SEX & GENDER
Supporting LGBTQIA+ Affirmation
We offer a safe and judgment-free space for counseling support tailored to the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other gender and sexuality diverse individuals. While many LGBTQIA+ individuals lead fulfilling lives, research indicates that a disproportionate number face mental health challenges due to experiences of prejudice, stigma, and discrimination. These difficulties aren’t intrinsic to their identities but result from the unique societal pressures they encounter.
We understand that reaching out for help can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time seeking counseling. In a world often structured around heteronormative and cisnormative standards, our therapist, Christian Acuña, is here to provide a secure and empathetic environment for you to discuss your concerns openly.
Challenges Impacting Mental Health
Although we’ve made strides towards a more inclusive society, discrimination and stigma persist, affecting those who identify outside traditional gender and sexuality norms. The Private Lives 3 study by LaTrobe University found that 73.2% of LGBTQIA+ individuals have experienced a mental health diagnosis at some point in their lives, compared to 45.5% of the general population. These disparities are rooted in the increased exposure to discrimination and marginalisation, whether through institutions like workplaces or healthcare, or within personal relationships, such as friendships and families.
These experiences can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, shame, and unheard voices, making it essential to seek support.
You Are Not Alone
Christian is a trained therapist who specialises in addressing the unique needs and concerns of LGBTQIA+ individuals, their partners, and families. Our informed therapist focuses on creating a therapeutic relationship based on understanding, growth, and affirmation, eliminating any uncertainties regarding acceptance, allyship, or inclusivity.
What Is LGBTQIA+ Counselling?
Counselling is not one-size-fits-all, and the same applies to LGBTQIA+ counseling. Christian Acuña, based at Counselling Services for Men, is here to assist you in navigating life’s complexities, improving relationship skills, facilitating difficult conversations, and enhancing overall well-being. You might want to discuss a wide range of topics, including adolescence, anger management, anxiety, depression, family dynamics, grief, relationships, parenting, sexual abuse, sexual and intimacy issues, or matters unique to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Perhaps you are still questioning your identity, or you’ve decided it’s time to share your sexuality or gender identity with others. This can be a liberating moment, but it often comes with fear, alienation, and uncertainty about societal and personal reactions. We recognise that everyone goes through the coming-out process differently and at their own pace, and deciding who to share with and how much to reveal can be overwhelming.
Christian provides a safe space for discussing lived experiences in a hetero- and cisnormative world, where families of choice and the LGBTQIA+ community can be supportive, but families of origin, workplaces, and society at large may pose challenges. Experiences of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia can lead to significant trauma.
Christian Acuña is here to assist you at any stage of your journey with practical strategies to reduce stress and anxiety and promote well-being, resilience, and connection.
Specialised Support Includes:
- Exploring Sexuality
- Gender Identity
- Gender Questioning
- Dysphoria
- Coming Out
- Experiences of Homophobia, Biphobia, or Transphobia
- Bullying
- Discrimination
- Trauma
- Life Transitions and Adjustments
- School, University, or Work-Related Difficulties
Building strong, supportive relationships can be challenging for anyone. While LGBTQIA+ individuals may face increased risks in various aspects of their lives, connecting with peers, partners, and families who are supportive can foster resilience and well-being. LGBTQIA+ affirmative, strengths-based counseling can help you clarify your feelings, thoughts, and navigate life as your authentic self.
Support for Parents of LGBTQIA+ Youth
While many parents feel relieved when their child confides in them, some may experience surprise, confusion, and concerns for their child’s future safety and well-being. LGBTQIA+-friendly counselling can help you and your family explore and address any worries about your child’s identity. It can also provide practical support strategies to help your family navigate the future confidently.
Our LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Counsellor
Christian is ready to meet you where you are in your journey. He will look after the LGBTQIA+ issues, ensuring you have support in a world that may not always cater to your needs. Christian is affirmative, nonjudgmental, and well-informed about the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking therapeutic assistance.
For appointments or inquiries, please call us at 0415 237 494 or send us an email via our contact page.
LGBTQIA+ Glossary of Terms
AFAB An acronym standing for “Assigned Female At Birth”. It is a term for a person of any gender identity who was given the designation of “female” when they were born. AMAB An acronym standing for “Assigned Male At Birth”. It is a term for a person of any gender identity who was given the designation of “male” when they were born.
Ally An ally is someone who stands up for, supports, and affirms people in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Asexual Refers to someone who does not experience sexual attraction.
Biphobia The irrational fear of, aversion to, and/or discrimination against bisexual people.
Bisexual Refers to someone who is attracted to people of the same and opposite gender to themselves.
Cisgender Refers to someone whose gender identity aligns with the sex assigned to them at birth.
Cishet Refers to someone who is both cisgender (see above) and heterosexual (see below). This means they identify with their assigned sex, and are attracted to people of the opposite gender.
Coming Out A metaphor stemming from ‘coming out of the closet’ that describes the process of self-disclosure around someone’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Deadname A name someone, specifically within the transgender community, was given at birth and no longer uses upon transitioning.
Dysphoria The sense of discomfort or distress someone may have due to a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity.
Gay Refers to someone attracted to the same gender as them.
Gender Refers to an identity tied to characteristics of an identity (traditionally man or woman, but can be many forms) that is socially constructed. Gender is often used interchangeably with sex – while there may be overlap, sex has a biological basis, while gender is socially-coded.
Gender identity Someone’s personal sense of identifying as a particular gender. Your gender identity does not necessarily correspond to their biological sex.
Genderqueer Someone who doesn’t identify as traditional gender distinctions (man or woman), but identifies as neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders.
Homophobia The irrational fear of, aversion to, and/or discrimination against same-sex-attracted people.
Heterocentric Widely-held assumption (cultural, social, political) that heterosexuality and cisgenderism are ‘normal’ or the preferred sexual orientation and gender status.
Intersex Umbrella term for people born with a variance in their reproductive or sexual anatomy: they do not fit the typical definition of a ‘male’ or ‘female’ body.
Lesbian A woman attracted to other women.
LGBTQIA+ Umbrella term that refers to people who are sexuality, sex and/or gender diverse (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual).
Misgender To refer to someone, especially someone who is transgender, using a pronoun or form of address which does not accurately reflect the gender they identify as.
Nonbinary An umbrella term for gender identities that do not contrain to gender binary (strictly male/man or female/woman).
Pansexual Refers to someone who is attracted to people of all genders and biological sexes.
Queer A reclaimed umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or are not cisgender.
Questioning Refers to those in the process of discovery/exploration around their sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression.
Sex Refers to the anatomical, genetic, or physical attributes defining if a person is male, female, or intersex. Sex is often used interchangeably with gender – while there may be overlap, sex has a biological basis, while gender is socially-coded.
Sexual orientation Refers to someone’s identity in relation to the gender/genders they are sexually attracted to.
Transgender Relating to a person whose sense of personal and gender identity doesn’t align with their assigned sex at birth. Often shortened to trans.
Transitioning The process of changing one’s gender presentation or sex characteristics to align with one’s sense of gender identity.
Transphobia The irrational fear of, aversion to, and/or discrimination against transgender people.