Counselling For Parents
Parents rarely expect to have an LGBTQIA+ child and feel powerless when faced with a situation over which they have no control. Your child didn’t choose to be as they are. We have prepared a booklet as a guide for parents to better understand the diversity concerning sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual characteristics, and to help parents on the path to acceptance. This booklet is available in 3 languages, English, French and Mauritian Creole.
Counselling and Psychological Support for Parents and Close Relatives
We understand that parents/close relatives may find themselves navigating a difficult road when dealing with a child or young person who questions their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, or who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender.
Being LGBTQIA+ is not a choice. This point cannot be emphasised enough. A young person does not choose to be different, to seem cool or stand out from the crowd. It is not a phase they will eventually grow out of. If a young person is LGBTQIA+ it is simply because that is who they are.
Challenges Faced By Young people who identify as LGBTQIA+ :
- The Fear of ‘coming out’, i.e. telling someone they are lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender, etc..
- Anxiety around how they will be perceived and accepted by their family
- LGBTQIA+ bullying
- Social isolation
- Unsupportive or ill-informed school environment
- Poor educational achievement
- Increased risk of sexual exploitation
- Increased risk of homelessness
- Poorer mental health, due to social isolation and lack of acceptance for who they are
- Risky behaviours, and unhealthy coping mechanisms, which can include unhealthy relationships, substance misuse, self-harm, and risky sexual encounters.
Being LGBTQIA+ is not a choice. This point cannot be emphasised enough. A young person does not choose to be different, to seem cool or stand out from the crowd. It is not a phase they will eventually grow out of. If a young person is LGBTQIA+ it is simply because that is who they are.
A Supportive and loving home environment is important
It is of paramount importance that young people identifying as LGBTQIA+ have a supportive and loving home environment, with people, parents or close relatives who understand their identity (sexual orientation and/or gender identity) and accept them for who they are. In providing a safe and accepting home environment for your child you can mitigate the concerns and issues which can negatively affect their mental and physical health and wellbeing. It will also allow them to flourish as a young person in all aspects of their life.
Listen to your child
The first step in supporting your child around sexual orientation and gender identity issues is to understand and gain awareness in this area so that parents or close relatives can talk more knowledgeably and with compassion with their child.
Parents and close relatives cannot be expected to know everything around LGBTQIA+ issues and therefore the most important thing to keep in mind is that to ask your child questions about it and to listen to them is okay and will be welcomed by your child. Listening to your child and allowing them to express themselves, and to self-identify, will not only empower them but also give you a greater insight into their own experience of sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Let us help you
We are also here to help you by offering you an open space for free dialogue without prejudice. We offer free counselling sessions with a qualified psychologist for parents and close relatives of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The objective of this service is neither to convince nor to force parents to accept the situation. It is principally a support service aiming to address the lack of information. The idea is to remove the taboo nature from certain subjects so that families can discuss them freely and reach a mutual understanding.The free sessions are held in our office premises on Saturday afternoons on appointment only. We also offer virtual sessions for those who prefer this option.
Contact us for an appointment or for further information
