LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Couple Therapy

What Is Affirmative Therapy?

Affirmative therapy is a therapeutic approach that recognizes and corrects the harmful messages of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and heterosexism affecting LGBTQIA+ individuals. It embraces a positive perspective of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, gender, and sexually diverse (LGBTQIA+) identities and relationships.

As an affirmative therapist, I provide you with an inclusive, non-blaming, non-judgmental, and safe space to explore your concerns of systemic obstacles in the heteronormative bias within our culture and society. I provide multicultural and multiethnic competency, a non-heterosexual approach, an intersectional context, and gender-diverse identity development models by reframing them as normative and healthy expression.

We collaborate to create a safe space to explore values, discovery, and growth that respects where one comes from and wants to be. I have the compassion, knowledge, expertise, skills, and therapeutic interventions to guide and support your sexual and gender diversity and the challenges presented to you.

I welcome an encouraging and optimistic perspective that celebrates the diversity in gender and sexual orientations and provides specialized interventions to address your unique concerns as an individual part of the LGBTQUI+ community. I support your healing, growth, and development in a positive identity and walk alongside you through your path and journey.

LGBTQIA+ Couples

Same-sex couples experience relationship challenges that encompass the whole spectrum of couples. However, another additional layer of the American culture and society’s discrimination, judgment, and stigma cause complexity in these relationships. Navigating relationship problems may seem daunting, causing anxiety and depression, and when sexual betrayals are committed, feelings of guilt and shame are causing significant pain to your partner. It may feel impossible to come out of these relationship disappointments with a positive outcome. Therapeutic interventions provide the scientific tools to establish effective communication methods and understand one another for a mutually meaningful and satisfying relationship.

Gottman Method Couples Therapy for Same-Sex Couples 

According to Drs. John and Julie Gottman and colleagues directed a twelve-year study of lesbian and gay couples to understand what factors provide for the failure or success of the relationship. The published empirical research study confirmed that Gottman Method Couples Therapy is exceedingly effective an evidence-based therapy for gay and lesbian couples. The pioneers of this research study demonstrated the strengths of gay and lesbian relationships to the scientific community. The study showed that these LGBT couples who participated in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy demonstrated positive therapeutic outcomes in relationship improvement in satisfaction to be over twice the majority of couples.

The Enhanced Gottman Connect Relationship Checkup 

An essential assessment of your strengths and challenges as a couple across several areas. It is an in-depth analysis based on 40+ years of scientific research. It is confidential and HIPAA compliant, consisting of 337 questions regarding commitment to the relationship, friendship, sexuality, emotions, conflict, values, trust, parenting, finances, affairs, infidelity, and alcohol and substance use. We collaborate to establish an individualized, unique, science-based treatment plan with goals that meet your objectives and establish a meaningful and satisfying relationship.

We collaborate to create a safe space to explore values, discovery, and growth that respects where one comes from and wants to be. I have the compassion, knowledge, expertise, skills, and therapeutic interventions to support your sexual and gender diversity and the unique challenges presented to you.

I welcome an encouraging and optimistic perspective that celebrates the diversity in gender and sexual orientations and provides specialized interventions to address your unique concerns as an individual part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I support your healing, growth, and development in a positive identity and walk alongside you through your path and journey.

References

Carlson, Rock, M., & McGeorge, C. R. (2010). Does affirmative training matter? Assessing CFT students’ beliefs about sexual orientation and their level of affirmative training. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 36(2), 171-184.

Garanzini, S., Yee, A., Gottman, J., Gottman, J., Cole, C., Preciado, M., Jasculca, C. (2017). Results of Gottman-Method Therapy with Gay and Lesbian Couples. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 43, 674– 684. doi:10.1111/jmft.12276