Your Needs Too.org

Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

LGBT Support for People-Pleasing and Codependency

This page gathers profiles of clinicians who list LGBT as a focus alongside codependency or people-pleasing. Use the profile filters to compare approaches, languages, credentials and listed location.

Browse profiles to learn how each therapist describes their focus and experience, then contact those whose descriptions match what you need.

Understanding what brings you here

If you put other people first at your own expense, you may be familiar with the urges to avoid conflict, say yes when you want to say no, or reorganise your life around someone else’s needs. Those patterns are often described as codependency or people-pleasing and they can appear in many types of relationships, including romantic partnerships, friendships, family ties, and work settings. When you are also part of the LGBT community, you may face additional pressures related to identity, coming out, acceptance, or experiences with discrimination and stigma. That does not mean that your sexual orientation or gender identity caused the pattern, but it can shape how you experience help and what feels safe for you.

As you read profiles, look for language that reflects your concerns. Some therapists will describe experience supporting people who struggle to set boundaries, rebuild self-worth, or step back from caretaking roles. Others may mention gender-affirming language, understanding of transition-related issues, or work with minority stress. Profiles can help you begin sorting which clinicians talk about the intersections that matter to you, including whether they list working with LGBT clients and codependency or people-pleasing as focuses.

How LGBT experiences may relate to codependency and people-pleasing

Your experiences as an LGBT person can interact with patterns of caretaking and boundary erosion in practical and emotional ways. For example, if you have faced rejection or conditional acceptance from family or community, you may have learned to prioritise others to keep the peace. Cultural expectations, religious pressures, or fear of losing relationships can amplify people-pleasing behaviors. While those experiences can influence how patterns show up, codependency and people-pleasing are patterns that can affect anyone and are not exclusive to any one identity.

When you review profiles, think about whether a therapist’s language suggests awareness of minority stress, trans or non-binary experiences, or the specific relationship dynamics you face. Therapists who list LGBT among their focuses may describe working with identity-related stress, relationship conflict around coming out, or navigating medical systems. Remember that a profile listing does not establish specialized certification or a particular outcome; it simply indicates that the clinician lists that topic as an area they address. Use profiles to identify clinicians who might align with your priorities and then ask them specific questions about how they work.

Questions to ask about approach and experience

When you reach out to a clinician, asking clear, concrete questions will help you evaluate fit. You might ask how they describe their experience with clients who struggle to set boundaries, or whether they have worked with people who experience shame tied to identity or caretaking roles. Ask what they mean by the approaches they list on their profile, for example by saying "I see you list psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral approaches; how would that shape our conversations about people-pleasing?" That kind of question invites a description of style rather than a promise of a method.

Another helpful question is about scope: you can ask whether they typically work with individual adults, couples, or families, because a listed focus does not automatically mean they treat every configuration. If you have trauma history, you can ask whether they describe their work as trauma-informed and what adaptations they use to keep you comfortable. If language access matters, confirm the languages they indicate on their profile. Also consider asking about their experience with age groups, cultural backgrounds, or faith perspectives that reflect your life so you know if their typical caseload matches your needs.

What to discuss before starting online care

If you plan to meet remotely, there are practical points you should clarify ahead of time so you can decide whether the arrangement fits your needs. Confirm the clinician’s listed location and the jurisdiction from which they practice, because regulatory rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and those differences can affect how care is governed. Ask what technology platform they use, how to connect, and what steps they take to protect your privacy and the information-sharing boundaries of sessions. You can also ask how they handle emergencies or situations when you might be at risk, and whether they maintain an emergency plan and can direct you to local support if needed.

It is reasonable to ask about communication boundaries - for instance, whether the clinician exchanges messages between sessions and what their typical response times are. If you are in a situation where safety is a concern, tell the clinician and ask how they support people in unsafe situations. If you are in immediate danger, call local emergency services or a domestic-abuse helpline for urgent assistance. If you are outside the clinician’s jurisdiction, discuss how that affects what they can and cannot provide in terms of crisis management or legal guidance.

Comparing profiles: focus areas, languages, credentials and style

Profiles let you compare concrete signals. Focus areas indicate the topics a clinician lists, such as codependency, people-pleasing, trauma, or identity-related stress. Approaches named on a profile describe ways a clinician may work; for example some clinicians list cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic, narrative, or somatic approaches. Phrase questions to learn how those approaches are applied by asking for examples of typical session topics or what a few early sessions might focus on.

Credentials shown on profiles often include academic degrees like PhD, PsyD, MD, MA, or MSW as well as professional licenses, registrations, or memberships. Degrees describe educational background, but a degree alone does not establish current permission to practise. In the United States look for state licensure titles such as licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical social worker. In the United Kingdom clinicians may note registration or membership with professional bodies, and in Australia look for registration or professional association membership relevant to the practitioner’s listed scope. Profiles will usually state what the clinician has chosen to share, so ask directly if you need clarification about their legal permission to practise where you are.

Style and fit matter as much as credentials. Read the language on a profile for clues about tone and priorities - some clinicians emphasise collaborative work, others highlight skills-building, and some foreground identity-affirming care. If cultural or faith compatibility matters, look for that language in profiles and ask for examples of how they incorporate that context. Ultimately, use profiles to narrow options and then contact clinicians with the concrete questions that matter to you. That way you can decide who to speak with based on how they describe their focus, approaches, listed location, languages, and professional standing.

When you are ready, use the filters and profile details on this page to start your comparison. Reach out to clinicians whose descriptions match what you need, and plan a short conversation to test whether their approach, experience, and style feel like a fit for you. If you are ever in immediate danger, call local emergency services or your country’s domestic-abuse helpline for urgent help.

Browse therapist profiles by location

Alabama

72 therapists

Alaska

9 therapists

Arizona

83 therapists

Arkansas

38 therapists

Australia

111 therapists

California

415 therapists

Colorado

131 therapists

Connecticut

39 therapists

Delaware

9 therapists

District of Columbia

7 therapists

Florida

603 therapists

Georgia

130 therapists

Hawaii

17 therapists

Idaho

39 therapists

Illinois

156 therapists

Indiana

94 therapists

Iowa

30 therapists

Kansas

37 therapists

Kentucky

82 therapists

Louisiana

90 therapists

Maine

17 therapists

Maryland

43 therapists

Massachusetts

58 therapists

Michigan

157 therapists

Minnesota

80 therapists

Mississippi

52 therapists

Missouri

156 therapists

Montana

31 therapists

Nebraska

28 therapists

Nevada

32 therapists

New Hampshire

12 therapists

New Jersey

113 therapists

New Mexico

24 therapists

New York

234 therapists

North Carolina

189 therapists

North Dakota

3 therapists

Ohio

131 therapists

Oklahoma

88 therapists

Oregon

37 therapists

Pennsylvania

188 therapists

Rhode Island

8 therapists

South Carolina

100 therapists

South Dakota

12 therapists

Tennessee

85 therapists

Texas

508 therapists

United Kingdom

1067 therapists

Utah

57 therapists

Vermont

9 therapists

Virginia

84 therapists

Washington

70 therapists

West Virginia

22 therapists

Wisconsin

86 therapists

Wyoming

17 therapists

Find a therapist