COUNSELLING
Although a person’s sexual or romantic orientation or gender identity may not be a source of distress, people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, or any other orientation or gender identity may find that the social stigma of living as a minority is a source of stress or anxiety.
When seeking therapy, whether for issues associated with one’s sexual, romantic, or gender identity or for concerns related to mental health, finding a qualified mental health professional who has experience and familiarity with the challenges members of the LGBTQIA community often face can be critical to successful therapy outcomes.
What Issues Might LGBTQIA People Face? Despite rapidly growing cultural acceptance of diverse sexual and romantic orientations and gender identifications, oppression, discrimination, and marginalization of LGBTQ people persists. Coping with discrimination and oppression, coming out to one’s family, and sorting out an “authentic” sense of self in the face of social expectations and pressures can lead to higher levels of depression, anxiety, substance use, and other mental health concerns for LGBTQ people.
Research shows that youth who identify as LGBTQ are at an increased risk of suicidal ideation and self-harm, particularly when they also experience discrimination based on their sexual or gender identity. According to a 2007 survey, students who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender were almost ten times as likely to have experienced bullying and victimization at school and more than twice as likely to have considered suicide as their heterosexual, non-transgender classmates within the previous year.
Discrimination may take several forms, including social rejection, verbal and physical bullying, and sexual assault, and repeated episodes will likely lead to chronic stress and diminished mental health. Perceived discrimination—the expectation of discrimination—may also lead to diminished mental health. LGBTQ adults, too, may be subject to similar forms of harassment, as well as discrimination with regards to housing, employment, education, and basic human rights.
Many of the concerns and life challenges LGBTQ people bring to therapy are those common among all people. All couples argue over many of the same things—money, sex, the in-laws, quality time—and all people are subject to the same kinds of daily stressors, such as mood swings, workplace concerns, or low self-esteem.
- RESOURCE LINKS -
- LOCAL RESOURCE CONNECTIONS -
FAMILY SERVICES WINDSOR-ESSEX
1770 Langlois Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N8X 4M5
Phone: 519-966-5010 Email: info@fswe.ca
Website: www.fswe.ca
We offer counselling services for individuals, couples, children and youth who are experiencing challenges with relationships, addiction, depression, anxiety, sexuality, separation, divorce, parenting, trauma, self-esteem and emotional regulation and overall wellness. We also provide professional, voluntary and confidential advocacy and support services to families, individuals, couples, older adults and persons with developmental disabilities who need help finding housing, completing forms, or filling out taxes. We also support individuals experiencing hoarding, bullying, or financial distress.
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION WINDSOR-ESSEX (LEAMINGTON OFFICE)
215 Talbot Street East, Leamington, ONT, N8H 3X5
Phone: 519-255-7440
www.windsoressex.cmha.ca
CMHA Windsor Essex is a lead provider and advocate of community mental health services. We achieve this through treatment, collaboration, education and community engagement.
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION WINDSOR-ESSEX (WINDSOR OFFICE)
1400 Windsor Avenue, Windsor, ONT, N8X 3L9
Phone: 519-255-7440
www.windsoressex.cmha.ca
CMHA Windsor Essex is a lead provider and advocate of community mental health services. We achieve this through treatment, collaboration, education and community engagement.
HOTEL-DIEU COMMUNITY CRISIS CENTRE
744 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9A 1E1
Phone: 519-973-4435
www.hdgh.org/crisis
The Community Crisis Centre is a partnership of area hospitals and social organizations committed to providing 24-hour crisis response services to residents of Windsor and Essex County who are experiencing serious mental illness and/or acute psychosocial problems. A variety of services are provided to reach individuals in crisis, including a 24-hour crisis phone line, follow-up crisis counseling and referrals.
KIDS HELP PHONE
1-800-668-6868
www.kidshelpphone.ca
Kids Help Phone is Canada's only national 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, web counselling and referral service for children and youth. Our service is completely anonymous and confidential - we don't trace calls, we don't have call display.
LGBT YOUTHLINE
Phone: 1-800-268-9688
www.youthline.ca
Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30 PM.
UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR STUDENT COUNCELLING CENTRE
401 Sunset Avenue, Room 293 CAW Centre, Windsor, ONT, N9B 3P4
Phone: 519-253-3000 Ext. 4616
www.uwindsor.ca/scc
The Student Counselling Centre at the University of Windsor provides free, confidential counselling to registered students as well as consultation and referral services for University of Windsor faculty and staff. Services are provided by Psychologists, Registered Therapists, a Registered Nurse, and Master's-level graduate students.
W.E. TRANS SUPPORT
1435 Tecumseh Road East, Windsor, Ontario, N8W 1C2
Phone: 226-674-4745
www.wetranssupport.ca
Counselling supports can be provided on an individual basis at the request of the client. This support is extended to people who identify as Trans*, friends, family, and partners by appointment only at no cost. Counselling support is also through referral to our community partners.
WINDSOR FAMILY HEALTH TEAM
2475 McDougall, Suite 245, Windsor, ONT, N8X 3N9
Phone: 519-250-5656
Website: www.windsorfht.ca
At the Windsor Family Health Team we've taken steps to ensure LGBT people in our community receive culturally sensitive health care services. Our team regularly receives training on LGBT health matters and are proud to declare our clinic a LGBT positive space.