Site icon David A. Heilman, Psy.D.

Gay LGBTQ+ Therapist in Washington, DC

Gay LGBTQ+ Therapist in Washington, DC

Gay Counseling In Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

Gay Male Therapist: As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have dedicated my training, research, and clinical work to helping those within the LGBTQ+ community find pride, belongingness, fulfillment, and a strong sense of confidence in who they are. 

Do you need a therapist experienced in helping with LGBTQ+ issues, relationships, parenting or family issues?

  • Same-sex marriage and divorce
  • Sexuality and gender identity
  • Monogamous, “monogamish” and non-monogamous relationships
  • Lesbian, gay, transgender and polyamorous relationship counseling
  • Lesbian, gay, and transgender families and parenting
  • Bisexuality and bisexual spouse issues
  • The Coming Out process (to self, parents, or others)
  • LGBTQ+ bias and discrimination

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) Affirmative Therapy

Society has thankfully undergone a fundamental transformation in the way it views the communities named under the LGBTQ+ acronym. However, in addition to overt aggression towards LGBTQ+ individuals, more covert negative stereotypes of LGBTQ+ individuals persist. These stereotypes are harmful to the physical and mental health of LGBTQ+ people and result in increased rates of depression, anxiety, long-term relationship challenges, sexual dissatisfaction, substance abuse, loneliness and isolation, and lowered self-esteem for these communities.

Over time, LGBTQ+ individuals understandably can take in negative societal attitudes about themselves, and direct them towards a hatred of who they are. To develop a healthy sense-of-self, recent research has shown that LGBTQ+ individuals must battle against conscious and unconscious processes of self-devaluation.

LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy can help work through what societally-placed internalized beliefs might be getting in the way of your leading the fullest life possible.

Gay Parenting and Family Challenges

Are you dealing with family and/or parenting issues? Many gay and lesbian couples have biological or adopted children. Family issues can be highly stressful and cause many challenges for gay families and relationships. Regardless if one of you is the birth or biological parent or one or both of you are adoptive parents, families struggle with many issues, such as:

  • Feelings of jealousy about attention your partner gives to the children
  • Fighting about discipline or parenting issues and parenting styles
  • Blended and step-family issues
  • Single mom or dad households
  • Inter-racial couple issues
  • Overwhelmed by responsibilities and finding little time for yourself and/or your relationship
  • Navigating non-monogamy in your relationship
  • Help with parenting issues, adolescent and teenage issues
  • Support and help for yourself, partner or child dealing with illness, mental health issues and more

In therapy, you can learn how to resolve conflict, improve communication and become more aware of the destructive and hurtful patterns you might be engaging in. Whether you are fighting with your significant other/s about sex, money, children, insecurity, affairs or jealousy, therapy can help. Counseling can also help if you are trying to end or cope with a difficult relationship.

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