Is Your Practice Queer Friendly?
Learn how to go beyond flags and rainbows to show you care.
You might have taken part in conversations about diversity recently. Has the topic of LGTBQ+ inclusion even made it into the conversation?
It’s a miss that hurts people in our community. And the mental health professional can lead the way in making improvements.
We can set up our queer clinicians for success.
It Starts With An Equal Seat at the Table
For decades, queer providers have not had an equal seat at the table. In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association classified homosexuality as a mental illness. This fueled harmful practices like conversion therapy.
Even today, stigma around gender identity and sexual orientation persists in mental health spaces.
Queer Providers In Mental Healthcare Are Essential
As a gay man, I have experienced how mental health professionals often misunderstand our ways of life. Providers lack training on LGBTQ+ competencies, minimizing our community’s struggles rather than addressing the spectrum of mental health needs. This leads to poor care.
Queer people experience high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide because of discrimination. Many of us also struggle with unique challenges like gender dysphoria, which require specialized care. Without LGBTQIA2S+ professionals in the field, these needs often go untreated.
We can do better. Here is how:
Building Trust and Safety—Many LGBTQ+ folks avoid seeking mental health care because they fear their providers will judge and discriminate against them. When clients see providers who share their experiences, they open-up more easily. Without this shared experience, many of us feel misunderstood in spaces meant to support us.
Improving Outcomes—Research shows people get better when professionals who understand their background treat them. Collaborating with providers who understand gender and sexuality differences forms a deeper connection and leads to effective mental health care.
Inclusivity—LGBTQIA2S+ representation makes the workplace safer and more inclusive for professionals. A diverse workforce promotes understanding and encourages everyone to bring their authentic selves to work.
Addressing the Mental Health Crisis—Queer people experience some of the highest rates of mental health crises. Without professionals who understand these challenges, many of us face unnecessary barriers to care. Increasing LGBTQ+ representation in our field helps close this gap.
Cultural Competence—Lived experience and cultural insight enriches your ability to understand LGBTQ+ clients. When professionals share their clients’ experiences, it creates trust and patients receive the care that acknowledges their identities.
How We Can Increase Representation In Our Field
Ongoing Education and Training—We need continuous education on LGBTQ+ issues. Ongoing professional development should seamlessly include topics specific to LGBTQ+ issues rather than treat them as one offs.
Inclusive Policies and Practices—Organizations must implement clear policies to protect and affirm queer individuals. We need non-discrimination clauses, gender-inclusive language, and access to gender-affirming care.
Community Engagement—Building relationships with LGBTQIA2S+ organizations fosters trust and keeps mental health providers informed about community needs. When we partner with these types of groups, we bridge gaps between professionals and the people we serve.
Recruitment and Retention—Mental health organizations must actively seek out and support LGBTQIA2S+ professionals with inclusive workplace cultures that workplaces enforce fair opportunities for advancement and provide mentorship programs.
Now What?
We must make mental health care more effective, compassionate, and accessible. Prioritizing diversity in hiring, education, and policy, can help undo the historical harm exclusion has caused. We must build a system that serves everyone.
It is time that queer folx, both as clients and professionals, receive the care, respect, and representation we deserve.