LGBTQIA+ Support | NHS Talking Therapies

Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community

We believe everyone should be able to live a happy and fulfilling life, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. Anyone can struggle with their mental health, but those of us who identify as LGBTQIA+ are more likely to experience challenges such as anxiety, low self-esteem or depression. Identifying as LGBTQIA+ does not cause these problems, but facing discrimination, stigma or a lack of understanding can make them more likely.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, low or stressed, you are not alone. Kent & Medway NHS Talking Therapies provides free, confidential psychological support to people from all backgrounds, helping you navigate life’s challenges in a safe, affirming environment.

Listening to our community

We are committed to ensuring everyone within our service delivers meaningful care. We recently commissioned research exploring gay men’s experiences and attitudes toward our services. While 60% of those surveyed had heard of NHS Talking Therapies, only 28% had accessed the service. Furthermore, of those who did engage and shared their identity, 57% reported that a lack of specific therapist understanding created a barrier to their care.

We have listened to this feedback. You shouldn’t have to educate your therapist about your identity while trying to heal. In response, we have updated our training, pathways and clinical approach to ensure you feel entirely safe, seen and respected from your very first session.

How we can help you

Our service is completely free, confidential, and you can refer yourself directly without needing to see a GP. When you access our support, we promise to:

Treat you as an individual and work collaboratively toward your personal goals.
Accept you exactly as you are and respect whatever aspects of your identity you wish to share.
Give you the option to provide a preferred name when you sign up.
Tailor care to your needs. If you would prefer to speak with a therapist from a similar background or someone with specific LGBTQ+ expertise, please let us know.

Why you can trust us

We are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive, safe space across Kent and Medway. All of our clinical staff have training on and access to the LGBT positive practice guide, alongside dedicated OnDemand training. We also have a designated LGBTQ+ Champion within our workforce to guide and support our clinicians.

Beyond our clinics, we are a proud partner of Canterbury Pride. Every year, we fund and provide the festival’s Wellbeing Area, offering a quiet, calm space for pride attendees to rest or speak directly to our trained therapists if they feel overwhelmed during the event. Wherever you are on your journey, we are here to support you with compassion and respect.