Over the Rainbow Series Part 2
How to be
an Ally
Written by Morgan Draper
What exactly does it mean to be an ally if it is not all about displaying rainbows?
Support.
The primary need for individuals in this community is support, this can be provided through many different ways such as financial, emotional, social, and mental support. When individuals come out identifying as LGBTQ+, this can create rifts between them and their family, friends, partners, and others with whom they associate throughout their lives. Coming out is a continuous process and the support they may have had previously may now no longer exist or be available to them. We as mental health professionals can play an active role with these individuals by helping them before, during, and after the process of transitioning into an individual who identifies as LGBTQ+. By providing that consistent support, and resources for these individuals to find additional assistance within their community we are providing them with a source of understanding, acceptance, and acknowledgment of their new identity. Having this support can make an immense difference in many of these individuals' lives, especially since there continues to be a high rate of suicide and abuse for this population.
Now that we have determined how we can effectively express our allyship for the LGBTQ+ community, here comes the more challenging part: Getting these individuals into our offices and feeling comfortable with being who they are now as an individual who has come out.
Typically, when we see these clients, it is for issues primarily involving feelings of anxiety and depression, and we are left unaware of the true nature of why these abnormalities are presenting themselves. Many individuals tend to feel wary of discussing their true identity due to previous issues with stigmatization from others in their lives, or they may not know where to start. It is for this reason that having a place of acceptance is a necessary skill to have if we are to be successful allies whether it be as mental health professionals or just as people. But another important issue that comes up is how can we know that the individuals who come to us are struggling with these issues? Is it our place to ask? Well, a lot of this depends on your particular practice, as obtaining background information from a client is an important step in the therapeutic process. If a client is exhibiting reluctance with answering such areas involving gender, marital status, and/or orientation it is important to not push them into answering. Individuals who are struggling in these areas are disclosing in their way that there is an issue involved with these subjects. Allow time for the client to get comfortable with you, and instead focus on developing the therapeutic relationship, as that will be the key to helping your client to unlock any potential feelings or difficulties they may be holding back. This is also true for individuals in our lives experiencing similar things, as they may not yet feel comfortable with talking with you. Giving off an environment of acceptance and welcoming provides them with a sense that they can approach you once they feel the need whether it be inside or outside the office.
We can all learn to be more accepting and understanding towards those around us as we never know what the people in our lives may be experiencing. Whether they have just been shunned by their family for engaging in a same-sex relationship, or they are considering taking hormones for their transition, or they may be questioning how they identify as. June may be a time of rainbows and parades, but it is more importantly a time for an increased need for allyship for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. As mental health professionals, we are driven by the desire to help those around us to find a hope that they had once believed was lost to them. This desire is much needed for those individuals in the LGBTQ+ community as they continue to be persecuted and shamed by those around them, however, it does not start in our offices. Each of us, whether we claim to be in this field or not have an opportunity to be allies to all those who are experiencing struggles and challenges within our communities.
