How Online Gender Therapy Is Helping LGBTQIA+ Adults Access Care

Therapy can be a valuable tool for those looking to improve their mental health or find help for other concerns. Those belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community have long faced barriers to receiving the mental health care they need. However, with online gender therapy, LGBTQIA+ adults are no longer required to travel far distances to find a gender-affirming therapist. 

Online gender therapy may also be a more accessible option for people who are uncomfortable seeking gender therapy due to the fear of stigma and discrimination. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of online gender therapy and how online therapy platforms can help to address the disparities in care for LGBTQIA+ adults. 

How online gender therapy increases access to care

LGBTQIA+ adults can experience unique barriers to accessing mental health care. People who fear discrimination or prejudice because of their gender identity or sexual orientation may be reluctant to seek mental health care services like therapy. Having access to gender-affirming practitioners online through therapy platforms like BetterHelp can enable people to get the care they deserve.

Many therapists have some training on diversity and treating LGBTQ+ patients. Still, they may not be able to effectively meet the needs of some patients the same way that a gender-affirming therapist with specialized education can. Gender therapists have specific training and experience in treating LGBTQIA+ adults and people with gender dysphoria. 

Individuals living in rural areas may experience treatment barriers and face discrimination at higher levels than people in metropolitan cities. A study from 2020 found that online interventions, even short-term, could positively impact the mental health of LGBTQIA+ young adults living in rural areas. The researchers also suggested implementing online interventions wide scale across vulnerable populations as a possible solution to addressing the high risk of depression and anxiety among members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Here are a few of the ways that online gender therapy can make therapy for LGBTQIA+ adults more accessible:

• Choose from a larger selection of therapists 
• Reach specialized care providers regardless of location
• No more time and money spent on travel
• Avoid possible social stigma from being seen attending gender therapy in-person 
• More flexible appointment times 
• Attend therapy from a comfortable home environment 
• People with anxiety about leaving the house may be more likely to attend online sessions
• Ease of access with user-friendly online therapy platforms 
• Access care regardless of physical limitations that may prevent people with disabilities from attending in-person sessions 
• Online therapy options may be more affordable 
• Vet potential online therapists by reading their profiles and reviews

Disparities in care for LGBTQIA+ adults

Studies have shown that seeing a gender-affirming provider can greatly affect treatment outcomes for transgender and LGBTQIA+ individuals. A 2022 research article suggested that patient outcomes improved when healthcare providers:

• Are respectful of the patient's gender identity
• Use gender-neutral language 
• Are aware of the healthcare risks impacting LGBTQIA+ patients
• Consider the increased risk of depression and anxiety
• Remember the challenges that LGBTQIA+ individuals face in society

When finding a therapist, it can be important to find the right fit. For members of the LGBTQIA+ community, finding a therapist who is culturally competent and educated on health and societal issues impacting LGBTQIA+ adults can be even more challenging. 

Finding a competent therapist to discuss gender-related topics can lead some patients to travel long distances to go to appointments, adding financial and time constraints to the list of existing barriers. A survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality revealed that 29% of patients seeking gender-affirming care traveled over 25 miles to reach a provider. 

What is gender therapy?

Gender therapy is a non-judgmental environment to discuss any gender-related topics or concerns with an affirming and understanding professional therapist. Gender therapists are mental health professionals who have specialized training in providing therapy services with cultural competence and respect for gender diversity. 

Gender therapists study topics like gender identity, gender-affirming interventions, LGBTQIA+ rights, gender roles, and gender dysphoria at an advanced level. An experienced gender therapist may be able to provide more effective treatment than a therapist who is not knowledgeable about the health risks and social challenges that LGBTQIA+ and gender-nonconforming people face in society. 

People may seek out gender therapy for a variety of reasons:

• Emotional support through a gender transition from a mental health professional
• Treatment for anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions 
• A non-judgmental environment to discuss gender identity

Gender therapists often teach skills for reducing gender-related stress and increasing self-awareness of how gender affects you. This can include traditional talk therapy and other therapeutic interventions. Therapy sessions are typically tailored to your unique needs to support your goals. 

Who can benefit from gender therapy?

You may benefit from gender therapy if you:

• Are questioning your gender identity 
• Are considering gender confirmation surgery or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Experience gender dysphoria
• Have symptoms of depression and anxiety related to any aspect of gender

When people begin to question their gender identity, they often turn to the internet for resources, advice, and guidance. An experienced online gender therapist can help you navigate gender dysphoria, transition, and other gender-related life experiences with evidence-based therapy techniques. 

Gender therapy is not just for transgender individuals. Many different types of people have concerns or questions about gender roles and stereotypes, their bodies, or gender expression. A gender therapist can help people develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their connection to their bodies. 

What is gender dysphoria?

One of the reasons why LGBTQIA+ adults seek out mental health services such as online counseling is to help them navigate gender dysphoria. People may use the term gender dysphoria casually to describe their experiences, but it is also a medical diagnosis listed in the DSM-5. People may experience various symptoms of gender dysphoria with varying severity. 

Before 2013, gender dysphoria was called gender identity disorder. The term was updated to gender dysphoria to combat miseducation and stigma around LGBTQIA+ identities. In the past, gender dysphoria was considered a mental health condition, but gender diversity is now regarded by almost every major institution as natural and healthy.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) defines the criteria for gender dysphoria as an incongruence between gender identity and assigned gender lasting more than 6 months. Gender therapists have specialized education in gender dysphoria. 

LGBTQIA+ adults report higher rates of depression and anxiety

Research by the United States Census Bureau found that LGBTQIA+ adults reported higher rates of anxiety and depression during the Covid-19 pandemic than non- LGBTQIA+ individuals. It is estimated that between 30-60% of LGBTQIA+ adults will experience anxiety or depression at some point in their lives, which is around twice as high as their non- LGBTQIA+ counterparts. 

LGBTQIA+ individuals have a greater risk of experiencing mental health conditions due to persistent discrimination and prejudice in society, and they also face barriers to seeking professional mental health care. Online therapy from a gender therapist can help LGBTQIA+ people with symptoms of depression and anxiety in a gender-affirming and culturally competent environment. 

Where to find an online gender therapist?

LGBTQIA+ adults may prefer online therapy over in-person sessions because of the convenience, a larger selection of professionals to choose from, and affordability. Access to care is one of the most pertinent issues for transgender and queer adults. With online platforms like BetterHelp, you can find hundreds of experienced therapists who specialize in gender therapy. This can remove the need to search for the appropriate professional on your own, which can save you time and help you find what you're looking for. 

The efficacy of online therapy 

If you have considered seeing a gender therapist but cannot find one in your area or have personal concerns with attending in-person sessions, online therapy may be an option worth considering. Online therapy allows people to attend sessions with specialized professionals from the comfort and safety of their homes.   

Online therapy has been found by researchers to be just as effective as traditional in-person sessions, even for serious mental health conditions. One 2019 research study found that users of BetterHelp had consistent and significant improvement in their depression symptoms regardless of their gender, financial status, or level of physical ability. Those who had never participated in therapy before had even more significant outcomes after the completion of the intervention. Researchers concluded that these results "suggest that multimodal digital psychotherapy is a potentially effective treatment for adult depression."

Takeaway

Gender therapists are mental health professionals that specialize in providing mental health care for LGBTQIA+ adults with gender dysphoria or anyone with gender-related concerns. Online gender therapy can help LGBTQIA+ adults access care by reducing certain treatment barriers, such as travel, location, or stigma. Online gender therapist services can help reduce the disparities in care for LGBTQIA+ adults by enabling people to access experienced professionals from the comfort of their homes. Online therapy platforms such as BetterHelp can help you find the right mental health professional for you.