or she may have prior opinions about your life situation that may be holding you back from shifting your perspective or making positive changes. In addition, with our therapists’ extensive histories in helping so many individuals work through their issues, we have developed effective strategies and techniques that you may not find anywhere else.

Move Forward In A Peaceful And Rewarding Life

If you are ready to feel happier, more connected, balanced and calm, we invite you to call us for a free 15-minute phone consultation. We’re happy to discuss your needs, our practice and how individual counseling can help.

LGBTQ+ Specialists:

Jennifer Budruweit, MA, LCPC, GC-C
Lauren Buetikofer, MA, LCPC
Heather Drury, MA, LCPC
Lauren Fallon, MSW, LCSW

If you are interested in learning more about our depression counseling services, please call us at 847.220.6981 or contact us online.