This blogpost will answer if there are LGBT therapists in BetterHelp. We will also be looking at the various mental health problems that the LGBTQ+ community often faces. In addition to this, we shall be discussing the different advantages that BetterHelp can provide particularly for this community.

Are there LGBT therapists in BetterHelp?

Yes, there are LGBT therapists in BetterHelp. This online therapy platform has thousands of licensed and certified therapists who have different areas of specialization and also gender and sexual orientations. While the algorithm in the platform may not immediately connect with you the gender of your choice, you can always opt for a reassignment until you find the right one.

Mental health problems in the LGBTQ+ community

The LGBTQ+ community often faces a high amount of stress and anxiety. The mental pressures do not stop after coming out and may even be higher after this. This is mainly due to the discrimination that society still inflicts on members of this community. Thus, members of the LGBTQ+ community often face many mental health problems such as:

Substance abuse and addictions

Substance abuse and addiction problems are quite rampant today and a very serious problem that many governments are struggling to solve. This problem is only higher in percentage in the LGBTQ+ community. Since they are discriminated against in many areas of life, the stress might be too high for them to bear, leaving them to rely on drugs and alcohol in order to find an escape.

Depression and anxiety

Depression and anxiety are also very common among the members in the LGBTQ+ community. According to research studies, youngsters who are LBGTQ+ are more prone to depression as well as other mental illnesses rather than their cis-gendered counterparts.

Suicidal ideations

Suicidal ideations as well as suicide attempts are also more common among the LGBTQ+ community than straight persons. While compared to heterosexual persons, a larger percentage of the youth in the LGBTQ+ community attempt suicide due to feelings of severe depression, bullying, discrimination and even assault.

PTSD

PTSD or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is anxiety disorder which happens to those individuals who have experienced or witnessed traumatic situations. PTSD is another common mental illness in the members of the LGBTQ+ community as they often experience violence, verbal, physical or sexual assault and many other traumatic situations which can trigger an anxiety disorder later.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders are not only reserved for models or those who are attempting to lose weight for a particular reason. Eating disorders or disordered eating can happen to anyone who is trying their best to control at least one part of their lives when everything else seems in turmoil. For those in the LGBTQ+ community, controlling their diet can be a maladaptive coping mechanism.

Poor self-esteem

While poor self-esteem may not sound as bad as other mental health problems, it is tied to many other areas of life and can directly affect the performance and quality of one’s life. For example, having a high self-esteem allows a person to apply immediately for their dream job as compared to someone who does not. Poor self-esteem is a problem that LGBTQ+ persons often experience.

Social isolation is a situation that can lead to many other mental health issues, such as depression, loneliness and even physical harm. Social isolation occurs in the LGBTQ+ community more often than the heterosexual community as the former faces a lot of stigmatization and discrimination, leading to many other mental health problems along the way.

BetterHelp for LGBTQ+

While the LGBTQ+ community often struggles to find high quality and resourceful therapists, BetterHelp can be a great option. Some ways in which BetterHelp can be of great use particularly for those who are of different gender and sexual orientations are described in this section:

The platform provides a lot of anonymity

For those who are worried about concealing their identity and maintaining anonymity, in-person therapy or traditional therapy may not seem to be a convenient idea. While most online therapy platforms do provide a certain level of anonymity, BetterHelp goes the extra mile by allowing users to hide their identities and use a nickname instead of their real ones.

It brings more safety

There is also more safety in BetterHelp since it does not require face to face meetings between the therapists and the clients. While most therapists do their best to improve the mental health of their clients, some unethical therapists may physically or even sexually harm them. Clients are more protected in BetterHelp as all the sessions are conducted online.

There is a large network of therapists

There is also a large network of therapists to choose from in BetterHelp. In contrast to traditional therapy settings, this reduces the waiting time for therapy and also helps in bringing a better client-therapist fit. Those who are members of the LGBTQ+ community can directly ask for someone of their own orientation or even manually sift through the therapist directory.

Conclusion

This blogpost has answered if there are LGBT therapists in BetterHelp. We have also looked at the various mental health problems that the LGBTQ+ community often faces. In addition to this, we have discussed the different advantages that BetterHelp can provide particularly for this community.

If you like this blogpost, please leave your comments and questions in the space below.

Citations

https://www.them.us/story/how-to-find-a-queer-therapist#:~:text=There’s%20also%20the%20option%20of,which%20specifically%20serves%20LGBTQ%2B%20folks.

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/therapy-for-lgbt

https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/mental-health-in-the-lgbtq-community/

https://www.mhanational.org/issues/lgbtq-communities-and-mental-health

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/lgbt-youth-and-mental-health#disordered-eating

https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/panorama/mental-health-issues-among-the-lgbtq-810246.html

https://www.onlinetherapy.com/resources-for-lgbtq/

https://medium.com/@williamquinn_8803/online-therapy-for-lgbtq-what-are-your-best-options-6436a87a4d4d

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