How Can Therapy Help with the Coming Out Process
There’s no one right way to come out. It’s a process that's different for everyone and based on a multitude of factors. Because this can be a confusing and complex time, when preparing to come out to your family, friends, and those closest to you, you might consider talking to a therapist first.
It can be scary to take that leap, whether you’re revealing your gender identity or sexual orientation, but a therapist can be there to help, as this can be a challenging time in your life. Throughout this article, we will review how therapy can help.
What Does "Coming Out" Mean?
The easiest and possibly best way to explain this is that you’re letting others in your life know something that you already know about yourself. This could be your sexual orientation or gender identity.
One of the first stages of the coming out process is that you have self-recognition about who you are. You should also understand and explore how you are feeling. You may go through various emotions, such as denial, anger, curiosity, excitement, or fear.
When deciding to talk to a therapist, it’s important to research to find someone qualified on the topic and to find someone who makes you feel safe and supported. It will also be important that your therapist helps you explore your identity, as well as the negative and positive impacts that this can have. In a perfect world, there would be no negatives to this.
Therapists Provide Support
Therapists can give you practice with sharing your story and truth with other people since there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
One of the most challenging parts of the coming out process is letting go of the expectations other people have for you. It's common to feel like you will fail to live up to expectations set by people in your life, including members of your family, church, or community. You may feel like you know how those around you will react, and those could be in a negative way. By talking to a therapist, they can help you work through the rollercoaster of emotions you feel about telling other people.
Building off of that, if you have family members or friends who are struggling once you come out, counseling sessions with them might be beneficial, as well. It can help them, and you process this new reality that you are ready to share with the world.
Unfortunately, many people going through the coming out process internalize a sense of shame whether they feel like their family and friends will be supportive or not. It’s important to realize there’s no shame in living your truth and sharing it with others but working with a therapist can help break down those feelings and build positive ones.
Humans tend to want to put labels on everything, including other people. However, some people feel as if they don't fall under specific labels or groups. Or, they may see themselves as fitting multiple labels. Working with a therapist can help you explore your unique situation in a safe space without judgment.
Reach Out For Support
It's challenging enough to get to a place where you are finally accepting who you are. When it unravels everything you thought about yourself or what others felt, it can feel like you are in between two different identities. If you are reaching a place where you are ready to begin this process, I am here to support you.
LGBTQIA+ counseling provides you with a safe, judgment-free zone where you can feel fully understood by someone else, perhaps for the first time in your life. When you are ready, don't hesitate to reach out; I’d be honored to help you on this journey.