Posts Tagged ‘transgender relationships’
If life were like the movies, we could expect partnership to make us live happily ever after. Movies and societal expectation purports that if two people love each other, it will work out. Many loving couples find themselves in couple’s counseling because the art of relationship requires more than a feeling of love.
As with life itself, relationships develop, grow and go through different stages. The challenges and joys of first meeting and joining are very different than when partners make growing commitments to one another. Life inherently brings both change and challenge such as job changes or losses, raising children, aging parents, financial strains and much more. Each stage or challenge can be difficult and challenging. There may have been nothing in life that has prepared a couple for these challenges.
People also bring all their life experiences into their relationship. These include a person’s strengths as well as any old hurt or thing that has not gone well. Relationship is fertile ground that brings to the surface old hurts and issues previously unresolved. With understanding and some effort relationship can also be a wonderful place to bring healing and resolution to those old hurts.
Communication between people is not something that our educational system and culture teach much about. Couples entering therapy often must learn ways of fully listening to one another, even when opinions and beliefs diverge. There may be differences between people that may seem insurmountable. Listening well, finding ways to validate each person’s thoughts, feelings and needs is critical regardless of whether both people agree. Then finding positive ways to work together incorporating each person’s feelings and needs is important and possible.
Gay, lesbian, queer and transgender couples can also have the added stress of homophobia. If a couple is closeted or experiences homophobia either internally or from family, friends or co-workers, this puts pressure on the couple. How each couple manages this pressure can make an enormous difference in terms of their well being. Relationships with the outside world directly impacts couples. Partnerships in isolation will have a harder time than those with support.
Upon entering couples therapy people can feel that because they have problems, their relationship is has failed or headed towards ruin. In fact, as therapists we are sure that relationships are hard for nearly everyone. With openness, courage and willingness to take a risk, the growth potential is enormous. Deepening closeness, growing communication and fulfillment is the goal of couples counseling.
Nothing can be scarier than coming out. If you’re reading this, it’s been with you a long time. It may be a secret that has not be spoken. It may challenge the way you think about yourself. You may fear the way others will think of you. It may feel that it puts you at risk for rejection, isolation and even hostility. There is no doubt that coming out is an act of courage. It shows that we humans must be ourselves.
Silence equals death has been a slogan in the gay, lesbian, queer and transgender community. It speaks to what happens when someone feels that they can not be themselves. If silence equals death then coming out must bring freedom and life.
We at LifeCourse Counseling Center want to assist you in living your life fully. Most people who come out, regardless of the difficulties and challenges, experience much greater wholeness, integrity and happiness when they choose to do so.
Coming out may require that your reach out and make connections to garner the needed support to make this journey. Therapists at LifeCourse Counseling Center being LBGTQ themselves are in a unique position in helping you with this process. We can help you in any point in your process. You do not have to come out to talk with someone about how you feel. Talking can help build a foundation that may help you decide when and if coming out is right for you. Talk with us too if you do want to come out. We’ve been there!
If you need help knowing what to do, or if you need guidance in finding a productive direction with a problem or life issue, ask a professional therapist!
Of course we cannot solve your problems immediately on this website, nor replace therapy, but we can do our best to help you consider different perspectives and find a new direction.
We do offer some perspective free of charge.
Just ask us!
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Call or email us for more information or to set up an appointment.
There are many reasons you may wish to talk to a gay, lesbian or transgender therapist over the phone rather than meeting in person. Some include:
• Where You Live – If you live in a location where LGBT psychotherapists are not available
• Anonymity – There are many reasons some people need or prefer not running the risk of having other people see you enter a psychotherapy office or if you prefer not meeting face to face
• Easy access/Convenience – Scheduling problems, long drives, busy lives makes phone therapy more accessible
• Homebound – If you are not well enough to travel to another location
All of LifeCourse Counseling Center’s therapists are licensed professional psychotherapists. Our services are strictly confidential. Please see our “Individual Psychotherapy” Page to read about our philosophy of helping people.
Please call or email us for more information or to set up an appointment.
Telephone consultation is a professional psychotherapeutic service. Under no circumstances will we participate in any sexual interaction. Should this situation arise, the appointment will be immediately terminated and no refunds will be given.
Relationships are hard! Whether couples are newly together or have been together for years, each stage presents its own challenges.
Learning to listen deeply and communicate clearly and honestly is vitally important. So is being able to ask for what you need, learning to disagree and learning to tolerate your differences. Sometimes there are tensions concerning who gets their way.
There can be life crises, family issues, illnesses, financial challenges, children to raise, and so much more.
Learning to listen and negotiate takes time, practice, effort and patience. Speaking with a professionally trained therapist can help with all this and more. Couples therapy can make a huge difference.
While the office is located in Northampton, LifeCourse’s individual therapy services are easily accessible to people living in Springfield, Greenfield, the Brattleboro Vt area, Amherst and surrounding areas of the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. Telephone and skype appointments are also available.
Call or email us for more information or to set up an appointment.
At LifeCourse Counseling Center, we have been privileged to work with transgender people since 1983. We know the courage it takes for people to be themselves regardless of what others think. LifeCourse Counseling Center and all it’s therapists validates and supports transgender, queer and gender varient individuals. We encourage all people to find their unique place in our world and we share the joy in seeing people content and at peace with whom they truly are.
Transgender individuals who come to speak to our therapists are looking for different things. Some need to explore their gender orientation (with all the possibilities that entails) while others know with certainty they want to transition. We help people gain insight into what transitioning means for them and what choices are available. We make referrals to medical professionals and see people through any medical process they may choose.
Our therapists also specialize in helping individuals consider the many issues that inherently come with being transgender. We focus on what a changing identity means to each person. We discuss the impact on families, friends and work relationships. We help people change inwardly as their bodies change outwardly. Together we focus on anything of significance for each individual.
No matter how difficult the changes may be at times, we find that transgender people who follow their hearts and natural yearnings discover that life becomes more joyful and transformative.
While the office is located in Northampton, LifeCourse’s individual therapy services are easily accessible to people living in Springfield, Greenfield, the Brattleboro Vt area, Amherst and surrounding areas of the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. Telephone and skype appointments are also available.
Call or email us for more information or to set up an appointment.