Issues specific to gay men and women

Sexuality is the drive within us that makes us sexually and emotionally attracted to others.

Despite significant shifts in social attitudes towards homosexuality, lesbian, gay and bisexual people still face many challenges, including workplace bullying, rejection by family or friends, homophobic abuse and religious intolerance. 

Curious or confused?

Some people feel confused about their sexuality. It is not unusual to be unsure whether you are attracted to women, men or both. Perhaps you are feeling unsettled by developing feelings for someone whose gender you’re not normally attracted to. You may feel uncomfortable with the societal pressure to label your sexuality. 

It can be very difficult to make sense of conflicting thoughts and feelings around sexuality. Many people struggle to separate who they truly are inside from who they want to be or who their family and society tell them they should be. 

Coming out or staying in?

Coming out is the process of making your sexuality known to others. Understandably, gay people often fear being rejected for their sexuality and coming out can be really scary. Although sexuality is an important part of all of us, so is the need to be accepted and valued. People should be allowed to come out only when and if they choose, at their own pace and in their own way.

Coming out can mean revealing your sexuality to a handful of carefully-chosen loved ones or it can mean telling the whole world! There is no right or wrong way to come out. This is a personal experience, a personal choice and it is different for everyone.

Client Reviews

Everyone deserves to be in a good place

Of course, gay men and women are much more than their sexuality. What they bring to therapy may be nothing to do with being gay.

However, there are some common concerns that gay men and women bring to counselling. These include coming out, rejection by family or friends, shame around their sexuality, conflicts between their sexuality and their religion, sexual issues, low self-confidence, issues around dating, loneliness and concerns around health and HIV. 

Our therapists understand these issues. We have been working with gay and bisexual clients for many, many years. We won’t judge you.

Instead, we will listen to you and understand. We will help you to make sense of what you are going through, resolve inner conflicts and bring about the changes you want in your life. 

Need counselling now?

Some gay clients prefer a gay therapist. You may feel a gay therapist is more likely to understand your situation. This is a personal choice and all our therapists are non-judgmental, understanding and non-discriminatory.  You can book an appointment with any of our therapists online now.

Help for relationship and sexual problems

If your concerns are focused on relationships or sex, one of our relationship or psychosexual therapists may be what you’re looking for.

Our relationship therapists work with couples or individuals who may be experiencing, for example:

  • conflict in a relationship
  • difficulty finding a partner
  • fear of being in a relationship
  • uncertainty over whether to end a relationship.
We also have specialist psychosexual therapists who support clients to resolve sexual problems, such as:
  • loss of sexual desire
  • painful sex
  • erection problems
  • problematic use of porn or chemsex.

You can read more about couples therapy here and psychosexual therapy here.

How does therapy help?

Over the years that I’ve worked as a therapist, I’ve been asked numerous times by prospective clients, “How does counselling help?”  And I’ve yet to come up with a satisfactory answer. Not because I’m in any doubt that it helps, but because the ‘how’ bit is so hard to articulate concisely…

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What do I talk about in counselling?

One of the most common worries I hear expressed by people starting counselling is that they won’t know what to talk about. Some people think their problems aren’t significant enough. Others fear they have too much to say, that they might overwhelm the therapist…

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Counselling for individuals

Personal counselling can be about anything that is on your mind.

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Couples counselling

Couples counselling provides space for couples to discuss problems in their relationship and find solutions.

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Our therapists

We have over 30 qualified and experienced therapists to choose from.

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One Therapy London

Counselling, psychotherapy, couples counselling in London since 2006

Roz Urquhart

Roz is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, who offers both long- and short-term psychotherapy She works with a varied client group offering a welcoming, safe and confidential therapeutic space in which to help her clients explore and process the issues that are bringing them into therapy Roz supports her clients to focus on unconscious processes, inner conflicts and...

Oxford Circus

Natasha Maidment

Natasha is a person–centred counsellor and psychotherapist who will provide you with a safe, empathetic and non-judgemental space to explore any thoughts or concerns you wish to bring She works with a range of issues including anxiety, stress, critical thoughts, trauma, relationship issues, identity, depression, loss and low self-esteem Natasha offers a...

Oxford Circus

Yussef Ferguson

Yussef is a psychodynamic psychotherapist who offers both long and short term personal therapy to individuals He has experience of working with a diverse range of clients and can provide a warm, confidential space to explore and gain insight into any past or present personal difficulties and experiences Yussef works with issues such as anxiety, depression, loss,...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Rhiannon Whipps
Rhiannon Whipps

Rhiannon is a psychodynamic counsellor and psychotherapist with over ten years experience of working within the field of mental health Rhiannon provides an empathic and non-judgemental therapeutic space for her clients to explore any difficulties which they may be facing Within the safety of a confidential environment, she encourages her clients to openly explore...

Soho

Therapist Stamatia Lorentzou
Stamatia Lorentzou

Stamatia draws on a broad range of theories of psychotherapy She works collaboratively with her clients to understand the causes of their concern and find ways to move forward Stamatia offers both short-term and longer-term therapy She has worked in various organisational settings with individuals seeking to address relationship issues, low self esteem, separation,...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Barbara Perini
Barbara Perini

Barbara is an accredited member of BACP, holding an MSc in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and adhering to the BACP ethical framework Her approach is open-ended, offering both short-term and long-term therapy Barbara has also trained in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), a short-term (16 sessions), semi-structured individual therapy developed for mood...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Catherine Hammett
Catherine Hammett

Catherine offers a safe, confidential space for clients bringing a wide range of issues to therapy  These include anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, anger and work-related stress  Catherine also supports clients experiencing depression, bereavement and life transitions  Among her specialist interests are post-traumatic growth and working with adult...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Evan Bates
Evan Bates

Evan is a psychodynamic therapist, offering both long and short term therapy He creates a non-judgemental and reflective space to help clients explore their difficulties and concerns Working together to understand the connections between past and current relationships, Evan supports clients in developing a deeper awareness of their recurring emotional patterns and further...

Soho

Therapist Mita Hiremath
Mita Hiremath

Mita has been involved in the field of counselling and psychotherapy for over 30 years and has a wealth of experience working in the voluntary sector, the NHS and private practice She is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist Additionally, she holds an MSc in Psychotherapy and is a trained EMDR therapist She has also facilitated support groups in the voluntary...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Silvi Naskinova
Silvi Naskinova

Silvi is a psychodynamic psychotherapist offering both long- and short-term therapy  She aims to provide a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space for her clients to explore whatever is on their minds Her work helps individuals understand how their experiences (both past and present) and any unconscious forces might be impacting their relationships and ways of coping...

Oxford Circus