Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity
What is GSRD Therapy?
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Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity Therapy is an affirmative therapeutic approach, working with awareness and acceptance of diversity and actively supporting GSRD clients. As a therapist, this means I am working in a way that integrates:
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​Practicing a commitment to social justice - promoting advocacy, being an ally to all marginalised and oppressed groups and offering psycho-education.
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Demonstrating cultural humility and cultural competency - having specific knowledge of various marginalised populations such as LGBTQIA+, kinksters, and those of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. Not making assumptions based on appearance.
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Understanding the specific adverse effects of oppression
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Being, trauma, grief and shame informed
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Knowing contemporary sexology - keeping updated with the specialist knowledge of gender, sex, sexuality and relationship diversities, including knowledge of sexual fantasies, desires, and behaviours.
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Core GSRD theories including minority stress, microaggression, social safety and intersectionality.
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Fostering joy - focusing on self-worth through an affirmative stance and compassion-focused approaches. ​​​
In a culture that promotes heteronormative, cisgender and monogamous ways of being I passionately believe in supporting and empowering gender, sexuality, and relationship diverse people. I have worked with many GSRD clients and have educated myself to have a comprehensive understanding of diverse practices and identities whilst respecting the nuances of the client’s unique lived experience. I am mindful of how a person’s experiences of gender, sexuality and/or relationships may be fundamentally bound up with their race, class, age, cultural background, faith or further dimensions of their life.
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I am a BDSM/Kink knowledgeable therapist and work with awareness of the dynamics of diverse relationships. I am wholeheartedly committed to empowering GSRD/LGBTQ+ clients to be their authentic selves through non-judgmental, affirming and client led therapy.
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Gender, sexuality and relationships are relevant to everyone but this may not necessarily be the focus of therapy unless it is something you wish to explore. You may have specific issues you wish to work on such as navigating life in a heteronormative society, family alienation or internalised oppression. Being part of a marginalised group can result in issues including victimisation and bullying, isolation and loneliness, trauma and hypervigilance, shame, substance misuse and minority stress. I offer an accepting and supportive environment for you to safely explore whatever issues you wish to work on.
“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we'll ever do." - Brene Brown
