2SLGBTQ+ Individuals: Why Inclusive Therapy Matters

October, 2025

Finding a safe, supportive space to explore your mental health is important for everyone, but for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, it’s essential. Having access to inclusive and affirmative therapy isn’t a luxury but necessary. If you identify as Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or another marginalized gender or sexual identity, you may already know the value of being truly seen and heard. However, not all mental health providers are equipped to offer the affirming care you deserve. That’s why inclusive therapy for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals provided by those who are part of the queer community, helps to provide counselling from both a clinical and lived experience approach.

In this article, we’ll explore why inclusive therapy matters, the unique mental health challenges that 2SLGBTQ+ individuals may face, common barriers to care, what affirmative therapy entails, and how to cultivate support outside of the therapy room.

Why Having an Affirmative and Inclusive Therapy Space Is Critical

Inclusive therapy for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals means creating a safe, non-judgmental space where your identity isn’t questioned, minimized, or pathologized. Instead, it’s respected, affirmed, and celebrated. In inclusive spaces, your therapist not only acknowledges your experiences but also has cultural competency and training specific to 2SLGBTQ+ issues. This also includes ensuring that the counselling experience is gender affirming. At Virtual Connect we also have clinicians who are part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Unique Mental Health Challenges Facing the 2SLGBTQ+ Community

While every individual’s experience is unique, there are common themes in the mental health challenges 2SLGBTQ+ individuals face. Many of these stem not from being 2SLGBTQ+ but from living in a world that often marginalizes and discriminates against queer and trans identities.

Some of these challenges include:

• Increased risk of anxiety, depression, and PTSD: 2SLGBTQ+ adults are more than twice as likely to suffer from a mental health condition when compared to heterosexual individuals (Thomas, Aston, & Joy, 2022).
• Higher rates of suicide: Minority stress is linked to increases in suicidal ideations and suicide attempts due to feeling hopeless (Fulginiti, 2021).
• Experiences of rejection, shame, and discrimination: Whether it’s from family, workplaces, healthcare settings, or religious institutions, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals often face stigma that profoundly affects their mental health.
• Gender dysphoria and lack of identity affirmation: For transgender and nonbinary people, navigating social, legal, and medical aspects of gender identity can be intensely stressful, especially without proper support.

If you feel as though you can relate to these challenges, or other challenges, we do not want you to feel like you have to face them alone. We aim to offer a space for client to feel safe to process these issues without fear of judgment or dismissal.

Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Care for 2SLGBTQ+ Individuals

Even though mental health support is needed more than ever, accessing inclusive therapy for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals comes with challenges. Here are some of the significant challenges:

• Lack of affirming providers: Not all therapists are trained or culturally competent when it comes to queer and trans experiences.
• Cost and insurance issues: Affirmative therapy is often not covered by insurance or is only accessible through private practice, making it financially inaccessible for many in the community. We do offer some options for 3^rd party billing to fund counselling, connect with us today to see if you qualify for any 3^rd party billing options.
• Fear of discrimination: Past experiences of stigma or invalidation in healthcare settings can lead to distrust of mental health professionals.
• Geographic and cultural limitations: In rural or conservative regions, access to 2SLGBTQ+-affirming therapists may be hard to find.

While some barriers may exist, if you feel that counselling may help you, please get connected with us and we can see what we can do to support you in seeking counselling help.

What Affirmative Therapy for 2SLGBTQ+ Individuals Looks Like

Affirmative or inclusive therapy for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals isn’t just about avoiding harm—it’s about actively supporting growth, healing, and self-expression. Here’s what to expect from a truly affirming therapeutic space:

• Your identity is never up for debate; A competent therapist won’t question your gender or sexuality. They’ll respect your pronouns, chosen name, and lived experiences.
• Intersectionality is embraced; Affirmative therapists understand how race, culture, gender, socioeconomic status, and other aspects of identity intersect with queerness.
• Trauma-informed care is central; Many queer and trans individuals carry trauma from societal or familial rejection. Inclusive therapists provide tools to heal from trauma with compassion and sensitivity.
• Empowerment is prioritized. Whether it’s navigating coming out, building confidence, or advocating for your needs, inclusive therapy is designed to help you feel strong, seen, and supported.
• You’re not expected to educate; your therapist should already be trained or actively learning about your experience. You don’t have to be the expert in the room.

Affirmative therapy contributes to lower rates of depression and anxiety in 2SLGBTQ+ populations and improves emotional well-being when providers adopt inclusive practices.

How to Create a Supportive Environment Beyond Therapy

Inclusive therapy for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals is incredibly healing, but proper mental wellness is also influenced by what happens outside the therapy room. Here’s how to build a supportive environment in your daily life:

• Find your people: Look for 2SLGBTQ+ support groups, online forums, community centers, or safe spaces where you can connect with others who share your experiences.
• Set clear boundaries: Not everyone will understand or respect your identity, and you don’t owe them access to your energy. Boundary setting is a crucial aspect of self-care.
• Prioritize self-expression and joy: Art, writing, music, fashion, drag, dance, or just being unapologetically yourself, whatever brings you joy, lean into it.

Mental health isn’t just about coping. It’s about thriving, and thriving often means surrounding yourself with affirming people, messages, and environments.

Conclusion

Every person deserves mental health care that honors their truth. For 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, that means having access to inclusive therapy that’s safe, supportive, and empowering. Whether you’re exploring your identity, healing from trauma, facing anxiety, or simply looking for someone who gets it, you’re worthy of support that respects your whole self.

Book a consultation today!

References:

• Thomas, A., Aston, M., & Joy, P. (2022). Orientation to compassion: Exploring how space constructs meanings of compassion for 2SLGBTQ individuals. The International Journal of Diverse Identities, 22(2), 15-30. https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-7866/CGP/v22i02/15-30
• Fulginiti, A., Rhoades, H., Mamey, M. R., Klemmer, C., Srivastava, A., Weskamp, G., & Goldbach, J. T. (2021). Sexual minority stress, mental health symptoms, and suicidality among LGBTQ youth accessing crisis services. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 50(5), 893-905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-020-01354-3