Why Therapy Matters for LGBTQ+ Youth: A Guide for Parents
By: Lizzy Widener, LCMHCA
If you’re a parent of an LGBTQ+ child or teen, you may be wondering how best to support their emotional well-being. You want them to grow up feeling safe, seen, and resilient, but in today’s world, LGBTQ+ youth face unique challenges that can put their mental health at risk.
This is where therapy can play a life-changing role. Evidence shows that affirming, professional mental health support can significantly improve outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth; reducing risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide, and helping them build resilience in the face of adversity.
The Mental Health Reality for LGBTQ+ Youth
LGBTQ+ youth are at a much higher risk for mental health concerns than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Not because of who they are, but because of societal stigma, discrimination, family rejection, bullying, and isolation.
- According to The Trevor Project’s 2024 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, 39% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year-including 46% of transgender and nonbinary young people. LGBTQ+ youth of color reported higher rates and White peers.
- The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2021) found that these students were more than twice as likely to feel persistently sad or hopeless and four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.
These statistics are alarming but also preventable. Supportive therapy can be a powerful buffer against these risks.
How Therapy Helps LGBTQ+ Youth
Therapy offers a safe space to process difficult feelings and experiences, develop coping skills, and enhance self-esteem and self-efficacy. The therapeutic process encourages positive self-talk, re-scripting negative beliefs that in turn increase their self-worth further empowering them to navigate adversities more effectively. Culturally competent therapists take great care to facilitate a save environment for marginalized children and adolescents to explore, heal, and grow so they may thrive in this world. Furthermore, evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been proven to effectively reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD among LGBTQ+ youth.
Why Family Support Matters Too
Therapy is more effective when it’s supported by affirming familial relationships. Parents play a key role in creating an emotionally safe home environment.
- Research from the Family Acceptance Project shows that LGBTQ+ youth who feel supported by their families are 50% less likely to attempt suicide, and more likely to thrive socially and emotionally.
You can support your child by:
- Using their correct pronouns and chosen name
- Validating their experiences and emotions
- Approaching what you may not understand with curiosity, and then educating yourself
- Seeking out community resources and support groups for yourself as well
Therapy Is a Lifeline and an Investment in Your Child’s Future
LGBTQ+ youth deserve the same chance at happiness, health, and fulfillment as anyone else. Therapy provides tools that can help them not only survive but thrive. As a parent, supporting your child in accessing affirming mental health care is one of the most meaningful ways you can advocate for their wellbeing.
By doing so, you’re not just responding to a moment of crisis—you’re laying the foundation for lifelong resilience.
Resources for Further Support
- PFLAG – Support for Families of LGBTQ+ People
- The Trevor Project – Crisis and Support Services
- GLSEN – Safe Schools for LGBTQ Students
- Trans Lifeline – Peer Support for Trans People
- Strong Family Alliance – Supporting Parents and Children
Take the first step – Connect with our counseling team for a free consultation and learn how to best support your child, and your own well-being.
