Queer minds, Queer needs

Abstract

ABSTRACT Equal access to mental healthcare is a right held by all Britons, yet evidence suggests that individuals from the LGBTQIA + population have poorer experiences compared to cisgender and heterosexual clients. This is problematic when considered alongside the impact of living in a societally disempowering world. Research highlights how our mental health systems perpetuate harm to LGBTQIA+ patients. One of these systems is the institution and practice of psychotherapy. We draw on our three fold positionalities to explore what change in the practice of psychotherapy could look like. Specifically, we consider what ‘Queering’ psychotherapy might mean in order to support the growing number of individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+. We also reflect on the binaries underpinning our discipline and discuss their role in perpetuating harm during psychotherapy. We propose that binary thinking restricts understanding our clients’ needs and generates insufficient models of care. We advocate a practice of fluidity, rather than rigidity, to support equitable practice. By ‘Queering’ psychotherapy provision in Britain, we contribute to the evidence base for anti-oppressive and inclusive practice.