2SLGBTQIA+ Counselling Services
Love is love. At Willowbridge Community Services, we believe that all individuals deserve dignity, respect and the freedom to express their truest selves. Our counsellors are committed to supporting everyone in the community as they make sense of their identity, celebrate their own truths, and find acceptance within and without. We hear you and we stand with you, just as you are.
Although we strongly believe that homophobia and transphobia are issues that lie with the oppressors, we know that bullying, harassment and violence create wounds that members of the queer community struggle to heal.
Individual counselling can help. Willowbridge offers a safe space to find a way forward and to explore your identity without judgement. Unfortunately, we live in a world that excludes and marginalizes. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and two spirited (2SLGBTQIA+) people are some of the most marginalized and excluded in Ontario. Over 35% have reported experiencing verbal threats and harassment and over 20% report sexual or physical assault based on their identity. The impact of homophobia and transphobia on a person’s well-being is so profound that it can lead to depression, anxiety, mental illness, self-hatred, and even suicide. In the queer community, youth face a 14% higher risk of suicide and over 45% of transgendered individuals have attempted suicide
If you are struggling with homo-, bi- or transphobia, or trying to heal from the consequences of being yourself, we admire your courage. We are here to support you with the tools to build a life you can celebrate.
Some of the concerns we can offer support with include:
- Gender Identity
- Sexual Identity
- Healthy relationships
- Family
- Parenting as a queer couple
- Parenting a child who identifies as queer
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Self-esteem
- Trauma and Abuse
- Mental Health
- Homophobia
- Transphobia
