Identity Issues

For many people, the winter holiday season, with all of its obligations and expectations, is stressful and exhausting. There are just so many messages about how things are supposed to be, ... Read More

Dear GoodTherapy.org, I’m bisexual. I had a bunch of boyfriends in middle school. My parents joked I was “boy crazy.” But in high school, I started crushing on a girl in my history ... Read More

It’s June! You may see more rainbow flags this time of year as we celebrate Pride Month. More therapists and counselors are becoming aware of issues the LGBTQIA (lesbian or gay, bisexual, ... Read More

“Coming out of the closet” is a metaphor that has long been used to describe people who have hidden a core part of their identities from the world around them, typically because of ... Read More

Sophia Dembling wrote, “One of the risks of being quiet is that the other people can fill your silence with their own interpretation: You’re bored. You’re depressed. You’re shy. ... Read More

Like a seaworthy ship, an adventurous self must take on water when necessary, remain buoyant, and stay afloat and on course if and when it encounters turbulent storms and stress fatigue. ... Read More

Some of us grow up in families where we are not emotionally free to express our desires and needs and feel compelled to be compliant in social relationships (especially with significant ... Read More

Some people have difficulty comfortably accepting qualities and capacities about themselves that are notable. They feel anxiety and shame if they even consider they might be special in ... Read More

For the first time in over 20 years, the events in the political and social world have entered my consulting room in a way that is not only troubling, but also problematic to address. Anxiety ... Read More

As we grow and develop from children to young adults, we listen and learn from the world and others around us. When others listen to and learn from us, we learn that our needs are valid ... Read More

Editor’s note: This article is meant to provide information about gender transition and why a transgender person may choose to transition. It does not attempt to speak for ... Read More

A majority of Americans likely give little thought to using a public restroom beyond where the nearest one is located (and perhaps a fervent wish that the soap dispensers and toilet ... Read More