On FLCC’s engagement with the LGBTQIA+ community

Starting therapy can be scary and uncomfortable. After all, you don’t really know anything personal about your therapist, and they’re about to know a lot about you. Because therapy is such a vulnerable process, it’s normal to have questions. This blog series is answering some of those questions. The first blog in the series answers questions about FLCC’s beliefs and how therapists incorporate those beliefs into therapy. You can read it here. We also often get phone calls asking how Full Life staff approach members of the LGBTQIA+ community in our work. So let’s address some of those questions in this post. 

FAQs: 

Q: Are therapists at Full Life Christian Counseling LGBTQIA+ affirming? 

A: First and foremost, at FLCC we believe that every human being is made in the image of God, and therefore deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and honor. This transcends gender identity, sexual orientation, race, age, socioeconomic status, nationality, language, marital status, etc. 

This foundational belief is what enables us as professional Christian counselors to hold to the ethical standards set out by our board and the state of Louisiana. (For further reading, check out the LPC Board or the ACA Code of Ethics.) 

As licensed professionals, we are held to a standard by the state officials for how we approach certain issues, including but not limited to gender identity, sexuality, and sexual orientation. We are not allowed to discriminate, nor would we desire to, given that we view all humans as image bearers. 

One of the ethical obligations we follow ensures that we will work within the client’s personal value system. If our values become barriers in our work and hinder us from being unbiased in therapy, we are then required to refer the client to another mental health professional who may be a better fit. Please know that this rarely happens. 

Q: Is homosexuality morally right or wrong? 

A: It is never a therapist’s job to instruct a client on what is morally right and wrong, so FLCC will not do that in this online space either. It is, however, the therapist’s job to support clients as they sort through what they believe, regardless if we agree or disagree. This means giving clients unconditional positive regard and exploring beliefs and values with them. Therapists are ethically required to not push their values onto clients, but to make room for the client’s values to come to the surface instead. 

Q: Do therapists at Full Life work with clients who are in the LGBTQIA+ community? 

A: If we are trained to work with their presenting concern, we do. Clients have autonomy and control over their therapy goals, which means that therapists will talk about their sexuality and gender identity only if clients want to. It is also important to note we never engage in or endorse any form of conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is the harmful process of trying to change someone’s sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression through a pseudo-therapeutic process. Conversion therapy is extremely damaging and is ethically prohibited. 

At Full Life we approach each client from a holistic standpoint. Sometimes, someone’s sexuality is impacting their mental health, and it needs to be discussed in therapy. However there are times  it has nothing to do with a client’s presenting concern and goals for therapy. This decision is made on a case by case basis, and again, is within the client’s choice and control (not the therapist’s). 

Therapy is hard and vulnerable, and being able to trust your therapist is essential. Your therapist at FLCC is going to honor your values and experiences and help you live in congruence with those values. This often alleviates much pain, shame, and distress and enables you to live full, authentic, vibrant lives. That is always the end goal of therapy. 

While these answers are FLCC’s general stance on this topic, we would encourage you to have a conversation about your values with your individual therapist and discuss other questions or concerns with them. We would be honored to join you in that. 

Disclaimer: We love creating content that inspires and encourages our readers to prioritize their mental health. However, please note that our content is for informational and motivational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional counseling, therapy, or medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional for any concerns or treatment.