Gay and Lesbian Issues

Being Gay or being a Lesbian can be difficult in a society that is mostly heterosexual. Some people do not have the support network or are unable to talk with friends and family about issues regarding their sexual preference. This can lead to feelings of estrangement from friends and family. Common issues for this community include: struggling with one’s sexual identity, “coming out”, dealing with the homophobic culture or a certain homophobic person, and/or feeling religiously prosecuted or discriminated against. The counselors at Luminent can provide help for not only those who are homosexual, but also help friends, parents, or relatives who may be struggling with related issues. It is not uncommon for parents to feel they have “failed” at their parenting, are experiencing shame because of their beliefs about homosexuality, or concern that their child may face societal hardships because of their homosexuality, Friends or other relatives may experience shock, surprise, anger, confusion, or embarrassment. The counselors at Luminent are well trained in the area of sexual issues, gay and lesbian issues, gender identity issues, and bisexual issues. The professionally trained counselors can offer a non-judgmental approach to helping you work through your concerns, fears, questions, and feelings, A supportive professional can help foster a greater understanding and acceptance of either you or those you care about who are struggling with these and other related issues.

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What can you expect from telephone counseling?

Using the phone to talk with a counselor is not much different than what you could expect from an office visit. The therapy we offer at Luminent, by way of the telephone, can be as effective, or even more effective, than the traditional in-office visits.

You may have anxieties or concerns about office visits and may not be as willing to open up and truly express your feelings and thoughts because it seems too overwhelming or intimidating to sit down, face-to-face with a counselor. By using the telephone, you can discuss without the self-consciousness you may experience sitting across from a mental health professional.

One of the best features of telephone therapy is that it allows you to choose how long you want your session to last. A typical therapy session usually lasts 45-50 minutes, when using the more traditional office visits. However, with Luminent, you can work with your counselor to choose the amount of time you would like. Not only can you choose to have shorter or longer sessions, you can also work with your counselor to increase the frequency of your sessions if needed.

We have many professionals available to help you.

The first step to engaging in therapy is to select from our list of highly qualified professionals. You can do this by both choosing from the list of on this page, and reviewing the different the counselor's profile and listening to an audio introduction if available.

Start gradually with a free consultation.

We offer a free 10 minute screening to ensure that you would like to work with that counselor, as it is important that you feel that there is a good match. Once you choose your therapist, you can begin therapy in a way that feels most comfortable to you.

It all starts with learning about your needs.

Your therapist may initially ask you questions about your concerns; explore how your issues are impacting your life, and what are some of your goals. You can choose the pace at which you want to go. This means you can slowly address your issues, or you can choose to share your problems in your initial phone session.

You can expect your counselor to be a non-judgmental, supportive individual. He or she may ask you questions about your thoughts and feelings, and help guide you to exploring issues surrounding your concerns. The counselors at Luminent are invested in helping you to achieve the goals you would like. They can help provide knowledge and tools that enable you to deal more effectively with your problems.