LGBTQIA+ Counselling that starts where you are

Affirming counselling means your therapist works from a position that respects your sexual orientation and gender identity as they are. Your identity is the starting point — not the problem, not a hypothesis, and not something that needs to be explained before the real work begins.

At Hope Therapy, this is not a marketing position. It is an organisational standard. We work in line with the NCPS Code of Ethics, which explicitly states that homosexuality, bisexuality, transgender identities, and asexuality are not disorders. We align with the BACP prohibition on conversion practices. Every therapist working with LGBTQIA+ clients is held to this standard — and we match you with someone who has genuine experience, not just a policy statement.

We have a team of over 90 qualified therapists. Some identify as LGBTQIA+ themselves. Others are experienced allies with specialist training and supervision. During your free consultation, we ask about your preferences — including whether LGBTQIA+ lived experience, a specific therapeutic approach, or a particular communication style matters to you — and match accordingly. If the first match does not feel right, we find someone who does, at no extra cost.

Hope Therapy is an NCPS Organisational Member and has been operating since 2014. Our clinical standards are overseen by founder Ian Stockbridge — MBACP (Senior Accredited), SCoPEd Band C — who continues to lead the practice and ensure that affirming support is delivered consistently across the team, not just by individual therapists who happen to have the right experience.

Sessions are 50 minutes, either online via Zoom or face-to-face at one of our locations across England. Most clients choose online — it offers privacy, flexibility, and nationwide access regardless of where you live. For many LGBTQIA+ clients, this removes one of the biggest barriers to accessing affirming support: geography. This is particularly valued by clients who may not have access to affirming therapists in their local area, or who prefer the discretion of accessing support from home.

Sessions are typically weekly, though we can accommodate fortnightly or flexible scheduling depending on your situation. There is no fixed number of sessions — some people come for a focused block of work around a specific issue, others prefer longer-term support. Your therapist will discuss this with you and review progress together.

The pace of the work is led by you. There is no agenda beyond what matters to you in each session. Some people come knowing exactly what they want to work on. Others come with a feeling rather than a plan. Both are welcome. Your therapist is there to support you — not to direct, diagnose, or steer you toward any particular conclusion about your identity or your life.

We can adapt sessions to suit your needs. For neurodivergent clients, this might mean more structure, explicit agendas, processing breaks, or reduced eye-contact expectations. For clients navigating acute distress, it might mean a slower pace or a focus on stabilisation before deeper work begins. These adaptations are discussed during your free consultation and reviewed as you go.

Sessions are confidential in line with professional ethical standards. There are limited circumstances where confidentiality may need to be adjusted — for example, if there is a serious risk of harm — and your therapist will explain these clearly at the outset.