Deciding that it’s time to start therapy and looking for a therapist can already be vulnerable tasks. Now layer on the added stress of wondering whether they’ll truly see you—your identity, your story, your experience—not as something to diagnose, fix, or tiptoe around, but as real, worthy, and whole. For individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, therapy can be a space of powerful healing—but it must feel safe and affirming.

If you’ve ever found yourself scanning bios for keywords like “LGBTQ+ affirming” or “identity-inclusive” or searching for other clues that a therapist will be a fit, this post is for you.

What Does “LGBTQ+ Affirming” Really Mean?

An affirming therapist doesn’t just have the right education and training—they actively work to understand and celebrate the nuances of LGBTQ+ identities. That includes being trauma-informed about the impacts of heteronormativity, homophobia, transphobia, and systemic marginalization, and being clinically competent in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and identity-related stressors that may be wrapped up in all of it.

Signs a therapist may be affirming include:

  • They name LGBTQ+ populations explicitly in their bio
  • They’ve actively sought out training and experiences with the LGBTQ+ community
  • They acknowledge the role of social stigma in mental health.
  • They are open to discussing identity, gender, and sexuality without pathologizing or tiptoeing.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for LGBTQ+ Therapy

At Dallas CBT, one of the supportive therapy models we use when working with LGBTQ+ individuals is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT helps you get unstuck from rigid self-stories so you can move toward what really matters to you.  

Here’s how ACT supports LGBTQ+ identity work:

1. Defusion (Unsticking) from harmful narratives

Many LGBTQ+ clients carry messages that were never theirs to begin with—internalized shame, inherited fear, perfectionism, or invisibility. ACT helps you notice these stories for what they are: thoughts, not truths. Instead of arguing with them or believing them blindly, you learn to hold them lightly.

2. Values-based living

ACT invites you to reconnect with your own core values. Not what society expects. Not what your family demanded. But what you want your life to stand for—whether that’s authenticity, creativity, connection, or anything else. Identity exploration is about discovering and living in alignment with who you are.

3. Psychological flexibility

ACT isn’t about feeling good all the time—it’s about becoming flexible in the face of pain. That’s especially helpful when navigating minority stress or living in environments that don’t always understand you. With ACT, you learn to stay grounded in your truth while still showing up fully in your life.

How to Find an LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapist

Finding the right therapist is part research, part intuition, and part trial and error. Here are a few tips to help with your therapist search:

  1. Use filters on directories like Psychology Today, Therapy Den, or Inclusive Therapists to search for “LGBTQ+ affirming” or identity-competent clinicians.
  2. Read between the lines. Do they name LGBTQ+ populations directly? Do they use inclusive language? Do they list modalities like ACT or trauma-informed care?
  3. Ask directly. It’s okay to email or ask in a consult:
     “What’s your experience working with LGBTQ+ clients?” or
     “How do you integrate identity work into therapy?”
  4. Trust your sense of safety. You should generally have a strong sense that your therapist cares about you and is on your team.  Therapists are human and make mistakes, but the relationship should be strong enough to hold any minor blips in the road. 

You Deserve More Than Just “Welcoming”

Your best bet is to find a therapist who has made identity work and LGBTQ+- related concerns central to their work.  That is not to say you cannot find an incredible fit in a therapist without this specialty– it is definitely possible, because so much rides on the strength and authenticity of the connection between the therapist and the client.

If you’re in Texas and looking for LGBTQ+ affirming therapy or want to learn more about how ACT can support identity work and emotional wellbeing, reach out to our team at Dallas CBT.  We will connect you with therapists who are committed to working within LGBTQ+ communities and who will help you step more fully into who you are.

Ready to start? Reach out for a consultation. We’d be honored to walk with you.