June marks an annual event to honour and reflect on the history, achievements, and ongoing struggles of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Pride Month raises awareness about the challenges and discrimination faced by this diverse community, and aims to promote advocacy, education, and understanding.
At WJW Counselling, we value inclusivity and welcome anyone who’s struggling with their mental health. Counselling can provide crucial support and guidance if you’re exploring your sexuality. Some of the ways we aim to help our clients include:
Self-discovery
Our therapists offer a safe and non-judgemental space to explore and understand your feelings, desires, and attractions. We can help you navigate your thoughts and emotions, facilitating open self-reflection. Gain clarity and develop a deeper understanding of your sexual identity by participating in honest conversations that embrace your authentic self.
Emotional support
Exploration of your sexuality is complex and emotionally challenging. That’s why we offer counselling to provide validation and a safe space to express your concerns, fears, and uncertainties. Counselling is a confidential and supportive environment that’s focused on helping you navigate your feelings with empathy and encouragement.
Education
Counselling gives you access to valuable resources, information, and educational materials related to your sexuality. This knowledge can empower you to make informed decisions about your sexuality and sexual health.
Coping with discrimination
Unfortunately, discrimination persists in our society, and may even be felt more acutely than it has been in the past. Our therapists can help you develop resiliency to navigate these challenges while you build a strong support network and learn strategies for self-acceptance and self-care.
Relationship support
If you’re exploring your sexuality within the context of a partnership, we can help. Sexuality plays a significant role in relationships and it’s important to find ways to facilitate open and honest communication between partners. Counselling offers opportunities to seek guidance on maintaining healthy and fulfilling relationships while exploring your sexual identity.
Support for families
There’s also support available for family members, including parents of teens who are exploring their sexuality. It can be a transformative and healing experience to navigate your own emotions, concerns, and uncertainties related to a loved one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Express your emotions, ask questions, and learn about experiences and issues that may affect your family or your loved one, all in a non-judgemental environment. Counselling can assist in helping family members build stronger relationships to embrace a more inclusive family environment.
Understanding sex versus gender
Counselling can help you to understand your options, including the wide world of gender identity. While our sex refers specifically to our physical anatomy, gender is a social construct with much greater fluidity. Gender refers more broadly to your own self-identification, and isn’t limited to male or female. In fact, it’s hard to come up with an exhaustive list of gender identities, but they include at least these: cisgender (matches sex), transgender (different than sex), agender (none), bigender (two), gender fluid (not fixed), non-binary (other than male or female), and polygender (multiple genders).
Using the Indigenous medicine wheel
In addition to highly researched therapeutic models, our counsellors draw on the ancient wisdom of the Indigenous medicine wheel. This is a holistic framework that supports self-discovery and personal growth. It represents interconnected aspects of life, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
Engaging with the medicine wheel can help individuals to embark on a journey of self-reflection, introspection, and understanding, which can be beneficial in the exploration of one’s sexual identity. The goal is to help foster a deeper connection to your personal values, strengths, challenges, and healing, facilitating a sense of self-discovery and empowerment.
Celebrating Pride Month
Pride Month serves as a powerful celebration and recognition of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It’s a time to honour and affirm the diversity of sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.
Overall, counselling can be an empowering and transformative experience for individuals exploring their sexuality. It provides an affirming space for emotional growth, and assists in navigating the challenges and joys of embracing one’s authentic sexual identity.
If you’re looking for a supportive environment to seek therapy, WJW Counselling welcomes you to book a consultation. This June, we hope your journey to self-discovery is a positive one, and we hope to inspire collective action towards a more inclusive and equitable society.
