Discovering Affirmative LGBTQ Counseling NY

By Steven Cooper


When looking for guidance, individuals in the larger Gay community can often find assistance by visiting The Center. For, The Center offers a number of different programs including LGBTQ Counseling NY. As such, whether ready to come out, having feelings of worthlessness or simply needing information on local resources and events, The Center can provide these services and more.

Whether located at The Center or elsewhere, there are a number of therapists in New York whom provide services in this area. Whereas, there are also others involved in conversion therapy. While Gay affirmative therapies work to help individuals accept and grow as the authentic self, conversion therapists attempt to change the individual into a heterosexual and avoid same-sex attractions. As such, it is important to know the difference as well as which type of therapy is most beneficial over time.

The majority of therapists in the city are working from a positive perspective. In fact, most now use a form of psychotherapy which has been designed for use with individuals whom identify as LGBTQ. As a result, many often find self-acceptance through learning how to live a positive and vibrant authentic self whether a binary, bisexual, lesbian, gay or transgendered individual.

While conversion counseling attempts to change an individual into maintaining a heterosexual identity or eliminate desires for same-sex partners, Gay affirmative counseling takes the opposite approach. While originally believed to have been a choice, research has now shown that homosexuality is nature rather than nurture. As such, the Psychological Association of America now has a guidebook for therapists working in this area.

While the Psychological Association of America has had mixed views in the past, the organization now provides a guidebook to help affirmative therapists working in this area. For, studies over the last several years have shown that a gene is responsible for bisexual and homosexual desires. As a result, science has also shown that individuals whom identify in this way can often overcome anxiety, depression, drug abuse and sexual addiction. For, only when an individual can live an open and honest lifestyle can these and other such issues be avoided.

Individuals whom hold religious beliefs in opposition to these lifestyles often hold a great deal of guilt when it comes to having attractions to those of the same-sex. In most cases, it is these individuals whom are sent to conversion therapy. While this is the case, there is often a return to the authentic self and lifestyle at some point in the future.

While the field of psychiatry had focused on homosexuality as being a mental illness over the last 100 years, times have changed. For, research has come a long way in proving otherwise. As such, current guidelines now encourage therapists to assist individuals in overcoming homophobia and other stigmas related to the LGBTQ+ lifestyles.

Most recently, therapists have began studying more about the different aspects of LGBTQ+ individuals and lifestyles. One area in which these studies are taking place is in relation to the coming out process. For, while it can be easy to understand someone having an attraction to someone of the same sex, understanding the inner-self and the need to come out are often more difficult for therapists and clients.




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