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With Pride Month in June, there’s no better time to celebrate the milestones and achievements of the community. But we’ve still got a long way to go. When it comes to mental health and LGBTQ+ matters, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation.
For many in the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore, therapy can already feel like a maze of finding someone safe, understanding, and affirming to be their listening ear. But what happens when you add other layers to your identity? Beyond being queer, there are other factors that can shape your mindset and beliefs – from religion and race to disability and sexual identity. Each of these aspects of your identity not only shapes how you experience the world but also how you experience therapy.
That’s where the concept of intersectionality comes in. “Intersectionality” was coined by American advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw, and highlights how different aspects of identity – like race, gender, sexuality, ability, and religion – interact to shape our experiences. When you’re navigating life from multiple marginalised angles, it can impact your mental health journey in deeply personal ways. And for therapists, understanding this intersection is key to truly supporting their clients as well.
Let’s unpack how intersecting identities impact LGBTQ+ folks in therapy, so we can learn and understand better about such concepts.
Race and Ethnicity
In Singapore, race plays a complex role. While we pride ourselves on being a multiracial society, the lived realities of minority groups – especially Malay, Indian, and mixed-race communities – are often shaped by subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) systemic biases and generatlisation.
Now imagine being LGBTQ+ and part of a racial minority. As a queer person, you may already feel othered in predominantly Chinese, cisgender, heterosexual spaces. Add therapy into the mix, and you might find yourself explaining not just your queerness, but also cultural norms, language quirks, and family dynamics.
For example, a gay Indian man in Singapore might face pressure to get married young, not just because of family expectations, but because of community scrutiny. In therapy, he may struggle to open up if the therapist doesn’t understand the cultural weight behind statements like “you’ll bring shame to the family”, if the therapist doesn’t understand the context of marriage in an Indian family.
In order to overcome this challenge, it’s important for therapists to be culturally aware and willing to listen without making assumptions. A good therapist doesn’t need to be from the same background, but they should be open to learning about it at the very least.
Religion And Spirituality
Religion is a big part of life for many Singaporeans. From Islamic traditions to Buddhist beliefs to Christian values, spirituality often informs how people view gender, sexuality, and family.
But for LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those from conservative religious backgrounds, this can lead to intense internal conflict. You may believe in your faith deeply, but also know that your sexual orientation or gender identity doesn’t “fit the mould” of what’s expected. It’s a mental tug-of-war that many queer people face, especially when they are surrounded by religious households and communities.
Take for instance a trans woman who is also a devout Muslim. She may want to transition but also worries deeply about how that aligns with her religious teachings and community. In such cases, a therapist who immediately labels her experience as “repression” or encourages her to abandon her religion may do more harm than good.
Therefore, affirming therapists need to walk the line between respecting religious beliefs and affirming LGBTQ+ identities. Rather than viewing faith as the problem, it can be a part of the healing journey, if handled sensitively.
Disability And Neurodivergence
People often forget that many LGBTQ+ folks also live with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities. Some are autistic, others live with chronic illnesses, and some use mobility aids or face sensory challenges. When these identities intersect, therapy becomes even more nuanced.
For example, a queer person who is neurodivergent may struggle with social cues, which can impact how they explore gender or form relationships. Alternatively, a bisexual person with a visual impairment may feel isolated in queer spaces that are not accessible, like dimly-lit bars or parties without seating.
In Singapore, accessible therapy options are still limited. Many counselling spaces are located in buildings without lifts, or require clients to fill in complex forms that aren’t neurodivergent-friendly. What’s more, therapists may not be trained to work with people who have intellectual disabilities as well, which requires a different set of people skills and EQ.
In fact, therapists and mental health services need to be more inclusive in practice – not just in words. This includes accessible buildings, communication tools like easy-read materials, and training to support clients with different needs.
Therapy Isn’t Always Affordable
Therapy is great and always encourages, but let’s not sugar-coat it – therapy can be expensive in Singapore. A single session with a private therapist might cost anywhere between $100 to $500, which could be a huge barrier for many LGBTQ+ individuals who may already be facing family rejection, unemployment, or financial instability.
Add intersecting identities like being from a lower-income background or being a migrant worker, and the gap widens. A queer Filipino domestic worker, for example, may deal with discrimination at work and isolation, but have limited access to support services. This could be a downward spiral where she feels like she can’t get help from any source.
It’s important to realise that a more inclusive society also means more subsidised, queer-affirming mental health services need to be made available. Community-based mental health programmes, like those run by NGOs or mutual aid groups, are a lifeline for those who can’t afford private care.
Managing Family And Societal Expectations
In many Asian families, the pressure to conform is intense. Whether it’s about getting good grades, marrying someone “appropriate,” or carrying on the family name, these expectations are often non-negotiable in many households.
For someone who’s LGBTQ+ and facing other marginalised realities, such as being the eldest child, or caring for a parent with a disability, the pressure can be suffocating. They may feel they have no right to talk about their identity because “other people have it worse” or because they’re expected to be the strong one. This is unfortunate, as everyone should be able to be their honest, true selve.
Therapists who aren’t attuned to these layers may misread silence as resistance, or independence as avoidance as well. Instead, it’s good if therapists are able to understand the nuances of Asian family dynamics. After all, not everything is as simple as “just move out” or “set boundaries.” For many struggling, it’s about finding ways to stay authentic while honouring their role in the family structure.
Using The Right Language
Interestingly, many therapy models are still based on Western frameworks, using concepts and terms that don’t always translate well locally. For some Singaporeans, especially older clients or those more comfortable in Malay, Mandarin, or Tamil, therapy in English might not feel the most accessible.
Additionally, the lack of affirming language in local dialects can make it hard for clients to express their queer identities. For instance, how do you come out as non-binary in Hokkien? How do you explain bisexuality in Tamil when there’s no direct word for it? Situations like these unfortunately occur in a society such as Singapore. While therapists don’t need to be fluent in every language, they should be aware of the linguistic barriers that can crop up – and be ready to work around them with patience and creativity.
Intersectionality Is Complicated But Important To Understand For The LGBTQ+ Community
At the end of the day, mental health care that truly supports LGBTQ+ individuals must account for the full picture of who they are—not just their sexuality or gender, but their race, religion, ability, class, and more. These identities don’t exist in silos—they overlap, interact, and shape every aspect of how someone experiences the world.
In a diverse society like Singapore, this approach isn’t optional. It’s necessary.
If you’re seeking therapy and feel unseen in your full identity, know that your experience is valid. Keep looking for therapists or community spaces that affirm all of you. And if you’re a therapist reading this—thank you for doing the work. Let’s keep learning and creating spaces that honour the complexities of the people we serve.
If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual identity or coming out, A Space Between provides a safe environment for support with queer-friendly counsellors. Besides being a resource for help or navigating the challenge of coming out, A Space Between also shares advice on therapy and LGBTQ+ issues through online blog articles, as well as holding community events.
