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.
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.
- 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.
Meet our therapists working with gay issues
