Sexuality & Gender Identity

Sexuality & Gender Identity

Are you experiencing confusion or uncertainty about your sexuality or gender identity?

Do you feel pressure to conform to societal expectations regarding your gender or sexual expression?

Have you experienced disapproval or rejection regarding your sexuality or gender identity from significant people in your life?

Do you find it difficult to express or accept your sexual identity due to fear of the consequences?

Difficulties related to sexuality and gender identity involve internal conflicts or external pressures experienced by individuals when trying to understand or express their identity in relation to their gender or sexual preference. These difficulties can develop at any stage of life, but they are particularly common during adolescence, when the search for identity and self-esteem is most intense. Sexuality and gender identity are multifaceted and deeply personal aspects of the human experience, and every interaction with society, family, or the environment can cause confusion or disapproval.

Common difficulties:

Confusion or uncertainty about gender identity or sexual preference
Fear of rejection or disapproval from family, social, or cultural environments, leading to feelings of shame or isolation
Suppression or denial of sexual identity or preference due to social pressure or negative perceptions in society or family
Feeling helpless or unable to openly express sexuality without fear or guilt
Issues with self-esteem
Mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, or loneliness, arising from the sense that gender identity or sexuality is not accepted by society or the close environment
Difficulty forming romantic relationships due to guilt or shame

Difficulties related to sexuality and gender identity can be influenced by social and cultural pressures, strict social rules regarding gender and sexuality, disapproval from family or community, lack of acceptance or rejection from the family environment, lack of safe space for expression, and self-esteem issues due to social oppression.

Identity Exploration

The exploration of sexuality and gender identity often begins in childhood and adolescence, when children and teenagers start to form their perception of themselves and the world around them. This period can be filled with confusion and uncertainty, as children may feel that their gender identity or sexual preference does not align with societal expectations or family expectations.

Childhood fears or doubts about the concept of gender or sexuality may manifest in questions or contradictions, which are often suppressed due to fear of rejection or concerns about how the child will be accepted within the family or school environment.
In adolescence, individuals may face a conflict between how they perceive themselves and how others see them, as society often has very defined norms for gender and sexuality.
Denial or suppression of gender or sexual identity is a common phenomenon. During adolescence, if gender identity or sexuality is not supported or accepted, children and teenagers may suppress their true desires or develop internal conflicts that affect their mental health.

Sexual Disorders

Sexual disorders encompass a variety of difficulties related to sexual function, desire, or behaviour. These disorders are not limited to physical issues but also include psychological and emotional factors that affect an individual's sexual life.

Common symptoms:

Loss or reduction of sexual desire or indifference to sexual activity
Pain during sexual intercourse or during penetration
Erectile dysfunction or orgasmic dysfunction
Sexual response difficulties due to emotional detachment or feeling unattractive during sexual intercourse
Sexual inhibition or phobias, avoidance of sexual activity due to fears or traumatic experiences

Sexual disorders can have serious consequences for emotional health, self-esteem, and relationships, creating cyclical difficulties that worsen the problems and pain already being experienced.

How can psychotherapy help?

Sexuality and gender identity can be approached safely in the therapeutic framework without the fear of rejection, through an affirming approach, which emphasises the acceptance of personal experience and understanding the uniqueness of the individual. In the therapeutic setting, you will:

Explore your experience without invalidation, questioning, or criticism, focusing on acceptance and affirmation of your feelings and identity.
Identify mental health difficulties related to sexuality and gender identity issues.
Recognise the social context, pressures, and negative reactions that have created, reinforced, or sustained difficulties related to sexuality and gender identity.
Work on enhancing self-esteem and self-perception in the social context in which you live.
Examine internalised social perceptions, such as homophobia, transphobia, etc.
Explore feelings of anger, guilt, shame, or sadness, if these arise in your personal experience.
Manage social pressures and disapproval.
Develop your mental resilience.
Develop strategies for self-expression and your relationships.
Recognise your needs in relation to sexuality and gender identity, and their expression.
Manage sexual dysfunctions through strategies for developing a more positive sexual experience.
If you are a parent, you will learn how to help your child who is facing difficulties with sexuality and gender identity.

Clinical Psychologist, BSc, MSc, DClinPsy