About Dr. Esther Cole
I am HCPC registered, BPS accredited and a professionally insured Clinical Psychologist working in the NHS and private practice. I have worked in multi-disciplinary teams with clients with a range of mental and physical health, neurological conditions, challenging behaviour and cognitive problems, with very positive results since 2008 (qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist in 2013).
I tailor make all therapies to the person, child, young person or organisation’s needs and draw on the best available evidence. This could mean offering a combination of different therapies such as CBT, systemic and narrative approaches or integrating several therapeutic methods until we feel we are making progress.
About Dr. Esther Cole
I am HCPC registered, BPS accredited and a professionally insured Clinical Psychologist working in the NHS and private practice. I have worked in multi-disciplinary teams with clients with a range of mental and physical health, neurological conditions, challenging behaviour and cognitive problems, with very positive results since 2008 (qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist in 2013).
I tailor make all therapies to the person, child, young person or organisation’s needs and draw on the best available evidence. This could mean offering a combination of different therapies such as CBT, systemic and narrative approaches or integrating several therapeutic methods until we feel we are making progress.
"Act as if what you do makes a difference.
It does”
"Act as if what you do makes a difference.
It does”
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”
Maya Angelou
LGBTQIA+ Mental Health
Mental health issues can affect anyone regardless of their background. However, some issues can be intensified within certain communities. For those who are LGBTQIA+, difficult experiences like stigma and discrimination can often lead to poor mental health, such as feelings of shame, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression or PTSD. You may also struggle to feel accepted and feel isolated as a result.
In addition, different parts of your identity can overlap and interact with each other. The intersections of one’s age, race, culture, religion, disability etc. can bring up additional challenges, affecting your experience of the world and how it makes you feel.
For example, if you're LGBTQIA+ and a person of colour, you're more likely to face discrimination and barriers to accessing healthcare. You might also come from a country where cultural and religious beliefs put your life directly at risk. Or if you are trans, you might experience negative attitudes and treatment from people around you that make it difficult to come out, lead to discrimination in the workplace or barriers to transition healthcare.
With all of these challenges, it’s important to remember that you are not alone and that you can find ways to get the right support for you; ways to express yourself authentically, ways to celebrate being LGBTQIA+, to find peer support and look after your physical and mental well-being. Therapy can be part of your journey, as it can offer a safe and non-judgmental space to explore whatever issues you face.
To find out more about LGBTQIA+ mental health, explore the information available on the Mind website.