“Feeling Like You Matter:” LGBTQ + Young Adult Perspectives on Affirmative Mental Healthcare

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of LGBTQ + young people in mental healthcare and to understand their perspectives on what affirmative mental healthcare practice should look like. Between June and September of 2023, interviews were conducted with LGBTQ + young people ages 18-26 years in Los Angeles and Seattle. Interviews lasted 30 to 60 min and were transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis (N = 28). Four themes were developed from analysis of the interviews: (1) disconnection from community and self as an impetus for seeking formal mental healthcare; (2) marginalization during mental health service encounters; (3) the therapeutic power of belonging and mattering in the mental healthcare system; and (4) mutual human connection as the foundation for affirming mental healthcare experiences. Affirmative mental healthcare was defined by LGBTQ + young adults as free of judgment with priority placed on the therapeutic power of genuine human connection. The need for trans-specific mental healthcare was also highlighted. Participants also expressed a preference for providers with shared identities and experiences to alleviate feelings of isolation and increase feelings of connectivity. Mental health providers should emphasize connectivity and empathy to offer affirming care with LGBTQ + clients, such asking about client preferences for care, developing knowledge about sexuality and gender identity, and acknowledging provider limitations or knowledge gaps. Improving access to affirmative mental healthcare for LGBTQ + young adults (e.g., workforce development, training requirements) is needed to address the disparities in mental healthcare.