One-to-one counselling sessions to LGBTIQ people and for those who may be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. What you bring to counselling may or may not be LGBTIQ related.
If something is troubling you it can be worth spending some time thinking and talking about why this may be happening. The LGBTIQ community has many issues it has to deal with including:
- Lack of confidence: worried about failing, never feeling good enough, feeling judged.
- Depression: feeling isolated, lonely, empty, tearful, unloved, suicidal.
- Destructive behaviour: harming yourself, abusive relationships, alcohol, drugs.
- Bereavement: loss, anger, loneliness, sadness & depression.
- Relationship difficulties: partners, sexual and emotional intimacy issues, family and friends, colleagues, commitment, jealousy, abuse.
- Family issues: partners, children, parenting, separation and divorce, homesickness.
- Sexuality: coming out to yourself and others, exploring your beliefs and attitudes to gay sex and the "scene", exploring your sexual identity and how it affects your lifestyle choices.
What we offer:
- 12 weeks of counselling with a volunteer counsellor who is either fully qualified or working towards qualification/accreditation. All our counsellors, supervisors and assessors work within the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) code of ethics, or equivalent professional body. Counsellors who volunteer their time for London Friend all identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex or Queer.
- Financial contribution: As we incur costs, such as building overheads and the provision of professional clinical supervision for counsellors, we invite people accessing the counselling service to make a regular financial contribution in accordance with their income. This will be discussed at your assessment.
Please note that our counselling service is very popular and experiences a heavy demand; as such we operate a waiting list. Our waiting list is currently around 5 months. You may wish to access our coming out or social groups whilst you are waiting. If you would like to speak to somebody for support whilst you are waiting you can contact our partners Switchboard seven days a week. You can also try ELOP or the Metro Centre or Spectra who provide LGBTIQ counselling services in London.
London Friend’s one to one Counselling Service is open:
Monday 2pm – 9pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am to 9pm
Friday 10am to 1pm
In the Assessment Session, we will ask you your availability within the time frame above. The more flexible you can be, will likely reduce the waiting time for a counsellor. At the time of writing, the wait after assessment is approximately five months.
London Friend offers both in-person (in our Community Centre in Kings Cross) and online counselling. The wait time for in-person counselling is slightly shorter at approximately four months
If you would like to refer yourself to our 1-2-1 counselling service, please complete the form below. If you have any questions, please get in touch at counselling@londonfriend.org.uk
