Spirituality Issues

Stephanie Gonzales, MA, MFT

Serving the Gay and Lesbian Community

Long Beach and Surrounding Areas

Therapy may not seem like a likely place to address spirituality issues, but it can be, if that is what you need.  The important thing is that you know that I will respect your personal belief system whatever that may be.

Many gays and lesbians who come from a religious background may struggle with whether or not their God loves them and accepts them as they are.  This question can become a roadblock to their spiritual life, and cause them to feel shamed and ostracized from their faith.  This need not be.  If you are interested in addressing spirituality issues, I am experienced in working with those who experience conflict with their spiritual faith and their sexuality.  I strive to create an environment where spirituality can be addressed in a non-judgmental and accepting way.

Issues of Spirituality that can be Addressed:

• How do I reconcile my spiritual beliefs with my sexual orientation?
  

• What happened to my spiritual beliefs?
  

• Does God hate me?
  

• How do I deal with my angry feelings towards those in the church?
  

• How do I overcome my fears regarding being judged by others?
  

• I feel lost without my faith, what do I do?
  

• How do I deal with my pain from the way the church abused me?
  

• My parents are against my being gay for religious reasons, are they right?
  

• How can I learn to accept myself when my faith tells me I am in sin?
  

    In my experience many gays and lesbians struggle with questions such as these.  It can be painful and scary to address these issues, but many find healing, acceptance, and love in the answers.   I am a therapist first and foremost, and am only here to guide you into self-discovery and growth in the area of spirituality, not force any particular belief system on you.  This is all about your own process of discovering acceptance and love in your faith.