Supporting LGBTQIA+ and Questioning People, and Their Families, Online and in Chepstow
I offer affirming online counselling for LGBTQIA+ and questioning adults, and for their families, anywhere in the UK, and face-to-face in Chepstow, Monmouthshire. I’m Catriona Standingford, a counsellor (MBACP, MNCPS Acc.) with further training in gender, sexuality and relationship diversity (GSRD).
How can counselling and therapy help?
Are you lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, aromantic, or perhaps you identify in another way, or perhaps you are questioning your Self, gender and identity? You might describe yourself as LGBTQIA+, LGBTQ+, LGBT or queer, or not use a label at all. Maybe you have experienced conversion practices (whether or not labelled as such) that have deeply affected you.
I am here to provide care and support, working with you in a non-judgemental and affirming way as you explore your sense of Self, your thoughts, your feelings, your relationships and issues that come up for you. As a cisgender heterosexual woman, I recognise that we have our own unique experiences of life and discrimination. I firmly believe that as humans we are all deserving of love, care and support whilst recognising the judgement and pressure many LGBTQIA+ people face in today’s polarised society. I prioritise your safety, autonomy, and dignity, with your identity, relationships, and lived experience being accepted and respected. You don’t have to explain or defend who you are or the journey you are on.
You may be looking for support with:
- Exploring your gender identity or sexuality, or questioning
- Coming out, or deciding whether, when and how to come out
- Being trans or non-binary, including the wait for gender services
- Family rejection, conflict or estrangement after coming out
- Relationships, including non-monogamous and other relationship structures
- The effects of conversion practices
- Discrimination, prejudice and the stress of living in a polarised society
- Anxiety, low mood, shame or a sense of not belonging
Can you help if my family has rejected me for being LGBTQIA+?
Yes. Losing family, or the closeness you once had, after coming out can bring grief, anger, guilt and loneliness all at once. It can also bring relief. Counselling gives you room to make sense of what’s happened, look after yourself, and think about what kind of contact, if any, feels right for you. Much of my work is with family estrangement and conflict, so you won’t have to explain how complicated it can be. You can read more about my counselling and therapy for family estrangement, conflict and dysfunction.
Do you support families of LGBTQIA+ people?
Yes. Are you a family member of someone who is LGBTQIA+ or questioning? I also work with families, parents, partners, and relatives seeking support and a safe space to explore their own thoughts, feelings and identity when a loved one is exploring their gender identity, sexuality, or relationship orientation, or have come out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or any other identity that may be difficult for you to understand or perhaps accept.
You may be feeling unsure or overwhelmed in relation to your own responses to your loved one, or perhaps you just need someone to listen to whatever is going on for you? Or maybe you are finding it difficult to support your loved one in the way they need, struggling with the discrimination your loved one experiences in everyday life, not knowing how to support them and experiencing stress and uncertainty yourself.
Whatever issues you bring, I provide you with a safe and supportive space where you can talk openly and make sense of your own thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Do you offer LGBTQIA+ inclusive menopause support?
Yes. Menopause can be a complex and often overlooked experience within the LGBTQIA+ community. I will walk alongside you whether you’re a trans man, non‑binary person, intersex person, queer woman or any other identity, navigating menopausal changes. I will respect your body, gender, and lived experience without assumptions, providing a supportive environment for you to explore the physical, emotional, and identity‑related aspects of menopause with someone who understands its unique impact on LGBTQIA+ lives. Together, we can make sense of your journey and help you feel grounded, informed, and supported throughout this life transition.
How does online counselling and therapy work?
Online sessions work in the same way as sessions in a room. We meet by video at the same time each week or fortnight, and you can have your camera on or off. Calls are end-to-end encrypted. All you need is a private space where you won’t be overheard. I see clients online anywhere in the UK.
I also see clients face-to-face in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, which is easy to reach from Monmouth, Caldicot, the Forest of Dean, Newport and Bristol.
Sessions are £60 for 50 minutes, online or in Chepstow. You can read more about fees in my FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be out, or know how I identify, to come to counselling or therapy?
No. You don’t need to be out to anyone, or to have a label for yourself. Many people come to counselling or therapy while they are still questioning, and that’s welcome.
Can I have LGBTQIA+ counselling and therapy online?
Yes. I offer affirming online counselling and therapy to LGBTQIA+ and questioning adults anywhere in the UK, by video with your camera on or off. It works in the same way as meeting in person.
Are you LGBTQIA+ yourself?
No. I’m a cisgender heterosexual woman, and I’ve completed further training in gender, sexuality and relationship diversity (GSRD). If you’d prefer to see an LGBTQIA+ counsellor, that’s completely understandable, and I’m happy to help you find one.
Do you work with trans and non-binary people?
Yes. I work with trans, non-binary and gender-questioning adults. You won’t have to justify who you are.
Can counselling and therapy help while I’m waiting for gender services?
Yes. Waiting can be long and stressful, and it can affect your mental health. Counselling can give you space for the anxiety, frustration and hope that often come with it.
My child has come out. Can you help me?
Yes. Many parents feel a mix of love, worry, confusion or grief, and aren’t sure how to talk about it. Counselling gives you a confidential space to work through your own feelings so you can support your child in the way they need.
Why choose me?
Free 15 minute chat
I offer a free 15 minute chat so we can discuss what you’d like help with and whether I’d be the right therapist for you.
Qualified and Registered
I’m a registered counsellor/therapist with BACP and NCPS, two of the main professional bodies in the UK
I offer flexibility
Online (camera on or off) or in person sessions. No commitment to the amount of sessions you have. Discounts available.
Free 15 minute chat
Let's have a chat!
If you’re ready to talk, explore what’s going on, or simply take the first small step, I offer a free 15 minute phone or video call so you can get a feel for me, ask any questions, and see whether counselling / therapy with me feels like the right fit for you. This includes:
- Talking about what you’re looking for in counselling / therapy
- Giving you time to ask me anything you need such as who I am, my experience, how I work whether online or face-to-face in Chepstow, South East Wales (close to Newport, Bristol and South Gloucestershire)
- No pressure to continue afterwards
- If you are ready, we can discuss my availability to book your first session. My working days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday daytime.
- Referring you to someone else if I am not a good fit for you
To book your free 15 minute chat, you can fill in the form below, email me at cs@catrionastandingford.co.uk, or send me a WhatsApp message or text message on 07564 069711. I will then contact you to arrange.
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Are you in an emergency?
Are you currently experiencing an emergency or major crisis? Are you considering serious self-harm? Please seek immediate help from your GP, visiting your nearest A&E or dialing 999.
If you would like to have someone listen to you, you can also contact the Samaritans immediately on 116 123. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.