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.
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.
3140 Peter Street
Windsor, ONT, N9C 1H3
Phone: 519-818-6453
www.mikecardinal.com
For individuals, couples, families and small discussion groups. Healing and Harmony focus on Cognitive Therapy approaches with a special understanding of the integration of one's body, mind and soul.
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.
3320 College Avenue
Windsor, ONT N9C 0E1
Phone: 519-258-6002
www.wechc.org/sch_home
Windsor Essex Community Health Centre, Sandwich Community Health provides Primary Care Services and Counselling Services to the vulnerable individuals in Windsor – Essex.
1770 Langlois Ave.
Windsor, ON, N8X4M5
Phone: 519-966-5010
www.fswe.ca
At Family Services Windsor-Essex, we provide programs and services to enrich the community we live in by focusing on the needs of the people in it!
1361 Ouellette Ave #101
Windsor ON, N8X 1J6
Phone: 519-253-8481
www.wechc.org/teenhealth_home
Teen Health is located at 1361 Ouellette and provides Primary Care and Counselling to youth between the ages of 12 and 24 years. Individuals come to us for Physical and Mental Health (individual and group counseling is available); Eating Disorders; Substance Abuse; Parent Support (support for parents and guardians of adolescents) and Pre and Post Natal for young moms.
Phone: 519-816-2701
www.giseleharrison.com
I am a straight therapist who has and continues to work hard to understand how homophobia and heterosexism affects the lives of LGBTQ people. I am committed to providing specialized counselling services with a growing understanding of the issues and life difficulties faced by LGBTQ youth (15+), adults, and couples to live healthier, happier more empowered lives.
Phone: 519-735-4714 w
ww.transformationsgs.com
Transformations Counselling Services over the last 10 years has been dedicated to providing counselling and consulting services primarily to professionals, women, teens, couples, and families within Windsor and Essex County, and Detroit, Michigan.
Windsor Regional Hospital
1030 Ouellette Avenue, 1st Floor Jeanne Mance Building
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.
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.
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.
Jackson Park Health Centre
Unit 245 - 2475 McDougall
Windsor, ONT, N8X 3N9
519-250-5656
www.windsorfht.ca
The Windsor Family Health team offers high quality primary health care for residents in Windsor and the surrounding area. An interprofessional group of health care practitioners, including family physicians, provide health care in an integrated, respectful and holistic environment to help keep patients healthy before illness occurs. The focus of the health team is on disease management and prevention and health promotion.
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.
1361 Ouellette Avenue #101
Windsor, ONT, N8X 1J6
Phone: 519-253-8481
www.wechc.org
As a community Health Centre our Mission is to support the health and wellness of our vulnerable population in everything we do.
Phone: (226) 348-3378
General Inquiries: [email protected]
2109 Ottawa Street, Unit 216
Windsor, Ontario, N8Y 1R8
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