Sex Therapy for LGBTQIA+ Clients

As sex and relationship specialists, we know that when working with clients who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, we cannot approach these relationships in the same way that we approach heterosexual relationships. The emotional, relational, and sexual dynamics can be vastly different in this community. These relationships require providers to have different perspectives, tools, and ways of thinking when working with these clients.

When working with individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community it is important to know that behavior is what a person does, which is not necessarily the same as how they identify. How an individual identifies refers to how they conceptualize themselves inwardly. We understand that behavior and identity do not have to match, although for some individuals they do. Who someone is attracted to does not have to match either behavior or identity. An individual can identify as gay and still be attracted to or even have sex with members of other genders. An individual may identify as straight while engaging in fantasy or sex involving members of the same gender. An individual can identify as one gender on some days and another gender on other days. Identity, attraction, and sexuality can shift throughout time and are fluid. We also understand that for some individuals, these things do not shift.

We provide sex therapy, relationship therapy, and individual therapy to LGBTQIA+ clients in Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg, Hershey, and the East/West Shore. Our therapeutic approach is supportive, collaborative, and integrative. We work to tailor treatment approaches to the needs of our clients and to collaborate on identifying goals. We strive to help clients gain insight, improve communication, rekindle intimacy, and strengthen coping skills. Our clients appreciate our warm and accepting style.

Our Sex Therapy & Counseling Services Focus On:

Helpful Terms (Courtesy of GLAAD)

Asexual:

An adjective used to describe people who do not experience sexual attraction (e.g., asexual person). A person can also be aromantic, meaning they do not experience romantic attraction.

Bisexual, Bi:

A person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of another gender. People may experience this attraction in differing ways and degrees over their lifetime. Bisexual people need not have had specific sexual experiences to be bisexual; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all to identify as bisexual.

Gay:

The adjective used to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex (e.g., gay man, gay people). Sometimes lesbian (n. or adj.) is the preferred term for women.

Lesbian:

A woman whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to other women. Some lesbians may prefer to identify as gay (adj.) or as gay women.

LGBTQ:

Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. Sometimes, when the Q is seen at the end of LGBT, it can also mean questioning. LGBT and/or GLBT are also often used. The term “gay community” should be avoided, as it does not accurately reflect the diversity of the community. Rather, LGBTQ community is preferred.

Pansexual

Sexual, romantic or emotional attraction towards people of all genders regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Queer:

An adjective used by some people, particularly younger people, whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual (e.g. queer person, queer woman). Typically, for those who identify as queer, the terms lesbian, gay, and bisexual are perceived to be too limiting and/or fraught with cultural connotations they feel don’t apply to them. Some people may use queer, or more commonly genderqueer, to describe their gender identity and/or gender expression (see non-binary and/or genderqueer below). Once considered a pejorative term, queer has been reclaimed by some LGBT people to describe themselves; however, it is not a universally accepted term even within the LGBT community. When Q is seen at the end of LGBT, it typically means queer and, less often, questioning.

Sexual Orientation:

The scientifically accurate term for an individual’s enduring physical, romantic and/ or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or opposite sex, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual (straight) orientations. People need not have had specific sexual experiences to know their own sexual orientation; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all.