Image of a therapist and client in a counseling session.

1,434 people sought LGBTQ+ counseling help in New Jersey in the last year

Discover how starting LGBTQ+ counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

Good news! We have 49 therapists in New Jersey available for an online or in-person session.

Starting LGBTQ+ counseling

What is LGBTQ+ counseling?

LGBTQ+ counseling is a type of queer affirmative counseling dedicated to assisting individuals and couples in navigating the intricate intersections of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and mental health, with a primary goal of fostering well-being, self-acceptance, and affirming a client's life experiences as a queer individual. Although not all LGBTQ+ individuals seek specialized counseling, a substantial number discover vital support and empathy within these inclusive and affirming therapeutic settings.

How does LGBTQ+ counseling work?

Thriveworks LGBTQ+ counseling in Toms River, NJ typically begins with an initial assessment to understand your specific needs. LGBTQ+ counselors aim to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for anyone within the LGBTQ+ community by encouraging self-acceptance and offering an understanding of your identity and experiences. The therapy addresses issues like coming out, discrimination, mental health challenges, and gender transition, and provides support for LGBTQ+ relationships.

Why is LGBTQ+ counseling important?

LGBTQ+ counseling is incredibly important because it can help queer individuals accept their identity, learn self-love, and give them important tools for facing the challenges of being a queer person in today's society, among many other benefits. LGBTQ+-affirming therapists can understand the unique perspective and experiences of queer individuals as they help them process past trauma, address family conflicts, treat issues with anxiety, and more.

Is LGBTQ+ counseling conducted in person or online?

Thriveworks LGBTQ+ counseling in Toms River, NJ is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does LGBTQ+ counseling last?

The number of sessions for LGBTQ+ counseling depends on the specific needs and goals of the individual. It could encompass a relatively limited series of sessions or extend into a longer counseling plan. The precise quantity and duration of sessions typically emerge through collaborative discussion with the counselor, taking into account the client's progress and their therapeutic objectives.

Need more help deciding?

We are all a mosaic of passions, dreams, fears, likes, hates, how we love, who we love, hobbies, identity, and so much more. The truth is that not one thing makes us and therefore not one thing can define us. But there are certain aspects of our identity that carry a heavier weight. Sometimes we give it weight because it’s important to us. And sometimes society gives us the weight by constantly drawing attention, criticizing, and asking about it. Gender and sexuality often fall into the second group.

Thriveworks Toms River understands that being a part of the LGBTQ community is both beautiful and terrifying. Society has come a long ways, but not long enough. You might be experiencing mental health issues on top of the baggage of being human! We stand with you. We may not be able to fight your battles, but we can equip and train you with the resources you need to succeed.

That life you imagine when you let yourself dream is possible, and you deserve it! Life isn’t always kind, but we can always find freedom in ourselves. The counselors for LGBTQ topics in Toms River, NJ want to help you get there.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment today, give Toms River counseling a call at 732-852-4977.

What Topics Are Addressed in LBGTQ Counseling?

We already know that people aren’t just one thing, and they don’t just have one problem. That’s why this Toms River counseling service is labeled LGBTQ topics. We know that not everything can be fit into one neat little box. While we do see members of the LGBTQ community for issues related to their gender and sexuality, we also see them for career counseling, relationship counseling, stress, depression, insomnia, anger, eating disorders, and so much more. The beauty of LGBTQ topics counseling in Toms River, NJ is that we refuse to ignore any part of a person. If it’s important to you, then it’s important to us. LGBTQ topics counseling gives you the freedom to heal however you need to in the direction you honestly want to go.

We wish we could snap our fingers and make all the pain go away, but we can’t. The therapeutic process can be long and hard- healing isn’t always easy and growing isn’t always fun. But we can promise that we will be there every step of the way. You don’t have to go through life alone.

Some of the more common topics brought up in LGBTQ+ counseling in Rock Hill include:

  • Social anxiety
  • Self-harm
  • Depression
  • Past abuse
  • Eating disorders
  • Family concerns
  • Self esteem
  • Issues in School or work

The truth is simple: you deserve to live a happy, fulfilling life! The how is a little more difficult. How do I overcome anxiety to get there? How do I decide on a dream? How do I find the courage? How do I overcome my past? These are all questions where a counselors at Toms River LGBTQ topics counseling can come in.

What Does LGBTQ+ Counseling Look Like?

It seems that much of what our society teaches us is about one thing: surviving. While surviving is a necessary first step, we keep forgetting to add the second part: thriving! Toms River LGBTQ counseling services strives to offer you both- surviving and thriving, healing and growth.

As humans, we are always changing, so we’re never sure exactly who we are. That’s okay! In fact, that is beautiful. What’s important is that we don’t ignore or push down parts of our identity. Especially in a counseling session, it’s important to let all sides of you speak. That’s why Toms River decided to create an LGBTQ topics specific therapy session for those who feel like the gender and sexuality portion of their identity plays a big part in their mental health. It takes all of you to heal and dream, so let’s bring it all!

In an LGBTQ topics counseling session, we might bring up:

  • what gets you up in the morning (passions and goals)
  • finding your strengths and learning how to use them
  • working on confidence
  • define your goals and work on a plan to accomplish them
  • Coming-out to friends and family
  • Overcoming social barriers as you pursued your career (anything from opening your own business to moving up in the corporate ladder)
  • Transitioning to a new home or phase of life (like going to college)

Before anything else, you are a human soul and you deserve to be cherished like one. Counseling for the LGBTQ community in Toms River is a place for you to come and be you while healing, growing, and celebrating who you are. Who will we uncover as we strive for a better future?

For more information, or to schedule an appointment today, give Toms River LGBTQ counseling a call at 732-852-4977.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Toms River therapists and counselors accept 26 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • AmeriHealth New Jersey

  • Amerihealth Pennsylvania

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • EmblemHealth

  • First Health Network

  • Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey | BCBS

Show more
Self-pay costs at Toms River
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

4.0 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
My therapist is Lesley Petersen and I have been a patient of hers for about four months now. She has been helping me through a stressful situation that I have been going through. I would recommend her because she is easy to talk to and non-judgmental.
Read more My therapist is Lesley Petersen and I have been a patient of hers for about four months now. She has been helping me through a stressful situation that I have been going through. I would recommend her because she is easy to talk to and non-judgmental.
Danielle Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
☆☆☆☆
awfully. Goes on vacation for two weeks. Double books me. Calls me one minute before our scheduled meeting time. Says the other person is inside the office and cannot see me. says to me I will call me that night and then says to me via a text message that I will call in the morning. Calls me at 11:am. We have our session where she keeps adding restrictions on me and says "it's nothing personal". Speaks very low that I cannot hear.Tells me she sees 50 people weekly and cannot talk on the phone.
Read more awfully. Goes on vacation for two weeks. Double books me. Calls me one minute before our scheduled meeting time. Says the other person is inside the office and cannot see me. says to me I will call me that night and then says to me via a text message that I will call in the morning. Calls me at 11:am. We have our session where she keeps adding restrictions on me and says "it's nothing personal". Speaks very low that I cannot hear.Tells me she sees 50 people weekly and cannot talk on the phone.
Martin Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
☆☆☆☆
I will tell everybody I know not to use thrive works.
Mark Dec 2023
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Robin is incredible. She is kind, compassionate, empathic, and extremely patient. She provided me with a safe environment that allowed me to vent comfortably. Robin was extremely helpful and provided me with excellent coping mechanisms that I will carry and use daily. She is truly extraordinary!
Read more Robin is incredible. She is kind, compassionate, empathic, and extremely patient. She provided me with a safe environment that allowed me to vent comfortably. Robin was extremely helpful and provided me with excellent coping mechanisms that I will carry and use daily. She is truly extraordinary!
Toms River Apr 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Robin made me feel so comfortable and it was easy to ease into change.
Toms River Apr 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Thriveworks is great and really cares for clients, I fully recommend them! And I honestly cannot say enough good things about Sharon Ryan. I never feel wrong, crazy, or judged while speaking with her. She is so comforting and provides excellent, accurate insights. I really appreciate her interest and understanding as well as her flexibility for appointments. I’ve been struggling with losing interest in hobbies that I once loved. With Sharon’s help, I’ve developed new interests I’ve always wanted to try and expanded my horizons. Thank you so much, truly, from the bottom of my heart!
Read more Thriveworks is great and really cares for clients, I fully recommend them! And I honestly cannot say enough good things about Sharon Ryan. I never feel wrong, crazy, or judged while speaking with her. She is so comforting and provides excellent, accurate insights. I really appreciate her interest and understanding as well as her flexibility for appointments. I’ve been struggling with losing interest in hobbies that I once loved. With Sharon’s help, I’ve developed new interests I’ve always wanted to try and expanded my horizons. Thank you so much, truly, from the bottom of my heart!
Toms River Feb 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I recommend checking out Thriveworks to find a mental health care provider that can suit your needs. The owners are sweet, genuine people who make it their mission to help others by connecting therapists and those who want a little guidance. Your mental health is important (especially these days) and you don't need to being in a crisis to see a therapist! In fact, its better to seek out a therapist before you can't cope on your own.
Read more I recommend checking out Thriveworks to find a mental health care provider that can suit your needs. The owners are sweet, genuine people who make it their mission to help others by connecting therapists and those who want a little guidance. Your mental health is important (especially these days) and you don't need to being in a crisis to see a therapist! In fact, its better to seek out a therapist before you can't cope on your own.
Toms River Jan 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
If you're looking for counseling, this is definitely the place to go!
Toms River Dec 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Toms River off of Main Street, and we share an office with KT’s Office Services, among other businesses. Look for the corner of Main Street and Union Street, we are right on the corner.

Phone number

(732) 795-5217

Languages spoken by NJ providers

  • Hebrew
  • English
  • Spanish
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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