Queer Affirmative Counselling: A New Perspective on Mental Health Discussions of mental health frequently centre on overall health or the presence of disease. However, this perspective fails to acknowledge the fluidity of mental health and how it manifests for everyone in different ways. This is especially true for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ or an ally. Individuals who identify as queer may experience challenges when coming out, finding support groups, or even just reaching out for help. Given that one in five adults experiences mental illness in any given year, it’s important to have a deeper understanding of what it means to be mentally healthy and how we can achieve that state. Queer affirmative counselling acknowledges the unique challenges faced by individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ while also recognizing their strengths and resilience. With this new perspective on mental health, we can see a brighter future for those who need it most.
What is queer affirmative counselling? Queer Affirmative Counselling is a therapeutic technique that promotes the identities and relationships of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons. It also discusses how heterosexuality, homophobia, and transphobia affect LGBT clients. Queer affirmative therapists in India focus on affirming a client's identity and sexual orientation. When counselling LGBTQ people, therapists focus on helping individuals live and accept their truest selves. There are two reasons why this type of therapy is advantageous. It first aids you in navigating difficulties you could experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Depending on where you live, your intersections of identity might also require you to navigate challenges that are specific to your region. Queer affirmative therapists can help you navigate these challenges by providing you with a safe and understanding space to process your feelings. It can also help you manage and reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression that can come as a result of your challenges. Queer affirmative therapists in India can also help you expand your support network. It could be challenging to locate queer-affirming support groups where you live. With queer affirmative therapy, you can work with your therapist to find ways to expand your support network both in person and virtually.
This kind of therapy also helps therapists to examine their own biases and build their knowledge base so that they can better serve their patients.
Where to find queer affirmative counselling in India? Another Light Counselling, founded by Aanchal Narang, is proud to be one of the few mental health centres in India offering access to queer affirmative counselling. These professionals are trained in queer affirmative counselling and actively work toward removing the stigma around seeking therapy. By working with and providing expert services to the LGBTQ community, they recognize and strive to provide more than just queer affirmative counselling providers in India, but also be educators in the mental health field. Mental health professionals must understand the unique life stressors that members of the LGBTQ community face as individuals or as couples. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you deserve to have safe and supportive environments in which to thrive. You deserve to have access to mental health care that understands your needs and challenges. You deserve to have a support network that understands your vulnerabilities and strengths. To ensure that you have these things, you have to do your part as well. You have to speak up when you feel like you’re not being heard. You have to let those around you know what you need to thrive. And most importantly, you have to let yourself off the hook. You deserve the best life possible, and that starts with you taking care of yourself. When you create a safe space for yourself, you can begin to let your whole self thrive. You can start to heal from the mental illnesses that have been holding you back. You can begin to make positive changes in your life and the lives of others. Mental health is a fluid state that everyone moves in and out of. For LGBTQ+ individuals, it can be difficult to find mental health care that acknowledges their specific needs. Queer affirmative therapy can help you find the support you need to thrive. If you are LGBTQ+ or an ally and you are feeling hopeless or experiencing a mental health challenge, reach out for help. You deserve the support and assistance you need to thrive.