Over the past few years, telehealth therapy has proven to be a necessary resource in making therapy more accessible, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals who tend to have more difficulty obtaining mental health care. Locating an affirming therapist is difficult enough, but when engaging with the complexities of identity, cultural expectations, and interpersonal struggles, it becomes even more challenging. For those belonging to social circles who see seeking therapy as taboo, or for those wary of being seen entering an office, online therapy can offer support in an unobtrusive, adjustable, and confidential manner.

Why Mental Telehealth is Important for LGBTQ+ People

For some, particularly those from smaller towns and rural areas, in-person therapy may not be an option because there are very few, if any, LGBTQ-affirming therapists available. Even in metropolitan areas, having a therapist who is culturally competent to the LGBTQ+ Filipino and South Asian diaspora is not common.

Online therapy eliminates these challenges by allowing people to get help from specialized therapists no matter where they reside, and greater anonymity is possible, which is crucial for people who are not open to others, possibly including their own families, about their identity.

How Does Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Use Self-compassion as a Tool for Healing?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is one of the most successful therapeutic models for providing profound healing. The IFS approach works with the concept that each person has distinct subpersonalities or “parts” that have been assigned to defend them from past experiences.

Rather than trying to resolve these inner battles, IFS suggests that self-compassionate exploration is implemented. The need to replace shame with acceptance can be achieved through healing these parts.

Ready to start your healing journey? Contact Summit Psychotherapy today at
(773) 612-6206 or complete our intake form to schedule an appointment.

How has Mental Telehealth Enhanced the Effects of IFS Therapy?

The use of telehealth IFS therapy has a more intense impact on people. The relative ease of receiving therapy from the comfort of a home makes it easier for patients to engage in the healing process. This is highly valuable to those who do not feel emotionally safe dealing with certain painful issues in an office setting.

Therapy through video conferencing enables seamless continuity of care, even when an individual is undergoing major life changes. Relocation, job shifts, or breakups become easier for individuals who do not wish to sever ties with their therapist. For several LGBTQ+ persons, being able to receive aid consistently makes all of the difference as they seek to manage personal growth, family issues, and the complicated web of identity challenges all at once.

This model is especially useful to those from Filipino and South Asian backgrounds, where the behavioral norms towards gender, family, and relationships can be quite conflicting at times. With these IFS telehealth sessions, members of these communities are able to express their feelings without having to choose between their personal and cultural identities.

Conclusion

If you are battling low self-worth, familial discord, relationship problems, or even some trauma, seeking help from an affirmative practitioner trained in Internal Family Systems may be the first step toward your authentic self. Here at Summit Psychotherapy, we’d be honored to take this first step with you.