What inspired you to get into the field of clinical psychology and how has your own queer identity influenced that?

“I have always been fascinated by why people do, think and feel the way they do. From a very young age, I noticed that there are unwritten rules in society about how people should behave, dress, play, work, love... based on certain characteristics, such as your sex assigned at birth, your financial means, whether you're perceived as able-bodied, the colour of your skin, and so on. I also became aware of how these norms and attitudes often lead to exclusion, discrimination and stigmatisation. Being queer and growing up with two mothers, the social norms regarding gender, sexuality and relationships were most noticeable to me and therefore what caught my interest. I experienced and educated myself about the individual impact of social factors.

“The empirical evidence doesn't lie. LGBTQ+/queer people experience many stressors simply because of who they are and generally report lower mental well-being than their heterosexual and cisgender peers.”

These observations inspired me to study to become a clinical psychologist at Ghent University and, after graduation, to enrol in a Master's programme in Gender and Diversity.”

Are there any themes/issues you specialize on within your work?

“I specialise in gender and sexual diversity, but that honestly doesn't tell you much about the issues you can come to me with. You see, while LGBTQ+/queer people may experience unique challenges, such as being misgendered or coming out, the concerns and issues they experience aren't unique. LGBTQ+/queer people may also struggle with depression, burnout, anxiety, self-doubt, perfectionism, etc. That's why I don't focus specifically on "LGBTQ+/queer issues". I want people to understand that my expertise in gender and sexual diversity means that I am knowledgeable about LGBTQ+/queer experiences, challenges, discourse and healthcare.

“When someone comes to see me, they don't have to explain the difference between sex and gender, how the experience of sexual orientation is very individual, that gender-affirming transition doesn't necessarily involve medical treatment... We can focus on their experience rather than them having to take an educational role in therapy. “

I approach the people I see from a biopsychosocial model, so I have an eye for both personal and environmental factors and the interaction between them. These underlying personal and environmental factors that perpetuate distress are unique to each person. Authenticity, warmth and communication are key in my counselling. I aim to create a safe space where people are truly heard, where there's room for everyone's unique story, without preconceptions or heteronormative and gender binary values dominating the narrative.”

From your experience are there any common misconceptions about psychology?

“I think the biggest misconception about psychotherapy is that the issues you experience need to be serious enough for you to seek help. I want to remind others that this isn't the case. Your feelings, however small they may seem, are valid.”

“Please reach out if you're going through a difficult time and don't carry it all on your own. I specifically mention on my website that people don’t have to be experiencing serious difficulties to talk to a psychologist. Individuals who just want to reflect on themselves, their life, their environment or anything else are also very welcome.”

What do you think are some of the main barriers queer people face when seeking help/treatment?

“I think one of the biggest barriers to healthcare that LGBTQ+/queer people experience is the lack of knowledge about gender and sexual diversity among healthcare professionals. In my experience, this can also lead to LGBTQ+/queer people being referred to other professionals who specialise in gender and sexual diversity. For example, it is common for people with questions about their gender identity and/or gender-affirming transition to be referred to specialised gender clinics in Belgium, rather than discussing these questions with their current psychologist. This can result in the person seeking help refraining from discussing these topics with their psychologist, not feeling heard or understood, and, as mentioned above, being left to educate the health care provider about these issues. Another barrier that isn't unique to LGBTQ+/queer people, but disproportionately affects them, is the long waiting lists for (mental) health care.”

What advice would you give to someone who may want to seek out help and/or your services?

“The one advice I give to people who come to see me for the first time is to pay specific attention to how they feel with me. Research suggests that one of the most important factors in the effectiveness of therapy is the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the person seeking help. Questions such as "Do I feel comfortable and safe?" and "Do I feel I can speak my mind?" are very important to ask if you are visiting a psychologist. If somebody does not feel there’s a match with me, I encourage them to be open and talk about it. Together we can look for ways to improve our working relationship, or we can find another psychologist with whom they may feel more comfortable.”

Did you have any queer role models? Who has influenced your work?

“The people I met while I worked at Casa Rosa vzw, the Rainbow House in Ghent, are my biggest queer role models. Here I answered questions and had conversations with people about gender and sexual diversity. The stories of the LGBTQ+/queer people who visited and their strength inspire me to this day to continue my work.”