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What is Queer-Affirming Therapy?



You may have heard the term queer-affirming therapy before, but what does this mean, and what does it look like in therapy? 

  

Overall, queer-affirming therapy is an approach in therapy that accepts and validates 2SLGBTQIA experiences and identities and believes in the client as the expert of their own life. This includes affirming the client’s self-identified sexuality and gender. Therapy is an important place to feel safe, seen, and heard; a queer-affirming approach is an essential part of this for anyone who is part of the 2SLGBTQIA community. 

 

Queer-affirming therapy is an approach that: 


  • Accepts and validates 2SLGBTQIA experiences and identities as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity, that have existed throughout history and cross-culturally. 

  • Appreciates that everyone’s experiences and identities are unique and personal. 

  • Acknowledges the harms of homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism, cissexism, and more, on the health and well-being of individuals and the 2SLGBTQIA community. 

  • Advocates for 2SLGBTQIA rights and resources including access to gender-affirming care. 

 

A queer-affirming therapist will: 

 

  • Understand the basics of and differences between sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexuality. 

  • Use inclusive and affirming language, including the correct names, pronouns, and labels you use, and apologize and try to do better when they get it wrong. 

  • Avoid making assumptions based on your experiences and identities. 

  • May ask questions about what your identities specifically mean to you. 

  • Normalize any uncertainty, questioning, or changes in identity. 

  • Believe in you as the expert of your own life and accept you as you are. 

  • Understand the harmful and traumatic impacts of homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism, cissexism, and more, on health and well-being. 

  • Be comfortable discussing experiences relating to sex, gender, and sexuality. 

  • Not assume you’re seeking therapy about your sex, gender, or sexuality. 

  • Self-reflect on their own biases and beliefs and their impact. 

  • Continue learning about 2SLGBTQIA experiences and affirming practices on their own time. 

  • Advocate for 2SLGBTQIA rights and resources. 

  

If you're looking for queer-affirming therapy in Ontario, you can learn more about our counsellors and services, book a complimentary consult, or reach out to us with any questions. At Clarity, we understand that queer-affirming therapy is a critical component of holistic health and well-being for LGBTQIA individuals. Contact us today! 

 

References: 

 

AAMFT Queer Affirmative Caucus, (n.d.). LGBT Affirmative Therapy. https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/hdfs/documents/misc/Affirmative_therapy_handout.pdf  


American Psychological Association, APA Task Force on Psychological Practice with Sexual Minority Persons. (2021). Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Sexual Minority Persons. www.apa.org/about/policy/psychological-practice-sexual-minority-persons.pdf  

 

Mulee, L. (2024). From Binary to Spectrum: A workshop on LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy. [Conference presentation]. LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Care Summit, online, PESI. 

 

Psychology Today, (n.d.). Affirmative Therapy. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapy-types/affirmative-therapy  

 
 
 

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