LGBTQ+ Counseling Denver, CO
Would You Benefit from Queer-Affirming Therapy for Individuals & Couples?
Do you identify as LGBTQIA+ and long for a space where every part of you is honored and affirmed?
Are you carrying the weight of anxiety, depression, or disconnection—and wishing it were easier to build nourishing, authentic relationships?
Do the subtle (or not-so-subtle) microaggressions you face at work, in your family, or in the world leave you feeling exhausted and unseen?
Identifying with a marginalized group means you face unique stressors that directly impact your experience of the world. How discrimination and systematic oppression affect your daily life may become overwhelming at times, like a burden you’re expected to carry alone to exist. The pressure to conform to identities that don't fit or the need to come out to people who don't understand could make it difficult to express your true, authentic self.
Perhaps You Struggle with Challenges That Are Unique to Being LGBTQ+
Life is already rife with enough challenges, but maybe you’re dealing with other issues that cause confusion and uncertainty. In addition to universal concerns, such as daily life stressors, relationship challenges, and family dynamics, you may be contending with other issues specific to the LGBTQIA+ experience. These may include:
● Coming out and openness
● Navigating a change in gender or sexual orientation within your relationship
● Prejudice and discrimination within your workplace and/or spiritual institution; and
● Family acceptance
If you need specialized guidance and support, LGBTQIA+ therapy can help. Working with an LGBTQIA+- affirming therapist ensures you will feel seen, heard, and validated throughout counseling and won’t have to face your struggles alone.
The LGBTQIA+ Community Runs a Higher Risk of Experiencing Mental Health Challenges
Although many of us struggle with mental health at some point in our lives, for those who identify as LGBTQIA+, the source of our challenges often extends beyond the personal and includes cultural and systemic factors. Growing up in a world where cisgender and heterosexual identities are seen as the norm can lead to shame, confusion, or the need to hide parts of ourselves for our own protection. Sadly, family rejection, religious stigma, or lack of acceptance when we try to express our authentic selves can create deep emotional wounds.
When you’re queer-identifying, finding adequate mental health care isn’t always easy. Unfortunately, implicit discrimination and a lack of understanding within the healthcare system can exacerbate our feelings of being othered, resulting in chronic stress, anxiety, and mistrust.
Many of us end up having to explain our experiences to care providers or defend our identity, which can leave us feeling frustrated and emotionally exhausted. These layers of marginalization deeply impact our self-worth, identity development, and relationships.
Our Culture’s Deeply Embedded Biases Exacerbate Our Pain
Many of us struggle to overcome our issues alone because the root causes—shame, rejection, discrimination—are often deep and systemic. We often try to manage our symptoms, like anxiety or low self-worth, without addressing the underlying impact of cultural stigma, lack of support, or internalized oppression. Without a safe, affirming space to explore these layers, real healing and lasting change can feel out of reach.
Authentic Connections Therapy & Wellness (ACTW) offers an informed approach to LGBTQIA+ therapy—one that also acknowledges and validates how cultural bias and discrimination may impact how you think and feel about yourself and the world. By expanding our scope beyond the day-to-day, we ensure you receive comprehensive support that makes a difference.
Therapy Geared For LGBTQIA+-Identifying People
Although being queer is only one part of your identity, it can have a significant impact on how you are perceived and accepted by others. As much as you may try to ignore or deflect negative external influences, they can directly impact how you think and feel. Perhaps you crave a safe space where you know that you’ll be embraced and fully accepted just as you are.
When you seek individual or marriage counseling as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, it’s important that you feel safe and can be assured your therapist understands how you experience the world. With LGBTQIA+-affirmative therapy, you will receive compassionate care that embraces all identities and relationships without judgment. Your therapist will be on your side, celebrating your victories or holding space for your setbacks.
What To Expect in Sessions
At ACTW, our team of therapists wants to help you find satisfaction in all facets of your life. We will meet you where you are, whether you’ve just begun to explore your gender or sexual orientation or have been out for some time. Working collaboratively, you and your counselor will identify goals for therapy while ensuring you feel seen, heard, and validated.
In ongoing sessions, we will explore relationship patterns, identity development, family dynamics, cultural and systemic influences, and how past experiences impact current emotional and relational well-being. We look at areas like intimacy, communication, trust, self-worth, and internalized messages around gender and sexuality.
Long-term goals are a collaborative process. We start by identifying what feels stuck or painful, then clarify what a more connected, grounded, or fulfilling life might look like. Goals may include building healthier relationships, increasing self-compassion, exploring identity more fully, or healing from past trauma. These goals may evolve as you grow and gain clarity about what matters most to you.
The Modalities We Use
When working with queer-identifying clients, we like to approach therapy from a relational, multicultural, and feminist-based lens. These approaches ensure that you gain insight into your relational patterns and how they operate within the broader socio-political context. We will also draw from other evidence-based modalities, including psychodynamic therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and attachment-based therapy, to ensure you will gain insight into how you relate to others and yourself.
For couples therapy principles from Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) and Gottman Method. Aspects of these theories are combined from a multicultural feminist lens to incorporate evidenced based couples therapy with diverse couples in mind. These approaches combine practical skills and deep insight oriented work, so you feel prepared with tools and a better understanding of root causes of some of the difficulties in your relationship.
With LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy, real change is possible. You don’t have to carry the weight of discrimination or disconnection alone. Therapy offers a space to untangle harmful messages, heal old wounds, and reconnect with who you are.
Over time, you can feel more confident in your identity, build healthier relationships, and live more fully and authentically. Healing takes time, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Queer Affirming Couples and Relationship Therapy
LGBTQAI+ couples typically aren't coming into counseling to discuss conflicts around gender or sexual orientation. The distinction between heterosexual and LGBTQAI+ couples therapy is rooted in biases and external discrimination queer couples may face.
Most couples therapy models were developed and researched with heterosexual couples in mind. It can be difficult to find a couples therapist with knowledge and expertise in LGBTQAI+ affirming couples therapy.
While LGBTQIA+ couples can experience similar relationship issues as hetero-normative folks, such as challenges with intimacy, communication, family conflict, and financial stressors, there may be more going on. For those seeking couples therapy, we acknowledge the underlying biases, obstacles, and discrimination that are unique to same sex relationships. For example, your experience with having children and navigating complicated extended family dynamics requires an LGBTQIA+-affirmative approach.
Common Topics Discussed in LGBTQ+ Couples Counseling Sessions:
Coming out and openness
Navigating differing gender or sexual orientation within the relationship
Navigating a change in gender or sexual orientation within the relationship
Sexual health and satisfaction
Family acceptance
Prejudice and discrimination
Spirituality
Conflict resolution
Communication
Intimacy and affection
Infidelity
Trust
Family
But Maybe You’re Not Sure If LGBTQIA+ Therapy is Right for You…
My last experience in therapy wasn’t helpful—how will LGBTQIA+ counseling at Authentic Connections Therapy & Wellness be different?
Unfortunately, many LGBTQIA+ clients have had to educate or defend their identities in therapy, which can deepen feelings of mistrust or invisibility. You deserve better. We strive to create a safe space where your identity is honored and your experiences are validated. Here, you will never have to explain, defend, or diminish yourself.
Do your therapists have experience working with the LGBTQIA+ community?
Our practice includes many queer-identifying therapists, and all of our clinicians are LGBTQIA+ -affirming with extensive experience supporting individuals and couples. We understand the unique challenges our community faces and are committed to providing affirming, knowledgeable, and compassionate care.
Are any of your therapists faith-based or have experience working with religious trauma?
Our therapists are not faith-based but we have counselors with specialized training in working with religious trauma, particularly within the LGBTQIA+ community. We understand how harmful spiritual experiences can impact identity, relationships, and self-worth, and we provide a safe, affirming space to process and heal.
LGBTQ+ Counseling Blog Posts
You Deserve to Be Fully Seen and Accepted for Who You Are
We welcome you to join us on a collaborative journey of self-discovery, healing, and acceptance. To schedule a free 15-minute consultation to find out more about in-person or online LGBTQIA+ therapy with us, please visit our contact page or click the link below!
In-person and Remote Options for LGBTQ+ Couples and Individual Therapy Services in Denver, Colorado
Our offices are conveniently located on the North (Lower Highlands) and South (Denver Tech Center) ends of the Denver metroplex. Can’t make it into the office? No worries – we’ve got you covered with virtual therapy.
LGBTQ+ Counseling in Denver Tech Center, Greenwood Village Co
Our Denver Tech Center (DTC) office is located at 5350 S Roslyn St in Greenwood Village. It shares a parking lot with the Landmark near Comedy Works South, Hapa Sushi Grill and Sake, and JING Denver.
LGBTQ+ Counseling in Lower Highlands, Denver Co
Our Lower Highlands office is located at 2460 West 26th Avenue in Denver. It is right on i25, across the street from the downtown REI, and a few blocks from the Empower Stadium, The Downtown Aquarium, and Elitch Gardens