LGBTQIA+-Affirming Therapy — Soleil Psychotherapy

Soleil Serves the Chicago LGBTQIA+ Community

We at Soleil Psychotherapy believe that sex and gender diversity are part of what makes the world a richer, more beautiful, and more interesting place.

But the fact remains that we live in a heteronormative society, and as a result, members of the LGBTQIA+ community are likely to experience numerous challenges connected to their identities.

Heterosexual relationships are still the cultural norm, and anything different is not fully embraced or accepted. As a result, there is often an uncertainty among those in the LGBTQIA+ community about what it really means to be part of that community outside of the cultural norm. Who exactly are you? In what ways are you different? Why are you different? If you have sought therapy in the past those same questions might have been brought into the room by a psychotherapist who carried cultural biases.

The issues you might bring to therapy are most likely the same as anyone else: relationship difficulties, grief and loss, depression, etc.

However, because of decades of discrimination and lack of recognition of LGBTQIA+ rights, you are shouldering additional trauma and shame because of how those closest to you – and society as a whole – have acted in response to your sexual orientation/gender identity.

If you are currently navigating any of these challenges, you deserve to work with a therapist who is not only committed to serving the LGBTQIA+ community, but who also brings specialized training, knowledge, and understanding into the therapeutic relationship.

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What is gender- and sexuality-affirming care?

Living as a member of a marginalized minority group can be a major source of stress and finding a therapist you connect with can be a tremendous asset in navigating that stress. Therapy is a powerful space for insight, healing, connection, and growth--and to make the best use of that space, it is vital for the client to feel safe, heard, and understood by their therapist.

Whether you come in to address individual issues, or to work through challenges with a partner or partners, each of the therapists at Soleil Psychotherapy combine experience and specialized training to effectively and compassionately work with LGBTQIA+ clients. Our goal is to not only help you overcome challenges, but to access and empower your existing strengths.

In a world full of messages designed to bring about shame, it becomes critical to connect with a sense of pride. Because pride is not only the opposite of shame—it is the antidote.

Achieving a sense of pride in who you are/what you want is critical since, even in the most tolerant of upbringings and environments, as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, you learn early in life that your identities/desires fall outside what is considered normal and acceptable. This is a heavy burden to carry.

It is therefore a therapist’s responsibility to help you explore your sexual orientation or gender identity in a world that still lacks tolerance and acceptance, so you can achieve a level of understanding, acceptance and integration between who you authentically are and what you think, feel and desire.

How will you benefit from our LBGT-affirmative care?

In LGBTQ-affirmative therapy acceptance and integration are the keys to healing and an empowered identity.

All of Soleil’s therapists are LGBTQIA+-affirming, meaning we are not only aware of how you have been being marginalized/discriminated against and hurt by external messages, but we also understand how these experiences have led to relationship struggles, shame, trauma as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Everyone at Soleil works from a social justice and empowering lens, and we approach LGBTQIA+ care using the following principles:

We talk about gender identity, dysphoria, sexual orientation and pronoun use, including what you call your significant other(s).
We examine how biases, such as homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, exist not only in your daily experiences but how you evaluate yourself.
We work with you to determine how shame is impacting your ability to experience a full and happy life.
We can help you reflect on how discovering yourself and the coming out process has impacted you and those around you.
We are knowledgeable how society’s views influenced by religion, media and popular beliefs have impacted the LGBTQIA+ community and we can discuss and challenge them with you
We offer psychoeducation on all types of intolerance, including sexism, racism, religious trauma, classism etc.
As sex therapists, we help you explore a healthy sexuality, where you can express your desires and build healthy relationships

At Soleil, our goal is to help you become at peace with yourself, your desires and your decisions by challenging cultural beliefs and writing an empowering narrative so that you can enjoy a happier, healthier and hopeful life. It’s something we all deserve.