2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Counselling in Calgary

A supportive space that welcomes and honours your identity

For many people in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, daily life often involves navigating stigma, discrimination, and systems that were not built with them in mind. Affirming therapy provides a space for individuals to explore identity, relationships and well-being without needing to justify your experience or educate your therapist. At Monarch Psychology in Calgary, we provide 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming counselling rooted in respect, inclusion, and understanding. Our approach considers the unique social, cultural, and systemic factors that influence mental health, honouring each person’s lived experience. Therapy is a space where you do not need to explain or justify who you are, and your identity is affirmed as an essential part of you.

Lori Helfenbaum

Registered Social Worker (she/her)

Peter Driftmier

Registered Social Worker (He/Him)

Paige Ellis

Registered Social Worker (They/Them)

Devany Paxman

Registered Psychologist (She/Her)

Nicole Caines

Registered Psychologist (She/Her)

Is Affirming Counselling a Good Fit?

2SLGBTQIA+ affirming counselling may be helpful if you are:

Exploring sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression
Navigating coming out or disclosure decisions
Experiencing anxiety, stress, or low mood related to identity or relationships
Coping with marginalization stress, discrimination, or internalized stigma
Navigating family, cultural, or community challenges
Struggling with feelings of shame
Exploring relationships, intimacy, or boundaries
Grappling with the impacts of trauma or rejection
Struggling with gender dysphoria and associated body image challenges

Some people come to counselling with clear goals, while others are seeking support for self-exploration or personal growth. You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from Monarch Psychology’s affirming counselling in Calgary. Support can be helpful at any stage of your journey.

How Affirming Counselling Services Work

At Monarch Psychology in Calgary, affirming counselling is collaborative, culturally competent, and tailored to your needs and goals. Our therapists are guided by curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to anti-oppressive practice.

Depending on your needs, counselling may include:

Talk-based therapy to explore experiences and support empowered decision making
Trauma-informed approaches that prioritize safety and regulation
Support for identity exploration, self-understanding, agency, and pride
Systemic approaches that recognize the broader context surrounding challenges
Tools for coping with stress and navigating transitions
Exploration of relationships, attachment, and boundaries
Specialized support for intersecting concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, disordered eating, or substance use challenges

Your therapist may integrate various therapeutic approaches over time, adjusting as your goals and comfort evolve. This personalized approach ensures your counselling experience at Monarch Psychology remains relevant and supportive.

These concerns often overlap with anxiety, depression, trauma, disordered eating, grief, or substance use, and our therapists can support you across all of them.

What to Expect from Therapy

Affirming therapy at Monarch Psychology centers on building a trusting therapeutic relationship where you feel seen and respected. Early sessions focus on understanding your history and story, the challenges you have been facing, and what support might be most helpful for you.

Over time, counselling may support:

Increased self-acceptance, empowerment, agency, and pride
Improved emotional regulation and coping
Greater clarity in decision making
Reduced distress related to anxiety, mood, or other mental health concerns
Greater confidence in relationships and boundaries
A deeper understanding of identity and values

Therapy moves at a pace that feels manageable, allowing space for reflection, growth, and healing. There is no expectation or pressure to move faster than you are comfortable with.

An Affirming and Inclusive Approach

At Monarch Psychology, we believe affirming care means more than being inclusive in words. Our therapists are committed to ongoing learning, reflection, and respectful practice that honours the diversity of identities and experiences within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

You are not expected to educate your therapist about your identity. Our goal is to offer care that feels informed, supportive, and aligned with your lived experience.

Common Questions About 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Counselling

What does affirming counselling mean?

Affirming counselling recognizes and respects a diversity of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression as natural and valid aspects of the human experience. Therapy is grounded in acceptance, understanding, and support, without assumptions or judgment.

Do I need to identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ to access this service?

No. Affirming counselling is available to anyone who would like support related to identity, relationships, or experiences connected to gender or sexuality, including those who are questioning or exploring and those who aim to be allies to the community.

Will I need to educate my therapist about my identity?

No. Our therapists are committed to providing informed, respectful care and ongoing learning. While your lived experience is central, you are not expected to teach or justify your identity.

Is this counselling only about identity?

Not at all. While identity may be part of the work, therapy can also focus on anxiety, mood, trauma, relationships, stress, or life transitions, just as it would in any other counselling space.

Is counselling confidential?

Yes. Counselling is confidential, with a few legal and ethical limits that your therapist will explain clearly at the start of therapy.

Is affirming counselling covered by insurance?

Many extended health benefit plans cover counselling when services are provided by a Registered Psychologist or Social Worker. Coverage varies by plan, and our team can provide receipts or information about direct billing where available.