Compassionate therapy for every twist in your individual and relationship journey
WHAT IS LGBTQ+ COUPLES THERAPY?
Couples therapy carries a negative connotation to many. It has been considered a “last-ditch effort” to salvage an already broken marriage or relationship. At Respark, we work to change this perspective. Couples Therapy, especially at Respark, can be a beneficial space for productive, non-judgemental communication for those at any stage of their relationship. Couples Therapy is designed to not only focus on the bad moments but find all the ways to celebrate and encourage the good. At Respark, we strive to guide you and your partner(s) through anything that may come up in your life–we’re here to help fan the flame of your love.
Everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and understood in therapy regardless of socio-economic status, race, gender identity, and sexual preferences. No help can be had when a therapist has a bias towards particular patients. Respark’s LGBTQ+ Couples Therapy is talk therapy with expert and compassionate therapists. All practicing therapists with Respark are AASECT Certified Sex Therapists and SHA Certified Sex Therapists. We welcome partners from all walks of life. We are experienced and knowledgeable of all expressions and orientations. We are trained in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and asexual issues. We see clients that struggle with same-sex attraction, gender identity/gender care, and gender nonconformity. Several therapists on our staff also specialize in transgender issues.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED LGBTQ+ COUPLES THERAPY?
Individual therapy is for everyone–every person can benefit from some form of therapy. People of all ages, all cultures, and all demographics are seen in therapy. Cultural taboos, stigmas, shyness, embarrassment, or shame can affect the way people view and judge their life. There is no shame in getting help. At Respark, we are dedicated to helping you navigate through depression, anxiety, and other life stressors. Respark your love for life again. You are not alone!
Some reasons LGBTQ+ folks may seek us out:
- Difficulty discussing sexual topics with your partner
- Family of origin issues including abuse, neglect, and trauma
- Mixed sexual orientation relationships (one partner is heterosexual and the other is bisexual)
- Shame or confidence issues
- Coming out process and concerns
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Asexual, and other orientation concerns
- Identity questions or sexual development exploration
- Gender identity and gender care
Just want a therapist that is knowledgeable and affirming?
Clients tell us we're friendly, down to earth and approach therapy in a collaborative manner. We offer a holistic, gentle yet direct, and tailored approach that includes well-researched theories with a relational foundation. Together, we will learn new techniques, assign at-home exercises, reading assignments, conduct in-session guided exercises and other activities that make therapy and coaching fun and productive. We'll work together to form an approach that will be tailored to your goals. Leading researchers, including Esther Perel, Brené Brown, John Gottman, David Schnarch, David Ley, Chris Donaghue, and Marty Klein influence our therapeutic work with couples and individuals. Additionally, as AASECT-Certified Sex Therapists, we will work toward improving intimacy, strengthening communication skills, and communicating your desires.
Common issues around LGBTQ+ Couples Issues that bring clients that to therapy may be:
- Desire mismatch
- One partner identifies within the LGBTQ+ community and one does not
- Identity exploration
- Feeling identity erasure in a mixed-orientation relationship
- Fertility issues in same-sex relationships
- Issues around marriage for same sex relationships
- Coming “Out”
- LGBTQ+ Parenting
- Transitioning when in a relationship
Read More About LBGTQQIA+ From Our Experts:
GSRD or LGBTQ+?
Dr. Meg-John Barker, an expert in LGBTQ+ theory, sees something missing from the abbreviation of LGBTQ+. Instead, they proposed a new term for replacement: GSRD, or, Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diversity. Barker’s intent is not to insinuate anything is inherently wrong with LGBTQ+, but they believe we can do better. GSRD, in turn, is to better serve the queer community as a whole and consistently works to reexamine our foundational knowledge on gender and sexual identity.
It is easy to see that the words used to describe the relationship between sexuality and gender identity were constructed using antiquated ideas. Only in recent decades have we created terminology that addressed lived experiences of many individuals, while the majority of our lexicon remains behind. Barker sees an issue with terms like “lesbian” and “gay” in that they rely on the person’s gender identity in order to be applicable. “Lesbian,” for example, necessitates that the person identifies as a woman and is attracted to other women-identifying people. This definition does not take into account biology, ignoring that people may experience differing attractions based on sex organs as well, regardless of that person’s chosen gender identity.
GSRD also relieves significant pressure from the Q+ in LGBTQ+. As Barker points out, the term has become an alphabet soup and leads to unnecessary confusion and exclusion. In the language of sexuality and gender identity, everything that isn’t perfectly categorized as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transexual, is automatically lumped together under Q+, indicating an obvious hierarchy of queer identities. At Respark, we agree that we can do better in representing all people, but chose to use “LGBTQ+” because of its widespread understandability.
To read more about Dr. Meg-John Barker and their work in the queer community, click here.
TESTIMONIAL
“Our therapist is gentle, compassionate, honest and well educated. She has a personality that’s inviting and it allows you to open up and speak so comfortably without fear of judgment. She makes us feel safe to discuss difficult emotions and overall extremely pleased! I am a private person and find it difficult to trust people with emotional fragility. She is one of a kind and great at her job! Session 1 and we are already feeling hopeful and better about our marriage! “
When you are ready, Respark Therapy is here for you with online services in Texas, Colorado, and Washington or in-person sessions in Austin, Texas and San Antonio, Texas.
At Respark Therapy, we are here for you. Whether you choose to see a therapist for an online session anywhere in Texas, Colorado, or Washington, or an in-person session in Austin, Texas or San Antonio, Texas, our caring and knowledgeable team is here to answer all of your questions. It is our priority to help you feel confident and cared for.