Counselling for people from Rainbow Communities

(Note: I use ‘Rainbow Communities’ in the plural, to indicate that the Rainbow is not a monolith; there are multiple communities within it. I also use this as a widely inclusive language option, but I acknowledge and respect that people within these communities may prefer other terminology)

Supportive counselling means having a safe and respectful space where you can talk freely about your life and experiences. In my counselling (and in my life), I see Rainbow, Transgender, Takatāpui and Intersex identities as completely natural and deserving of full inclusion and respect. I focus on the diverse strengths and individuality of each person, beyond the confines of cis- and heteronormativity. I also understand that for many of us, the choice to live as our whole selves is not fully available to us and that this can have serious consequences.

Being Rainbow means we often live at the intersection of multiple identities. Of course, your reasons for accessing counselling may have nothing at all to do with your Rainbow identity. You might simply want a safe space with a counsellor who affirms you, where you can process what’s going on for you. If you do want support with Rainbow-specific topics, some of the things we can collaborate on in counselling include:

• The experience of coming out to yourself and others
• Coming out later in life, including as a partner and parent
• Coming out during or after involvement in a religious community
• Identifying and managing internalised homophobia and transphobia
• Living as someone who is both Rainbow and neurodivergent
• Navigating relationships as a Rainbow person, including counselling for people in relationships
• Living at the intersection of multiple identities, and the impacts this can have
• Understanding and managing gender dysphoria
• Self-esteem and identity as a Rainbow person