Relationships are as unique as the people in them. The same goes for LGBTQ+ relationships. However, all healthy relationships should have certain qualities, and abuse is never one of them. Everyone deserves a loving and safe connection, no matter how you identify or who you love.
What Is LGBTQ+ Counseling?
The goal of LGBTQ+ counseling is to offer guidance, support, and resources to promote well-being and build resilience among LGBTQ+ individuals and partnerships. It affirms, validates, and celebrates sexual, gender, sex characteristic, and romantic diversity while cultivating a caring and supportive environment. We help our clients develop skills and strategies to promote and maintain healthy relationships.
At Thrive Counseling Center, we focus on strengths and skill-building to explore stressors and issues unique to LGBTQ+ people, which can include but are not limited to:
- Identity and expression
- Invalidation
- Stigma
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Internalized oppression
- Coming out
- Communal and independent safety
- Microaggressions
- Trauma
- Abuse
- Emotional and physical intimacy
- Transparent communication
- Consent
Therapy can help you dig deeper into and explore these issues while also helping you manage expectations, tackle insecurities, navigate communication styles, and more.
How LGBTQ+ Counseling Can Help You
LGBTQ+ counseling can help you navigate several types of relationship issues. As counselors, we aim to help you live a happier and more fulfilling life. We want to help you overcome obstacles, gain self-confidence, practice self-love, and build healthy, safe, and trustworthy relationships.
Keep in mind the following applies to all relationships:
1. Open Communication
Having open and effective communication is essential for any relationship. You should feel respected, equal, and supported in your relationship. In a healthy relationship, you can enjoy your time together while communicating your thoughts and feelings without fear, guilt, and shame. This means also respecting your partner's name and gender pronouns, supporting their identity expression and identity, and supporting their sexual orientation. Open communication involves relating and sharing your thoughts and needs while actively listening to your partner and their needs.
2. Set and Respect Boundaries
Every relationship needs boundaries; they help you determine the level of vulnerability you're comfortable sharing. Personal boundaries are limits you place around your emotions, body, physical and digital spaces, and finances. Each person in a relationship chooses what to share and how. Trust and respect are essential for maintaining boundaries, and it's important to remember what you're most comfortable with without feeling pressure from your partner.
3. Build Respectful and Consensual Intimacy and Trust
One of the ways you can build intimacy and trust in your relationship is by listening and being present with your partner. Building intimacy can mean talking about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences and can also be made through physical acts and sex. Everyone likes to experience intimacy differently, so be sure to speak with your partner about your needs and love languages and what intimacy means to you. Doing these things can help you show up better for each other in an intimate way.
4. Respect Your Differences
You might be "out" to everyone, but perhaps your partner isn't. We understand this can be frustrating, scary, and triggering. However, counseling can help partners at different points in their journey. Sharing and respecting your differences can help you map out steps to supporting each other, especially during a transitional time. Coming out is highly personal, and while you might be at different points in your journey, it's crucial to bring respect, patience, and love to the process until your significant other is ready.
I Am Part of the LGBTQ+ Community. Is My Relationship Healthy?
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to relationships. However, here are some things that people do and don't do that are often found in healthy relationships:
- Respects your chosen name or gender pronouns
- Never threaten to out you to others
- Respects your boundaries
- Gives you space to spend time with others, like friends and family, without thinking you're cheating
- Doesn't control your finances by telling you what you can and can't spend money on
- Never tells you you're not really a lesbian, gay, trans, or queer because you don't have sex the way they want
My Relationship Is Unhealthy or Abusive. How Can You Help Me?
Your safety and well-being are vital. If you're LGBTQ+, you can face unique obstacles, and our therapists are here to help you. It's important to know you are not alone, you have support, and there are places and people that can help you.
You can obtain a domestic violence restraining order if you're in an unhealthy or abusive relationship. Laws vary from state to state, so we recommend chatting with your therapist or a peer advocate to learn more. Whether you're ready or not to conclude the relationship, we suggest creating a safety plan, which we will be more willing to help you with.
Resources for Healthy LGBTQ+ Relationships in WA
Everyone deserves to have healthy, loving relationships in their life. And everyone also deserves safety and support. Here are some resources for LGBTQ+ people and those in relationships:
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline
The Trevor Project
Our therapists can provide additional resources to help you and your partner have an enriching and mutually respectful relationship.
LGBTQ+ Couples Counseling in Federal Way
Are you part of the LGBTQ+ community and seeking a more loving and fulfilling relationship? Our therapists at Thrive Counseling Center would love to speak with you. Our licensed counselors are highly skilled and experienced in working with LGBTQ+ couples and partnerships. Please give us a call today to learn more or schedule a consultation with us.