LGBTQ+ Counselling.
LGBTQ+ affirming counselling where you don't have to explain who you are.
In Upper Heyford, near Bicester, Oxfordshire & Online.
For many LGBTQ+ people, finding the right therapist isn't simply about qualifications - it's about finding someone who understands the context of your life without you having to explain it first.
Alongside my professional training as a counsellor and psychotherapist, I also bring lived experience as a gay man.
Whether you're seeking support with identity, coming out, relationships, dating, family dynamics, confidence, anxiety, unhelpful thoughts and or patterns, minority stress or life's everyday challenges, I offer a calm, respectful and affirming space where you can simply be yourself.
MORE THAN YOUR IDENTITY
You don't have to explain the context.
Many LGBTQ+ people tell me they're tired of feeling they have to explain the background before they can talk about what's really going on.
Perhaps that's explaining why coming out still affects you years later. Why family relationships feel complicated. Why dating can sometimes feel exhausting. Or why questions around identity, belonging or acceptance continue to shape how you see yourself and your relationships.
You won't need to educate me about LGBTQ+ life, justify your identity or worry about being misunderstood. At the same time, I won't assume that your sexuality or gender identity is the reason you've come to therapy. Sometimes it will be an important part of our conversations. Sometimes it won't.
Therapy is about you - your experiences, your relationships, your values and what matters most to you.
Together we'll create a space where you can explore whatever feels important, without judgement, assumptions or needing to edit parts of yourself.
SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE MIGHT HAVE
Every LGBTQ+ journey is different.
No two LGBTQ+ experiences are the same.
Many people come to therapy for universal life challenges such as anxiety, relationships, low-mood, confidence, or stress. Others may also be navigating experiences connected with identity, acceptance, belonging or the way society, family and relationships have shaped their lives.
Rather than seeing these as separate issues, they're often interconnected. Below are some of the conversations that commonly arise in therapy.
Relationships & connection.
Dating, dating apps, rejection, ghosting, communication, trust, jealousy, overthinking, attachment patterns, body image, confidence, intimacy and relationship breakdown.
Whether you're navigating a new relationship, a long-term partnership, marriage, monogamy, open relationships or polyamory, therapy provides a respectful, non-judgemental space to explore your relationships, patterns and challenges with openness, curiosity and compassion.
Identity & belonging.
Exploring your sexuality or gender identity, coming out, comparison, confidence, minority stress, experiences of discrimination or bullying, and finding a sense of belonging.
Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, asexual, demisexual or questioning, therapy provides a space where you don't need to explain who you are. We can explore your experiences without judgement, helping you feel more connected to who you are..
Life, family & the future.
Family acceptance or rejection, creating a chosen family, parenting, adoption, fostering, co-parenting, balancing cultural or religious expectations, workplace authenticity, life transitions and finding where you belong.
Whether you're choosing a life without children, questioning heteronormative expectations, caring for ageing parents or exploring what purpose, family and fulfilment mean to you, therapy provides space to create a future that reflects your values rather than someone else's.
WHY LGBTQ+ CLIENTS CHOOSE TO WORK WITH ME
Lived experience. Professional understanding.
Hi, I’m Andrew (Andy) 👋
A counsellor, psychotherapist and proud gay man, offering LGBTQ+ affirming therapy from both professional training and lived experience.
Finding the right therapist is about more than qualifications. For many LGBTQ+ people, it's about finding someone you don't have to educate.
Alongside my professional training as an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist, I also bring lived experience as a gay man. Whilst every person's journey is unique, I understand that experiences such as coming out, identity, relationships, family dynamics, acceptance and belonging can shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us.
You won't need to explain the context or worry about being judged. At the same time, I won't assume your sexuality or gender identity is the reason you've come to therapy. Whether you're looking for support with relationships, anxiety, confidence, work, grief or simply wanting life to feel different, our work begins with you as a whole person- not a label.
Before retraining as a counsellor and psychotherapist, I spent more than twenty years working in senior HR, leadership and business, supporting people through pressure, change and some of life's most challenging moments. Today, I offer private counselling and psychotherapy in Upper Heyford, near Bicester, Oxfordshire, and online across the UK.
Together, we'll create a safe, respectful and confidential space where you can better understand yourself, recognise recurring patterns and move towards a life that feels more authentic and connected to who you are.
Reflect. Understand. Move Forward.
How I work.
Every person arrives with their own experiences, relationships and story. My role isn't to tell you who you should become, but to provide a safe, confidential space where you can better understand yourself and the patterns that may be influencing your life today.
Together, we'll explore recurring thoughts, emotions and behaviours, recognise unhelpful cycles that may have developed over time, and understand how past experiences can continue to shape the way you think, feel, respond and relate to others in the present.
With greater awareness comes greater choice, creating opportunities for meaningful and lasting change..
Reflect
A confidential, non-judgemental space to slow down, make sense of your experiences and explore what's happening beneath the surface.
Understand
Together we'll develop a deeper understanding of your emotions, recurring patterns, relationships and the experiences that may have shaped how you respond today.
Move Forward
With greater self-awareness and clarity, you can begin making choices that feel more authentic, sustainable and aligned with the life you want to create.
You may also find these pages helpful:
Related areas of support.
Ready to take the first step?
If you've found your way to this page, there's a good chance you've recognised something in your own experience.
You may already know what you'd like support with, or perhaps you're simply looking for a therapist whose approach feels right for you.
The first step is to book an Initial Consultation. This is a 50–60 minute appointment where we'll explore what has brought you to therapy, discuss what you're hoping to gain from counselling, and answer any questions you may have. It's also an opportunity for us both to consider whether my way of working feels like the right fit.
As an integrative and pluralistic counsellor and psychotherapist, I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Therapy is tailored to you, your experiences, your strengths and your goals.
There is no pressure or obligation to continue afterwards. If we both feel we're the right fit to work together, we'll agree a plan for ongoing therapy at a pace that feels right for you.
A few things you may be wondering.
-
LGBTQ+ affirming therapy recognises sexual orientation and gender identity as natural parts of human diversity. It provides a respectful, non-judgemental space where you don't need to explain or justify who you are. Rather than viewing LGBTQ+ identities as something to be "fixed", therapy focuses on understanding your experiences, supporting your wellbeing and helping you move towards the life you want to build
-
Every person is different.
Some people specifically want to work with an LGBTQ+ therapist or someone with lived experience, whilst others simply want a therapist who provides genuinely LGBTQ+ affirming care. Alongside my professional training as a counsellor and psychotherapist, I also bring lived experience as a gay man, understanding that many LGBTQ+ people are looking for someone they don't have to educate before therapy can begin.
-
Many people seek therapy to better understand dating, dating apps, trust, communication, attachment patterns, jealousy, emotional intimacy or relationship difficulties. I also work with people exploring monogamy, open relationships and polyamory in a respectful, non-judgemental way.
For men experiencing concerns specifically around sexual performance anxiety or intimacy, I also offer dedicated support through my separate Men's Psychosexual Wellbeing service.
-
Not at all.
Whether you're questioning your sexuality or gender identity, considering coming out, or have been openly LGBTQ+ for many years, therapy provides a confidential space to explore your experiences at your own pace. There is no expectation that you have everything figured out before we begin.