<i>‘You would be able to relate to me if you let me talk. I promise, I’m not so different’</i> . An interpretative phenomenological analysis of lesbian women’s experiences of talking therapy

Sexual minorities experience higher rates of mental health difficulties and poorer therapy outcomes compared to the general population. While research has explored the therapy experiences of specific groups within this community, little is known about lesbian experiences. To develop a rich phenomenological understanding of gay and lesbian women’s experiences of talking therapies, ten cisgender lesbians took part in an interpretative phenomenological study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2024 and subject to detailed reflexive analysis. The participants described the lasting impact of discrimination, leading to fear of rejection and self-policing in therapy. Negative experiences involved hypervisibility, silencing or pathologising, while positive experiences occurred when therapists showed awareness and curiosity. Findings underscore the need for affirmative practice and have clear implications for training and integrating sexual identity into therapy.