Gay-Friendly Therapy

Therapy can be a place to pause, breathe and reflect on who you are without having to explain or edit parts of yourself. For many gay and queer people, that sense of ease is not always easy to find. You might be searching for a space where you can talk openly about relationships, identity, intimacy or belonging, and know that your experience will be met with understanding rather than judgment.

Gay-friendly therapy offers that kind of space. It is a confidential, supportive environment where your sexuality is simply part of who you are, not something to be explained or defended. Whether you are exploring new questions or reflecting on long-held patterns, therapy invites you to make sense of your life in your own way.

What Is Gay-Friendly Therapy?

Gay-friendly therapy recognises that sexuality, identity and community can shape our emotional lives in powerful ways. It creates space to look at how those parts of you interact with the rest of your life, your family history, your sense of belonging, your relationships and your inner world.

As a gay-friendly therapist, I work integratively, drawing on psychodynamic, humanistic and mindfulness-based approaches. Together, we can explore whatever feels most relevant to you: anxiety, low mood, shame, loneliness, intimacy or questions around identity and self-expression.

Therapy is not about labels or fixing. It is about curiosity, compassion and the slow process of seeing yourself more clearly.

Signs You Might Benefit from Therapy

You might be considering therapy if you:

• Feel uncertain about your direction or sense of self

• Have experienced rejection, prejudice or loss

• Struggle with confidence, intimacy or trust

• Feel disconnected from your community or relationships

• Want to explore identity, belonging or purpose

• Sense that past experiences still influence how you relate today

Many people find that gay-friendly therapy helps them make sense of experiences they have carried for years, not necessarily by solving them, but by understanding their meaning and impact.

How Gay-Friendly Therapy Works

Our sessions begin by establishing a safe, respectful space where you can speak openly. The pace and direction are shaped by what you bring.

In our work together, we might:

• Explore the roots of emotional patterns in relationships

• Reflect on internalised messages about sexuality or identity

• Look at how shame, anxiety or fear of rejection show up in daily life

• Consider what connection, freedom or self-acceptance might mean for you

As trust builds, many people find that therapy becomes a place where they can experiment with new ways of thinking, feeling and relating - not by forcing change, but by becoming more aware of what is already there.

My Expertise and Approach

I trained at the Minster Centre, one of the UK’s leading psychotherapy training. My approach as a gay-friendly therapist in London is integrative, bringing together different therapeutic traditions to meet each person’s needs with sensitivity and care.

I have worked with many gay and queer clients exploring identity, relationships, trauma, loss, and the search for belonging. My role is to offer a space that feels grounded, inclusive and reflective. I aim to meet each person where they are, without assumption, and to help them explore their experience with honesty and kindness.

Therapy is not about fixing or changing who you are, but about creating the conditions where understanding and growth can emerge in their own time.

The Benefits of Gay-Friendly Therapy

Each person’s journey in therapy is different. Some notice gradual shifts while others experience moments of clarity that bring new perspective. There is no single way the work unfolds.

Over time, you may find that:

• Your relationships feel more grounded and authentic

• Shame or self-criticism begin to soften

• You feel more confident expressing your needs and boundaries

• You understand your emotions with greater clarity

• You experience more ease and compassion toward yourself

Therapy is rarely a straight line. The work takes time and patience, but it can open up space for change and connection that once felt out of reach.

Why Contact Me?

✓ Trained at the Minster Centre, one of the UK’s leading psychotherapy institutions

✓ Experienced in supporting people with anxiety, depression, grief, stress and burnout

✓ Over two years working in a bereavement service, alongside specialist work

✓ An integrative therapist, drawing from different traditions to tailor therapy to each person

✓ A background in working with activists, changemakers, leaders and ex-boarders

✓ Committed to creating a safe, empathic and collaborative therapeutic space

My pronouns are he/him

Start Your Therapy Journey Today

If you'd like an introductory session, please email me or message me using the details below or the contact form.

Phone

+44 7356 082880

Email

andrew.tobert@gmail.com

Location

231 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6PJ or Online

FAQs About Gay-Friendly Therapy

What happens in therapy?

In each session, you have space to talk about whatever feels most pressing or meaningful. We might look at past experiences, relationships, or inner conflicts. My role is to listen closely, reflect and help you make sense of what arises.

Do I need to have a specific issue to start therapy?

Not at all. Some people begin therapy during times of crisis or change, while others come simply to understand themselves more deeply. Both are equally valid starting points.

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. Everything we discuss is confidential, creating a private and secure space to talk openly.

Do you offer online sessions?

Yes. Alongside in-person therapy in Hackney, East London, I offer online sessions via secure video call. You can choose whichever feels most comfortable for you.

How long does therapy take?

There is no fixed duration. Some people find short-term therapy useful, while others value longer-term exploration. We can review the process together as we go.

How do I get started?

You are welcome to arrange an introductory session. It is a chance to meet, ask questions and see if the way I work feels right for you. There is no obligation to continue, simply an opportunity to begin.