When would you talk to a counselor

If you're dealing with any kind of gay related issues would you see a counselor? For example, if your weren't sure of your orientation, would you talk to a counselor to help sort it out? Would you see a counselor if you wanted to come out but had fears or doubts? Would you talk to a counselor if you were gay and wondered what it meant to be gay...or if you were gay and didn't like being gay? Would you seek out counseling if you were out and being targeted with abuse related to being gay? What would you look for in a counselor? Would you want a counselor of the same sex, would you prefer a gay or straight therapist?

In the dark ages when I was struggling with my identity as a gay kid, there were no advertised gay or gay friendly counselors. Actually I didn't know if there were any other gay people in the world. On different occasions I was seeing a counselor and wanted to talk about my sexuality but was rebuffed. In hindsight it probably scared the shit out of the counselors who weren't able to deal with gay kids.

I'm going to be opening a private practice working with gay, high school age kids and older. I have a source of referrrals but want to try some outreach for kids who have no easy way of exploring their sexual identity. Any constructive thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

No I wouldn't have.

I didn't really have any problem with accepting my sexuality. I've known since I was six years old.

Even if I did have a conflict I probably wouldn't have talked to a counselor.

 

I went to a counsellor (therapist) a couple months after I had discovered that I was gay, not because I was upset about that, but because I was depressed about the boy who I liked. I was unsure of his sexuality, and it was eating me up inside. I got over him many months ago now, and I see my therapist occasionally just to update him on my life and to bring up any kind of issues that I have. Therapists can be incredibly beneficial.