Therapist for Gay Men in Chicago – Finding the Best Person
Gay men looking for a therapist in the Chicago Lakeview area have plenty of choices. However, picking the right person can often prove difficult. The question becomes, “How do I find the right psychotherapist to fit my needs?”
One of the first things we encourage our LGBTQ clients to do is identify what issues they are seeking guidance with. The reason? Not every counselor who offers services to gay men is familiar with the unique challenges that impact LGBTQ persons.
If you live in Uptown, Buena Park, Edgewater, Roscoe Village or Wrigleyville, there’s a good chance you reside in a community that has a large (or at least somewhat large) gay population. As a result, there are lots of mental health providers offering services.
Need a Therapist for Gay Men in Chicago?
But offering help and being experienced with issues are two entirely different things. Here’s an example of a client who came to us not long ago looking for guidance. This is part of his story. We will call him Kevin.
Kevin was struggling with same-sex relationship problems. Because of ongoing issues with self-esteem, he had found it difficult to put himself out there and meet guys. As a result, he would isolate – a problem that worsened his depression.
Occasionally, he would use alcohol and other substances as a tool for coping. While this may have helped him to feel socially lubricated, it also impaired his judgement. In turn, this caused him to make unhealthy decisions about some of the connections he made.
As you can see in Kevin’s case, there were multiple issues occurring at once that were deeply ingrained. In his case, finding a therapist for gay men – hopefully, close to his home in Lakeview – was important.
He needed someone who had keen insight into these kinds of difficulties with the right background and training to assist.
Best Therapist for Gay Men
All of this brings us to why you are here. If you are looking for the best therapist for gay men in Chicago, you want to pick someone who “gets” what you are going through.
In the case of Kevin, he found that by working with a counselor who identified openly as gay, he was able to be himself and get the support he needed. He didn’t have to edit anything out nor hide his behaviors because he feared being judged.
In this way, he began to explore his self-perceptions in a judgment-free environment that encouraged growth. More importantly, Kevin (slowly) embarked down a path of change.
His therapist – a gay man – had a unique understanding of why Kevin had so many of the issues he presented with. These included:
- Body image issues
- Struggles with self-esteem
- Gay dating and relationship problems
- Family challenges around being gay
- Worries about finding a partner
- Substance abuse issues, used as a tool for coping.
If you can relate to Kevin, you wouldn’t be alone. Here at 2SC, we’ve worked with many gay men – perhaps like you – who sought help around their unique issues.
If you are in Chicago’s Lakeview area and looking for a therapist to for help, here are five things to consider as part of your search.
1. Find a gay therapist
Your best bet is to find a therapist who identifies as gay. This isn’t a hard and fast rule but the research tells us that gay men who pair themselves with a gay therapist often experience the best outcomes.
Most therapists in the Uptown, Lakeview, and the Wrigleyville area will share this information on their staff bios. Using your gaydar, you may also be able to tell what’s up based on the material they have written.
2. Find an LGBT friendly therapist
If you are unable to identify a LGBT therapist, your next move should be to find one who is gay-friendly. The last thing you need is to worry about in therapy is being judged. Think of this as a second option if the first doesn’t pan out.
3. Choose a conversational therapist
Many counselors use different approaches to psychotherapy. One is to simply sit back and allow the person to talk without verbal engagement.
In our experience, this isn’t the best approach. If you can, find a therapist in Chicago who is interactive and conversational. This will help you to open up while challenging you to think about things in new and different ways.
4. Identify someone who knows your issues
Do you have problems with anxiety? Are you struggling with depression? Are you a gay man living with HIV in Lakeview?
If the answer is yes, it’s critical that you pick someone who has a firm understanding of your issues. Avoid going to someone who hasn’t encountered these challenges.
5. Insurance and payment
The final thing you will want to check is if the therapist accepts your insurance. If they don’t, make sure you inquire about fees.
Doing these things will help set you up for success. What you don’t want happening is a dynamic whereby you find someone, only to find out later you can’t afford to see them because of finances.
Our Lakeview therapists all take Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. We encourage people to check with their insurance providers to inquire about mental health (behavioral health) benefits as part of the search process.
Wrap Up – Therapist for Gay Men
The issues impacting men who identify as gay are unique. Not every counselor offering services are trained or experienced in these areas.
Since 2006, 2nd Story Counseling has been offering personalized counseling and psychotherapy services to LGBT people in the Chicago Lakeview area. Many of our therapists identify as gay and do so proudly.
Be it problems with self-esteem, relationship challenges, gay premarital counseling, career challenges or substance abuse struggles, we would like to be part of your wellness plan.
Feel free to give us a call at 773.528.1777 to make an appointment. You can also use our online contact form. At 2SC, every life – including yours – has a second story.
