You’re Welcome Here: Counseling and Therapy for Knoxville’s LGBTQ Community

“I literally cannot imagine a world in which I tell my family I like women. My mother and siblings would be fine, but the older generations of my family might actually refuse to speak to me. It’s hard to pretend, but I also don’t want to upset family gatherings, because we’re really close and see each other a lot.”
–Kacey

“I was lucky. Coming out to my parents was easy. What’s been unexpectedly difficult is dealing with everyday people who assume you’re straight unless you tell them otherwise. I’ve got coworkers trying to set me up with women, and I don’t know how many times I can explain that I’m not interested. It just gets kind of tiring. Gender is tough.”
–Leo

If you’re reading this, then congratulations: You’ve taken the first, most essential step in changing your life for the better — deciding to give counseling a try. Therapy is not “one size fits all,” however. It’s critical that you meet with a counselor who understands the unique challenges and experiences you face as someone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. At Thriveworks Knoxville Counseling, we have talented, affirming clinicians on staff who fit exactly that description, and their sole purpose is to help you realize a happier, more fulfilled life.

Thriveworks was founded on the belief that everyone can benefit from addressing their mental health concerns with a professional therapist, much in the same way that people benefit from visiting a medical doctor to address physical needs. We believe so much in the ability of counseling to impact your life for the better that we want to make that benefit as accessible to you as possible. There are no waiting lists to see a Thriveworks Knoxville counselor. No leaving awkward personal messages on an impersonal answering machine. Just caring, confidential help — as soon as you ask for it.

Reach out to us today and begin your path of relief, healing, and growth into a more realized and balanced version of yourself.

What Does LGBTQ Counseling Look Like?

Each counseling session will be different, because each person is different. While one person may be struggling with gender issues, another person may be struggling with depression. No matter the situation, struggling with LGBTQ issues alone can feel very painful and isolating.

As your therapist and ally, we want to address your life’s challenges within the context of your whole person — your physical, spiritual, emotional, social self. And as someone who identifies as LGBTQ in a society that has not always been so accepting of alternative lifestyles, your sexuality becomes a significant element of what makes you who you are. And who you are is a beautiful, brave individual with a host of personal issues — just like everyone else.

In many ways, LGBTQ counseling is similar to other types of counseling. We’re here to help you find your way to your best self. When you come in for your first appointment, we will build rapport with you and get to know as much about you as possible. What are you passionate about? What do you like to do? What do you want your life to be like in one, five, or 15 years? What are you most afraid of? Do you have any unaddressed past hurts?

Thriveworks Knoxville LGBTQ counseling — or counseling of any kind at Thriveworks Knoxville — is not about answering the question “What’s wrong with me,” but instead focuses on seeking and practicing a healthy, positive lifestyle. One way we do that is by identifying the unique strengths that you inhibit, and teaching you how to leverage them in such a way that they help to progressively improve your daily life.

You and your counselor will work together on setting short- and long-term goals, as well as identify the steps you can take to start making progress immediately, in a calm, comfortable environment where it’s safe for you to talk openly about your life — free from the fear of judgment.

Topics we commonly work with in LGBTQ counseling include:

• Depression
• Anxiety and stress
• Past trauma and abuse
• Family concerns
• Self-esteem issues
• Healthy communication
• Transcending gender roles
• Dating and other relationships
• Dealing with discrimination and non-acceptance
• Gender and sexual identity

Though it’s our priority to help you live a happy, healthy life, it’s up to you what that looks like. The most important thing is to be authentic to who you are. That may or may not involve a big “coming out” announcement; if it does, we’re here to help you develop a strategy for sharing your sexual identity with your chosen audience in a way that is as comfortable for you as possible. But, if the issues you are dealing with have more to do with healing past traumas or self-esteem issues, at Thriveworks Knoxville we are well-versed in helping patients cope with those issues. Many have sought help and successfully improved their mental health. We would be grateful to have the opportunity to work with you as well.

Seek Out the Best Life Offers

There are many counseling options available, but Thriveworks Knoxville counselors are experts in the field. We work regularly with LGBTQ patients, so we’re familiar with your unique situation. It’s important to us that you get the help you need, when you need it, so we don’t use a waiting list, and we can usually see you within 24 hours. If you’re in crisis, you’ll have access to your clinician via phone and email. Don’t hesitate to contact us—your mental health is our number one priority.