LGBTQ+ Affirming Counselling in Leeds
Are you finding yourself struggling with difficult emotions, anxiety, low mood, or low self-worth? Perhaps you often get caught in cycles of overthinking, feel stuck and unable to make changes, or are navigating a period of transition and re-evaluation. My role is to support you in finding a path toward understanding, self-compassion and meaningful change.
Are you finding yourself struggling with difficult emotions, anxiety, low mood, or low self-worth? Perhaps you often get caught in cycles of overthinking, feel stuck and unable to make changes, or are navigating a period of transition and re-evaluation. My role is to support you in finding a path toward understanding, self-compassion and meaningful change.
Feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or disconnected from yourself, your relationships, or the parts of life that once felt meaningful? You’re not alone.
Whether you're navigating trauma, neurodivergence, identity shifts, or transitions that feel hard to name, I offer a gentle, creative space to explore what support and reconnection can feel like. You won’t be rushed or expected to perform. My practice is grounded in trauma-informed care, offering a space shaped by safety and collaboration. We move at your pace, and your story is met with warmth, respect, and authenticity.
Feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or disconnected from yourself, your relationships, or the parts of life that once felt meaningful? You’re not alone.
Whether you're navigating trauma, neurodivergence, identity shifts, or transitions that feel hard to name, I offer a gentle, creative space to explore what support and reconnection can feel like. You won’t be rushed or expected to perform. My practice is grounded in trauma-informed care, offering a space shaped by safety and collaboration. We move at your pace, and your story is met with warmth, respect, and authenticity.
I am LGBTQIA+ friendly and work with gender, sex and relationship diversity.
Down-to-earth, warm and inclusive therapist and counsellor, with over 15 years’ experience in helping people with their mental and emotional health. I’m not a ‘blank slate’ therapist - I won’t sit in silence. I respect that therapy is a significant investment of your time, money and energy, so you can expect that I’ll be invested in you and your journey.
I am LGBTQIA+ friendly and work with gender, sex and relationship diversity.
Down-to-earth, warm and inclusive therapist and counsellor, with over 15 years’ experience in helping people with their mental and emotional health. I’m not a ‘blank slate’ therapist - I won’t sit in silence. I respect that therapy is a significant investment of your time, money and energy, so you can expect that I’ll be invested in you and your journey.
Clients come to me for support with a number of issues such as anxiety, neurodiversity struggles, relationship & sexual issues.
I also specialise in working with Breast Cancer, terminal illness and grief (be it about yourself, or dealing with a loved one's diagnosis).
Due to my longstanding corporate HR background, many clients also work with me to address work related issues such as confidence, imposter syndrome, toxic workplace relationships, low self esteem and exploring career potential. I am also accredited to use a number of psychometric tools which can provide additional solutions for clients to take away.
Clients come to me for support with a number of issues such as anxiety, neurodiversity struggles, relationship & sexual issues.
I also specialise in working with Breast Cancer, terminal illness and grief (be it about yourself, or dealing with a loved one's diagnosis).
Due to my longstanding corporate HR background, many clients also work with me to address work related issues such as confidence, imposter syndrome, toxic workplace relationships, low self esteem and exploring career potential. I am also accredited to use a number of psychometric tools which can provide additional solutions for clients to take away.
Having worked in the NHS for over fifteen years; I specialise in Psychiatric care and Neurodiversity. As a Neurodivergent therapist, I have found from practice and my research, which evidences Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy; strong therapeutic alliance with my patients; there's reassurance, safety and a sense of belonging when working with someone who actually gets you! I have worked hard to ensure therapy caters to and adapts to our brains! Techniques such as eye contact, open questions, long silences, often made me and my patients want to run away, perpetuating a belief of hopelessness and helplessness.
Having worked in the NHS for over fifteen years; I specialise in Psychiatric care and Neurodiversity. As a Neurodivergent therapist, I have found from practice and my research, which evidences Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy; strong therapeutic alliance with my patients; there's reassurance, safety and a sense of belonging when working with someone who actually gets you! I have worked hard to ensure therapy caters to and adapts to our brains! Techniques such as eye contact, open questions, long silences, often made me and my patients want to run away, perpetuating a belief of hopelessness and helplessness.
I have special interest in Gender Identity, Sexuality, Relationships, and issues facing LGBTQIA+ individuals.
A relatable and compassionate Therapist, based in Manchester City Centre, working both in person and online. Perhaps your past experiences are having an impact on your day to day life, or you are feeling down and need support. I offer clients the time and space to explore themselves, past and present events. Whatever it is that you are going through I will do my best to help. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to know where to start and I welcome clients to bring their full selves, in all their complexity, to sessions, without pressure to have to "be" a certain kind of way.
I have special interest in Gender Identity, Sexuality, Relationships, and issues facing LGBTQIA+ individuals.
A relatable and compassionate Therapist, based in Manchester City Centre, working both in person and online. Perhaps your past experiences are having an impact on your day to day life, or you are feeling down and need support. I offer clients the time and space to explore themselves, past and present events. Whatever it is that you are going through I will do my best to help. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to know where to start and I welcome clients to bring their full selves, in all their complexity, to sessions, without pressure to have to "be" a certain kind of way.
I am a counseller/pychotherapists that works with each client in a way that suits your needs. I work with different modalities.and I am also a clinical supervisor , offering a compassionate and personalised approach to therapy. I support people navigating the impact of life. I have experiance working with individuals from all walks of life, inlcuding working with people with different disabilites/neurodivergence. If you are ready to talk, the other parts will fall into place. You don't have to already know in advance what you want to work on.
Telephone,livechat,email,video available.
I am a counseller/pychotherapists that works with each client in a way that suits your needs. I work with different modalities.and I am also a clinical supervisor , offering a compassionate and personalised approach to therapy. I support people navigating the impact of life. I have experiance working with individuals from all walks of life, inlcuding working with people with different disabilites/neurodivergence. If you are ready to talk, the other parts will fall into place. You don't have to already know in advance what you want to work on.
Telephone,livechat,email,video available.
Do you feel devastated after an affair, or trapped in the hurt and mistrust that followed? I provide specialist couples counselling for partners facing the hardest challenges - betrayal, sex & intimacy that’s vanished, the same fight on repeat, or the complexities of neurodiverse or poly relationships. By the time people find me, they’ve usually tried everything else. My style is structured, direct, and designed to create change. One couple put it this way: “When all hope was lost, Shan’s help and guidance enabled us to reconnect and be stronger than we have ever been".
Do you feel devastated after an affair, or trapped in the hurt and mistrust that followed? I provide specialist couples counselling for partners facing the hardest challenges - betrayal, sex & intimacy that’s vanished, the same fight on repeat, or the complexities of neurodiverse or poly relationships. By the time people find me, they’ve usually tried everything else. My style is structured, direct, and designed to create change. One couple put it this way: “When all hope was lost, Shan’s help and guidance enabled us to reconnect and be stronger than we have ever been".
As a member of the community, I provide a welcoming and supportive space for LGBTQ individuals, addressing issues related to gender, sexuality and relationship diversity.
Speaking with someone for the first time about personal issues or trauma can feel really daunting. It is important to feel safe and not judged when talking about difficult things, and my aim is for us to develop a relationship where you can explore whatever it is that you need to. There is not an exhaustive list of the reasons for coming to counselling initially but one thing is sure and that is it begins with building trust and beginning to speak openly. Our sessions will be collaborative: I will facilitate, but you will lead the way. Even if you can't pin point why things feel difficult, you're not alone.
As a member of the community, I provide a welcoming and supportive space for LGBTQ individuals, addressing issues related to gender, sexuality and relationship diversity.
Speaking with someone for the first time about personal issues or trauma can feel really daunting. It is important to feel safe and not judged when talking about difficult things, and my aim is for us to develop a relationship where you can explore whatever it is that you need to. There is not an exhaustive list of the reasons for coming to counselling initially but one thing is sure and that is it begins with building trust and beginning to speak openly. Our sessions will be collaborative: I will facilitate, but you will lead the way. Even if you can't pin point why things feel difficult, you're not alone.
I am passionate about supporting those who identify as LGBTQIA+, ADHD or neurodivergent.
Talking is often the first step in making your experiences more manageable. I will listen carefully whilst acknowledging that there are no easy answers. Together, we can explore what those answers might be by exploring your emotions, understanding your values, finding meaning and recognising patterns that may no longer serve you, and the ones that do.
I am passionate about supporting those who identify as LGBTQIA+, ADHD or neurodivergent.
Talking is often the first step in making your experiences more manageable. I will listen carefully whilst acknowledging that there are no easy answers. Together, we can explore what those answers might be by exploring your emotions, understanding your values, finding meaning and recognising patterns that may no longer serve you, and the ones that do.
Are you navigating a period where life no longer feels familiar, after loss, separation, relocation, illness, or a major life transition? Perhaps you’ve been holding everything together for a long time, yet quietly feel unmoored, uncertain, or unlike yourself.
You don’t have to face this period of change alone.
I work with adults facing significant change who want a calm, thoughtful space to make sense of what has shifted. Many of the people I support are capable, reflective individuals who find themselves at an unexpected crossroads — grieving not only what has been lost, but questioning who they are now and how to move forward.
Are you navigating a period where life no longer feels familiar, after loss, separation, relocation, illness, or a major life transition? Perhaps you’ve been holding everything together for a long time, yet quietly feel unmoored, uncertain, or unlike yourself.
You don’t have to face this period of change alone.
I work with adults facing significant change who want a calm, thoughtful space to make sense of what has shifted. Many of the people I support are capable, reflective individuals who find themselves at an unexpected crossroads — grieving not only what has been lost, but questioning who they are now and how to move forward.
My name Marco Lee is an Integrative Therapist and qualified Person-Centred Counsellor in Couple therapy with over eight years of clinical experience and more than 3 years working with couple therapy. I am Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and has developed an integrative therapeutic practice informed by contemporary psychotherapy, neuroscience, attachment theory, and somatic approaches.
My name Marco Lee is an Integrative Therapist and qualified Person-Centred Counsellor in Couple therapy with over eight years of clinical experience and more than 3 years working with couple therapy. I am Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and has developed an integrative therapeutic practice informed by contemporary psychotherapy, neuroscience, attachment theory, and somatic approaches.
Hi. My name’s Josh. I am a Leeds based Integrative psychotherapist, counsellor and supervisor with 15 years of experience in the field. This means I am not restricted to working in one particular way. So I will adapt the way I work with you to suit you. I work short and long term with adults (18+) in an holistic way, from a humanistic and relational perspective. I offer a safe, confidential, non-judgmental, space to pause and reflect on your reasons for choosing to enter therapy, whilst working collaboratively with you towards your hopes for your future self.
Hi. My name’s Josh. I am a Leeds based Integrative psychotherapist, counsellor and supervisor with 15 years of experience in the field. This means I am not restricted to working in one particular way. So I will adapt the way I work with you to suit you. I work short and long term with adults (18+) in an holistic way, from a humanistic and relational perspective. I offer a safe, confidential, non-judgmental, space to pause and reflect on your reasons for choosing to enter therapy, whilst working collaboratively with you towards your hopes for your future self.
If you’re tired of holding everything together, questioning yourself, or feeling like you don’t quite fit, you’re not broken, you’re responding to a world that hasn’t always met you where you are. Growing up as a neurodivergent or highly sensitive person in a world that doesn’t fully consider your experience can be quietly traumatic. Many people I work with have spent years feeling different, overwhelmed, or like they’re failing at things that seem to come easily to others. It can feel exhausting just to keep up with life, with expectations, with yourself.
If you’re tired of holding everything together, questioning yourself, or feeling like you don’t quite fit, you’re not broken, you’re responding to a world that hasn’t always met you where you are. Growing up as a neurodivergent or highly sensitive person in a world that doesn’t fully consider your experience can be quietly traumatic. Many people I work with have spent years feeling different, overwhelmed, or like they’re failing at things that seem to come easily to others. It can feel exhausting just to keep up with life, with expectations, with yourself.
I've regularly supported clients around anxiety, their LGBTQ identity, and drug or alcohol issues, which has included running workshops, facilitating groups, and creating tailored recovery plans.
I'm Andy and as a qualified person-centred counsellor, I strongly believe we all have the ability to navigate life's challenges by drawing on our own experience and capabilities. My role is to invite clients to explore whatever they choose in order to gain a deeper understanding of how it's impacting them, enabling them to create positive change. I do this through actively listening and offering useful reflections of themes I may notice, including any changes over time. I ask clients questions that encourage them to think about their experiences in new ways and never judge or lead anyone into talking about something uncomfortable.
I've regularly supported clients around anxiety, their LGBTQ identity, and drug or alcohol issues, which has included running workshops, facilitating groups, and creating tailored recovery plans.
I'm Andy and as a qualified person-centred counsellor, I strongly believe we all have the ability to navigate life's challenges by drawing on our own experience and capabilities. My role is to invite clients to explore whatever they choose in order to gain a deeper understanding of how it's impacting them, enabling them to create positive change. I do this through actively listening and offering useful reflections of themes I may notice, including any changes over time. I ask clients questions that encourage them to think about their experiences in new ways and never judge or lead anyone into talking about something uncomfortable.
Are you overwhelmed with events, feelings or relationships? Have you reached the point where you just need some support? You might be struggling with your past, with relationships, a bereavement or feeling a pressure to be something you're not. Many of my clients have had early life experiences that are really difficult to bear, contributing to anxiety, depression or both. They are coping, and surviving, but maybe in ways that they don't want to do any more.
Are you overwhelmed with events, feelings or relationships? Have you reached the point where you just need some support? You might be struggling with your past, with relationships, a bereavement or feeling a pressure to be something you're not. Many of my clients have had early life experiences that are really difficult to bear, contributing to anxiety, depression or both. They are coping, and surviving, but maybe in ways that they don't want to do any more.
I offer supportive sessions for all adults where your identity, experiences, and voice are respected and valued. My approach is warm, inclusive and grounded in the belief that therapy should be a space where you feel free to be fully yourself - no judgement, no masks. Whether you're navigating identity, relationships, self-worth, or life's messier moments, I'm here to support you in reconnecting with your voice, your strength, and your freedom to live life on your terms.
I offer supportive sessions for all adults where your identity, experiences, and voice are respected and valued. My approach is warm, inclusive and grounded in the belief that therapy should be a space where you feel free to be fully yourself - no judgement, no masks. Whether you're navigating identity, relationships, self-worth, or life's messier moments, I'm here to support you in reconnecting with your voice, your strength, and your freedom to live life on your terms.
I work positively and affirmingly with LGBTQ+ clients.
I am a warm, empathetic counsellor who believes the client is the expert on their own lives. I put the client at the centre of how I work and seek to work collaboratively with them. I use my training and personal experience to create a strong therapeutic relationship which is the most powerful way to create change in your life.
I work positively and affirmingly with LGBTQ+ clients.
I am a warm, empathetic counsellor who believes the client is the expert on their own lives. I put the client at the centre of how I work and seek to work collaboratively with them. I use my training and personal experience to create a strong therapeutic relationship which is the most powerful way to create change in your life.
I offer a warm, informal and grounded presence where you'll be empowered to safely explore the issues affecting you right now. As an integrative therapist, I bring multiple therapeutic approaches to our sessions with down to earth realness, and gentle understanding.
I offer a warm, informal and grounded presence where you'll be empowered to safely explore the issues affecting you right now. As an integrative therapist, I bring multiple therapeutic approaches to our sessions with down to earth realness, and gentle understanding.
Head to my website (link at the very bottom) for more details of how I can support you. Life is messy. Even the capable, high-functioning, "I've got this" people feel it. If you're functioning on the outside but feeling unsettled underneath, unsure of who you are now, what you need, or how to move forward - you don't have to carry that alone.
Perhaps you've been holding it together for a long time. You're navigating the weight of past experiences that still show up in your relationships, your work, and your sense of self. You're ready to reflect, make sense of what's been hard, and begin shaping a future you actually want.
Head to my website (link at the very bottom) for more details of how I can support you. Life is messy. Even the capable, high-functioning, "I've got this" people feel it. If you're functioning on the outside but feeling unsettled underneath, unsure of who you are now, what you need, or how to move forward - you don't have to carry that alone.
Perhaps you've been holding it together for a long time. You're navigating the weight of past experiences that still show up in your relationships, your work, and your sense of self. You're ready to reflect, make sense of what's been hard, and begin shaping a future you actually want.
See more therapy options for Leeds
LGBTQ+ Counsellors
Do LGBTQ-affirmative therapists receive special training?
Yes. Many therapists who practice LGBTQ-affirmative therapy have completed specialised training, either during their degree programme or as continuing education, to learn the core principles of affirmative therapy and how to best support their LGBTQ clients; some have received certifications in LGBTQ-affirmative therapy. Prospective clients should inquire as to a clinician’s background and training to ensure a good fit.
Why might I want to see an LGBTQ-affirming or LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
Queer and gender-non-conforming individuals frequently experience bias and marginalisation in day-to-day life. Working with a therapist who understands these unique challenges, as well as accepts and affirms their identity, can help LGBTQ clients feel safe and supported during therapy—allowing them to better navigate their relationships, mental health, and anything else that they wish to explore during therapy. It is important to note that many therapists can be effective in their work with LGBTQ+ individuals, even in the absence of specific training or background knowledge. The most important component in therapy is the alliance between therapist and client, and this alliance can exist between individuals with very different backgrounds.
How can I find an LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
You may wish to inquire about a therapist’s expertise with your specific challenges or concerns—depression, for example, or relationship strife—as well as their past experiences treating LGBTQ+ clients. Prospective clients may also ask whether a therapist has obtained additional training and/or certification in LGBTQ-affirmative techniques.
How can I inquire about a therapist’s experience with LGBTQ issues?
Prospective clients should feel empowered to directly ask therapists whether they have received training or been certified in LGBTQ-affirming therapy; competent therapists will be happy to explain their educational background and preferred approach(es) to help a client find the best match for them. Clients may also wish to ask how a therapist has treated clients with their particular challenges in the past and what they expect treatment to look like.
Are all the therapists listed in the LGBTQ directory themselves members of the LGBTQ community?
While therapists may choose to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity in their profiles, the LGBTQ directory features not only those who have shared this information but also those who assert specialised training or experience in providing support to queer individuals, couples or families.