LGBTQ Spirituality Issues

The journey is worth the effort.

Finding a willingness to explore the difficulties of having a religious tradition that denounces your sexuality as an LGBTQ person can be daunting. In fact, it has been known to keep many gay people in the closet.

But the path to reconciliation between your faith and your sexuality can be rewarding. Although painful at times and confusing at other times, it is well worth the process.

The journey becomes the true path to growth.

Therapy helps with the journey.

Therapy may not seem like a likely place to address spirituality issues, but it can be if that is what you need.

Many believers find that they are unable to reconcile their faith with their sexuality; so they either leave their faith, or they cling to their faith at the expense of being who they truly are. It need not be that way.

The important thing is that you know that I will respect your personal belief system, whatever that may be.

Overcome the roadblock by addressing the conflict.

Many gays and lesbians who come from a religious background may struggle with whether God loves them and accepts them as an LGBTQ person.

This question can become a roadblock to their spiritual life and can cause them to feel shamed and ostracized from their faith. It also can be what keeps them from coming out and accepting themselves.

For many it is the root of their internalized homophobia (see sexual orientation and coming out page).

If you are interested in addressing spirituality issues, I am experienced in working with those who experience conflict with their spiritual faith and their sexuality.

My goal is to create an environment where spirituality can be addressed in a nonjudgmental and accepting way. I neither represent, nor come from any specific religious tradition that might conflict with yours.

Issues of Spirituality cause clients to ask…

How do I reconcile my spiritual beliefs with my sexual orientation or what happened to my spiritual beliefs?

How do I deal with my feelings of guilt? Does the God of my understanding hate me? I feel lost without my faith; what do I do?

How do I deal with my angry feelings toward those in the church? How do I overcome my fears of being judged by them? How do I deal with my pain from the way the church abused me?

My parents are against my being gay for religious reasons; are they right? How can I learn to accept myself when my faith tells me I am in sin?

In my experience, many gays and lesbians struggle with such questions as these. It can be painful and scary to address these issues; but many find healing, acceptance, and love in the answers.

My goal is your self-discovery and growth.

I am a therapist, first and foremost, and am only here to guide you into self-discovery and growth in the area of spirituality – not force any specific belief system on you. This is all about your process of discovering acceptance and love in your faith.

Many LGBTQ-Affirming Therapists may not respect or be willing to explore this aspect of your humanity. I not only welcome it; I encourage the exploration as this is a part of you.

Let’s take the journey together!

The important thing is not the outcome but the journey so that you can feel and be completely comfortable with the path you take.

If you would like to ask some questions about this aspect of the services I provide, please call or text me for a free 30-minute consultation at (562) 213-5318.