Services
LGBTQ Parenting

LGBTQ Parenting

You will be a great parent to your child. You can overcome the bigotry you face.

And your child will learn all they need from you to live a great, successful life.

Becoming a parent is exciting, worthwhile, and a bit scary for anyone. You want to provide a happy life for your child.

But you may worry about various conditions that make it more challenging. The specific difficulties of being an LGBTQ parent amplify those issues.

LGBTQ parenting issues

The first steps in LGBTQ couples having children will look a bit different for everyone. They may consist of a blended family, with children from previous straight relationships. They may adopt, or they may choose surrogacy or in vitro fertilization. 

Adoption and fertility issues alone can create difficulties, as they would for any couple. As an LGBTQ parent, you must also contend with the fear of bigotry within a society that doesn’t fully support you. Financial burdens may come about, due to the lack of financial support by companies and insurances for same-sex couples. 

You may worry about the effect that bigotry could have on your children. Acceptance of your own identity may already be a struggle within that societal environment. Persistent, systemic forces pushing back against you are discouraging. Even more so when they also affect your loved ones.

Some of those forces may be political. Even with same-sex marriage becoming legal in 2015, LGBTQ couples still face plenty of (more subtle) obstacles. In the process of adoption, for one, LGBTQ couples may face higher hurdles to overcome. These could entail increased standards for approval and longer waiting periods.

And some forces may be societal. Bigotry in medical and social settings is still common for LGBTQ independents and families. For example, maybe one parent is blood-related and the other is not. You may have difficulty receiving equal treatment in medical settings that concern your child. The blood-related parent could receive certain rights more readily.

You may also face elevated levels of scrutiny from other parents at your child’s school. People may question the quality of your parenting based only on prejudiced assumptions. This scrutiny might also occur in familial settings. Some family members may be more supportive of your “non-traditional” family unit than others.

LGBTQ Parenting

LGBTQ affirming therapy

These concerns are all valid, and we are here to help you navigate them.

You are more than capable of being a great parent to your child. And there is no shame in asking for help.

In fact, plenty of evidences suggests that children do just as well in life with same-sex parents as with straight parents. Similar parenting issues, such as behavior and money, may affect all couples.

But many children with LGBTQ parents are more open-minded and tolerant. And LGBTQ parents are often more motivated in their parenting. They put extra effort into becoming parents in the first place, and may be even more invested.

Our LGBTQ affirming therapists will walk you through more general parenting issues. We will also provide counseling and support in dealing with the systemic and societal issues you face.

And we will help you guide discussions about bigotry with your children.

You want your children to become open-minded people. Start by teaching them about various differences in culture, race, and sexual identities. Of course, your children will (and should) resolve some conflicts on their own. But you will have given them a foundation of compassion for those moments.

 

Our Expert Clinicians

Therapists and Coaches who work with clients experiencing various issues anything in between.

MS

LLMSW

MA, LCPC, PMH-C

LCSW, RDT

LCPC

LCSW, PMH-C

LPC, NCC, PMH-C

MA, LPC

LCPC, PMH-C

Here’s what to expect when you work with us:

Free Phone Consult:

At Bricolage, we extend a free 15-minute phone consultation to make sure we are a good fit to work together. We will discuss what your goals are, explain what therapy will look like, and how your life will be different after working with us. By the end of this call, you will have
a clear idea of your next steps.

Initial Session:

Your first meeting with your therapist will be between 60 and 70 minutes and will allow the two of you to begin to build a relationship.
You will go over the information you provided before this initial session as well as dive into all of the elements of your story. Throughout
this appointment, you and your therapist will work as a team to create your action plan.

Weekly Sessions:

Once you and your therapist begin to work deeply together, you will experience a type of treatment that has been completely tailored
to you and your needs. Your therapist will take keen notice of where you are in your wellness journey and ensure that the exercises you complete in session will bring you a sense of comfort and peace as you move forward.we

Completion of Goals

As a team, you and your therapist will continue to evaluate your progress and growth. Eventually, the two of you will recognize that you
are responding to stressors more effectively and that weekly therapy might no longer be necessary. At this point you can choose to come to session less often and together you will decide what level of support you need for the future.

Our team of compassionate professionals will help you tap into the strengths you already possess and guide you to stop looking for the “if” and start taking advantage of the NOW.

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