“I really don’t need to talk about my sexuality, that’s not why I’m here.”
If you are like most of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and Queer clients, you want therapy for the same reasons as other people: personal, family, or relationship issues unrelated to your sexuality. IPG therapists won’t blame your sexuality as the cause of your issues. A large percentage of our therapists are part of the LGBTQ+ community themselves, and we were originally founded as a Queer-affirmative practice back in 1983, when that was extremely rare. We understand that your sexual and/or gender identity is not something to be “treated”, but rather a part of who you are.
But sometimes it IS relevant…
If you ARE coming to therapy because you are questioning your identity or trying to understand it, our therapists have an extra edge – knowledge and experience that can only be gained by living it. IPG remains internationally recognized as experts on Queer issues: our founder Dr. Margaret Nichols is widely published and presents on many lesbian and LGBTQ+ issues and Dr. Michael LaSala is the author of the acclaimed book on gay teens and their families, “Coming Out, Coming Home“. Other IPG therapists have published on gay couples, transgender, family, and aging issues among LGBTQ+ people. For more than forty years we have helped people work through issues related to their sex and/or gender identity. We aren’t just “Queer friendly”, we are part of the community ourselves.
Gay Marriage and Gay Families
You may, instead, want a therapist because you need help with your relationship or your children. IPG therapists are not only skilled relationship therapists, they also fully understand the particular issues faced by lesbian/gay/Queer relationships and families. Our therapists understand the extra stresses and pressures these relationships endure because of bigotry and ignorance, just like they know the special strengths that LGBTQ+ couples bring to their relationships.
We know how healthy Queer families are, too. Our family therapists and child/adolescent counselors recognize not only the stresses and difficulties that these families may encounter, but the advantages the children in these households experience. Many of our LGBTQ+ therapists are raising families themselves and understand it on a personal level.
Find more of Dr. Nichols’, Dr. LaSala’s, and other staff writings on our Publications page.
Contact us to make an appointment at any one of our New Jersey offices.