June is Pride month, though we see actual celebrations of the queer community from Spring through Autumn. The community comes together to reflect on the impact queer people have had in society and to acknowledge the contributions made to realize full equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Non-Binary, Intersex, and others who so identify with LGBTQIA+ peoples and their allies. This sense of common cause and identity helps remind our families and caregivers that their support and acceptance of loved one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression directly impacts their mental wellness and personal safety.
Statistics relevant to the mental and physical health of the LGBTQIA+ community are staggering and sobering. Health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of civil and human rights are associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and suicide. When compared to their straight, counterparts, queer individuals are three times more likely to experience a mental health condition, and youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide, experience suicidal thoughts, and engage in self-harm. Additionally, individuals often face a discrimination that makes access quality treatment even more difficult.
It’s Gay Pride Season: Time to Reflect on Identity and Health June is Pride month, though we see actual celebrations of the queer community from Spring through Autumn. The community comes together to reflect on the impact queer people have had in society and to
When My Life Came Apart, I Struggled to Find Therapy At 14 years old, I hated who and what I was. With barely one foot in adolescence, I had already marched through miles of hell. In San Diego, my hometown, I had been beaten, sexually abused
The Violent Perfectionism of Autism If you have been following my blog for some time, you may have noticed that 1) I have not posted any new articles since October 2021, and 2) I have completely disappeared from Facebook. This hiatus and disappearance from social
The Advantages of Therapy from a Small Independent Agency As in many things, from coffee shops to car lots, cosmetics stores to restaurants, we tend to feel a greater sense of comfort and familiarity with smaller, boutique, mom-and-pop businesses. But in today’s world we often
Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month & Mental Health Awareness May marks the celebrations Asian Pacific lslander histories of Americans hailing from across the Asian continent and from the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The U.S. Department of Labor defines AAPI as “A person with
Mental Health Awareness Month May is designated as “Mental Health Awareness Month”, though like most proclamations, the awareness in question should be every month of the year. The desire is to raise awareness of the impact traumas have on our physical, emotional, and mental well-being, including children,
Why Do Non-Monogamous People Need Relationship Therapy? Introduction to Non-Monogamous Relationships Let’s start with some definitions before we get into our discussion. For our purposes, let’s keep it simple for now, since a full examination of the topic would consist of dozens of blogs. Consensual non-monogamy describes
Peer to Peer Support for Queer Women What are Peer Support Services and what is a peer counselor? Peer counseling is an effective way of assisting and supporting people, on a variety of issues, by pairing them with people who have shared those life experiences. Peer
Coming Out as Queer to Ourselves Coming out refers to the process, the path, we follow to telling ourselves the truth about our sexuality and/or gender. For some, it is easy and matter-of-fact. For others, it is deeply troubling and can take an emotional toll.
