Relationships Blog Posts
The LGBTQ community is one of, if not the most, diverse groups in the world. Being a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or non-gender-conforming individual in today's society can be overwhelming in many regards; although the world has, for the most part, become much more accepting and even impassioned about advocating for equality, there is still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done.
Denver diversity is flourishing, and our community is becoming more accepting, supportive and celebratory of every gender identity and sexual orientation our members embody. But there is still stigma, stereotypes and difficult challenges that members of the LGBTQ+ community face on a daily basis. These experiences result in a higher prevalence of mental illness and emotional struggle compared to non-LGBTQ+ people. And, these experiences may cause you to wonder if a therapist could possibly understand your perspective.
Being in a relationship isn't easy, even when you're deeply in love with your partner. Sharing your life with another person requires a lot of balance, compromise and communication that can be a struggle for some people. As relationships naturally change, people grow, too, and sometimes, couples feel like they're growing apart instead of closer together.
For many couples, the biggest decision about therapy is when to actually seek it out. There is often an internal pressure to make things work on your own and a fear that going to marriage counseling means your relationship is in jeopardy.
The LGBTQ community is one of, if not the most, diverse groups in the world. Being a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or non-gender-conforming individual in today's society can be overwhelming in many regards; although the world has, for the most part, become much more accepting and even impassioned about advocating for equality, there is still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done.
Mental illness is more common in the LGBTQ communitites than any straight, cis-gender group. Approximately 4.5 precent of the United States population identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual, and over 39 percent have expeirneced a mental illness within the last year.
The love languages are everywhere these days, but few couples know how to actually integrate them naturally into their relationship. Most people have a mix of languages, and just because your partner prefers one type doesn't mean that the others aren't important either.
National Coming Out Day has been observed since 1988, and it still stands as a day of liberation and celebration for millions of people each year. But if you are in your 30s or 40s, you might worry that you're too old to come out as gay, lesbian or another sexual orientation.
Can "I'm sorry" fix anything? If you're in a relationship, then you likely know firsthand that an apology is sometimes difficult to give and often even harder to accept. Despite the fact that apologies help acknowledge hurt feelings and preserve intimacy, they aren't a magic cure-all for conflict.
For so many people, being gay, lesbian, transgender or queer makes them feel broken. They may have been explicitly told their identity is unacceptable or wrong by non-supportive family members; if they lived in the closet for a long time, there is an innate desire to make everyone happy and prove themselves as "good enough" that can transform into a major struggle with perfectionism.
The first five years of marriage can be some of the most exciting and challenging for a newlywed couple. No matter how long you and your spouse dated before you wed, being a married couple feels different in many ways.
A strong relationship needs many factors to work together in order for each person to feel secure. Personal stability directly influences relational stability, so your own mental health can negatively influence your partner and vice versa.
Mental health is different for everyone, but there are particularly unique experiences in the LGBTQ community that position its members to experience greater levels of depression and anxiety.
Relationships are not always ideal, and sometimes, they might even feel like a burden. Even the closest couples experience hardship at some point, and it's natural for couples to have their ups and downs.
If your friend is part of the LGBTQ community, you likely want to show them all the love and support in the world. Whether you've always known or they recently came out, acknowledging and celebrating their identity is a great way to be a good ally.
If your child has recently come out to you as being transgender or non-binary, you might be panicking and wondering how to support them through the next chapter of their life. Coming out at any age takes tremendous courage, and your child might still be feeling anxious and afraid about what this realization means for them.
Love is incredible, and finding the right partner can bring excitement, companionship and happiness into your life. Many of us feel like we are able to find someone to date, but not someone to love for the long-term. While you can never guarantee how any relationship will end, there are a few ways you can improve your odds by choosing the right person from the beginning.
Can you forgive your partner after an affair? Cheating is one of the most heartbreaking, trust-shattering actions anyone can do in a relationship. While some people are immediately ready to leave after they discover their partner was unfaithful, others are still in love with the person and want to try and heal their relationship.