Lesbian and Gay Counselling in London

Sexuality. It’s a word we use often but what does it really mean? Whether straight, gay, lesbian or bisexual, sexuality is about the quality of being sexual.

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

Homosexuality was legalised in the UK in 1967 and the Civil Partnership Act providing legal recognition of same-sex relationships came into force in 2005. On 13 March 2014, legislation allowing same-sex marriages came into effect and the first same-sex marriages in the UK took place on 29 March 2014.

Despite significant shifts in social attitudes towards homosexuality, a Google search of the phrase ‘gay issues in the UK’ will reveal much debate about many issues including homosexuality and religion, gay adoption rights, bullying in schools, homophobic abuse, gay issues in the workplace and gay health insurance issues.

For gay people, some aspects of life are less straight-forward than they might be for others. While circumstances have improved for gay people in Europe, North America and other parts of the world, being gay or lesbian can bring specific challenges.

Come out or stay in?

Sexuality is an important force within all of us, as is the need to be accepted and valued. Many people feel that homosexuality makes being accepted by friends, family and colleagues more difficult. Gay people often fear being rejected for their sexuality and coming out is one of the first challenges a gay person might face.

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

Some people find coming out very difficult while some gay men and women have no problem revealing their sexuality. Some people choose not to reveal their sexual preferences to others. For those who choose to come out, coming out can be a significant event in a person’s life and everyone experiences this differently.

Client Testimonials

Our gay therapy services in London can help with most personal issues

Many gay and lesbian people in the UK live very dynamic lives. An entire culture (of music, literature, history, art, theatre) has evolved around the gay movement. This culture contributes to the lives of many people, both gay and straight. London is often considered as one of the ‘gay capitals’ of the world.

There are, however, common concerns that gay men and women sometimes bring to counselling. Whether dealing with coming out, concerns about dating or relationships, sexual issues, family problems, depression, self-worth and self-confidence issues or issues around health and HIV, therapy can be useful.

In therapy, some gay people have described feelings of shame or loneliness and some have felt so confused by their sexual feelings that they have questioned the value of life.

Some gay men and women feel disillusioned by social networking sites while others have struggled with integrating their sexual identity into their families, careers and friendships in which they find themselves.

We provide both counselling and couples counselling for addressing sexuality issues

Over the years, our personal counselling services have helped many gay and bisexual men and women resolve personal life issues while many gay couples have turned to our couples counselling services or psychosexual therapy to address sexuality issues within their relationships.

Our locations in central London include Oxford CircusSoho and Kensington, and we also offer online therapy.

In counselling, gay clients sometimes prefer a gay therapist feeling that a gay therapist is more likely to understand their needs. Other gay people do not make this distinction. This is a personal choice and all our therapists are non-judgemental, understanding and non-discriminatory.

Both face-to-face and online counselling appointments are available. For anyone new to therapy, we have put together a list of commonly-asked questions about therapy that might be useful.

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…

Read more

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…

Read more

Individual counselling

Personal counselling can be about anything that’s on your mind.

Read more

Couples counselling

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

Read more

Therapists in London

Finding the right therapist is an important first step.

Read more

One Therapy London

Counselling, psychotherapy, couples counselling in London since 2006

Therapist Toulla Nicolaides
Toulla Nicolaides

Consultant Therapist Toulla is an integrative relational therapist using a combination of therapeutic approaches to help her clients She provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore their difficulties in life, relationships and childhood and to share and resolve confusing and overwhelming feelings Toulla believes that, though challenging,...

Fitzrovia

Therapist Ameet Magan
Ameet Magan

Consultant Therapist Ameet is from London and holds an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy He has more than a decade’s experience of working in a one-to-one capacity with clients He has also trained in groupwork and has worked since 2016 as a group psychotherapist and clinical practitioner with the NHS in East London Ameet is a warm, grounded and reflective person He...

Kensington

Therapist Stamatia Lorentzou
Stamatia Lorentzou

Senior Consultant Therapist 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,...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Jackson
Dwayne Jackson

Senior Consultant Therapist Founder and Director Jackson has lived in USA, Hong Kong and London He studied psychology in America and integrative psychotherapy in the United Kingdom Jackson is open to discussing any life experience or behaviour a client might put forward He feels there should be no shame or judgement in discussing life choices, experiences or...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Nicola Reeves
Nicola Reeves

Consultant Therapist MA Psychodynamic Psychotherapy  EMDR Practitioner Qualified Clinical Supervisor Nicola is a psychodynamic psychotherapist and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapist Nicola believes in giving clients time and space to approach therapy in the way they need to approach it She finds this is the best way to develop a...

Soho

Therapist Rhiannon Whipps
Rhiannon Whipps

Consultant Therapist 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...

Oxford Circus

Soho

Therapist Marta Pisarri
Marta Pisarri

Consultant Integrative Psychotherapist Visiting lecturer at Regent's University Diploma in Somatic Trauma Therapy Advance Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy MSc in Clinical Psychology Marta is a psychologist and an integrative psychotherapist: she has been working in the field of mental health for over 12 years in both private...

Soho

Therapist Silvi Naskinova
Silvi Naskinova

Consultant Therapist MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy HE in Humanistic and Psychodynamic Counselling Silvi is a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist offering both long and shorter-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...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Evan Bates
Evan Bates

Consultant Therapist 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...

Soho

Fitzrovia

Therapist Patricia Connolly
Patricia Connolly

Consultant Psychodynamic Psychotherapist Patricia works within a psychodynamic approach This focuses on early life experience and  relationships to help you understand how they shape who you are in the present When you begin to more fully explore your emotions and attitudes you can find a deeper self–knowledge, which can also transform the way you relate to...

Soho