The Benefits of Meditation in LGBTQ+ Counseling

Why Meditation?

In this day and age, the LGBTQ+ community is facing a variety of issues and anxieties. Having these issues addressed in counseling is vital to one’s mental health stability. At East West Therapy, we teach specific meditation techniques to those who have experienced all kinds of negative, anxiety-producing occurrences, such as:

• Fear of retribution – arising from those who seek to harbor anger and cause harm towards the LGBTQ+ community, this fear can cause very real stress.
• Restrictions on parenting – many LGBTQ+ couples yearn to raise children and, in many states, they still cannot.
• Employment discrimination – some employee environments still show hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community, which is a major cause of anxiety.
• Conversion therapy – this therapy, aimed at reversing the forward movement of those seeking freedom within their particular LGBTQ+ preference, can create further confusion and anxiety.
• Housing bias – issues continue within the housing market for many of the members of the LGBTQ+ community.
• Public accommodations – as in gender-free bathrooms, these types of prejudicial practices further isolates members of the LGBTQ+ community.
• Healthcare issues – restrictions for the LGBTQ+ community leads to depression and anxiety.
• Acceptance – overall acceptance from loved ones and the community is another factor that must be managed.

What is Meditation?

As Dictionary.com states, “meditation is to engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.” Another, an anonymous source quotes, “To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”

At East West Therapy, we know that life sometimes generates unmanageable stress. We also know that mediation is the best way to calm the brain and open the heart. Because life is complicated, daily meditation is vital to maintaining one’s mental well-being.

How Meditation Works

Meditation allows our brain to move from a higher to a lower frequency. This process generates different centers in the brain, decreasing cells in the amygdala part of the brain. The amygdala oversees fear, anxiety and stress. By calming this area of the brain, new perceptions and feelings can be opened up.

Benefits of Meditation Therapy

When it comes to mediation therapy, it is amazing how much a relaxed mind can heal so many issues we sometimes experience, allowing us to incorporate new personal tools into our lives, such as:

• Increased emotional well-being – through relaxation techniques, the mind is able to open up an environment where releasing emotions is safe. This is where effective healing can take place.
• More self-awareness – by relaxing the brain harbored thoughts are released in a safe enough, allowing new ideas and resolutions of peace to surface.
• Longer attention span – by focusing on relaxing the reactive part of the brain, and using the focusing part of your brain, you are better able to focus on one subject at a time.
• Help fighting addiction – studies have shown that meditation releases dopamine, which is the natural high many people seek through all types of prescription and street drugs.
• Generating kindness – with relaxation comes the calming of oneself, which leads to desires to be more calm with others.
• Enhanced spirituality – relaxing techniques also help with one’s idea of the universe, along with thoughts and beliefs about a connection to higher powers.
• Increased clarity – clearing out the mind of stresses, opens up so many more avenues to other thoughts and feelings we have about our self and life, all in a safe environment.

We are here to serve the LGBTQ+ community and have had great success with our mediation program. If you are experiencing anxiety, contact East West Therapy today, and let us help you.