When I began my journey as a Psychotherapist, I felt a deep need to find something I could truly identify with. I wanted to go beyond academic bibliography and that psychological bubble saturated with technical jargon that often feels distant and difficult to grasp. In my work, I use Metaphor as a vehicle to facilitate the process. Bringing psychology into an accessible language is my way of bringing the Therapeutic Process closer to those who trust me. In this article, I will intend to explore the spiritual and profound side that guides my work as an Integrative Psychotherapist.I firmly believe that therapy is not a mechanical repair, but a human connection that transcends superficial relationships. In a world dictated by the mantra “you are what you have,” it is easy to end up feeling empty. When I welcome people into my practice, I discover that those external values are useless: they make us feel broken, difficult, and incomplete—above all, they create a profound lack of belonging. The Broken Vessel and the Weight of the Family System Often, our feeling of being “broken” comes from trying to fit into a mold that is not ours—one we likely did not choose. We

We often hear that being lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) is “socially accepted” and that there is no reason to complain because discrimination is a thing of the past. While it is true that significant progress has been made and there is greater acceptance than 20 years ago, it is still common in my practice to work with people under the age of 30 facing rejection based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.Those of us who grew up in environments where our sexual identity was something to be hidden know that the reality is different. The process of accepting who we are is not linear; it is marked by an invisible norm: the presumption of heterosexuality and cisnormativity (the assumption that everyone identifies with the gender assigned at birth).This fear has a name: internalized homophobia. It is an invisible enemy that makes us believe a part of us is “defective,” when the true error lies in society’s failure to accept people for who they are. The Levels of Homophobia: Where Does Rejection Come From? To understand this point, it is important to know that rejection doesn’t always come directly from one’s family or immediate circle. It stems from systemic

Often, living in a heteropatriarcal and binary society model forces LGBTQ+ individuals to face discrimination just for being different. Unfortunately, this often occurs even when they seek for mental health support. For this reason, affirmative therapy is considered the right choice.For the LGBTQ+ community, mental health is intrinsically linked to validation and the freedom to be oneself. However, many people in our community have suffered from a lack of understanding when working with therapists who, while well-intentioned, end up pathologizing their lives. I have experienced this pathologization myself.This is where LGBTQ-affirmative therapy marks a turning point, transforming the consultation into a safe space for empowerment and authenticity. Redefining support: beyond tolerance Unlike traditional therapeutic models, LGBTQ-affirmative therapy is not merely “friendly.” There is a clear line between an LGBTIQ+ friendly approach —where the professional simply does not discriminate— and the affirmative model, which is an intentional and empowering practice. In the latter, the therapist possesses a deep identity understanding, recognizing that your sexual orientation or gender identity are fundamental aspects of who we are, not problems that require a solution. Minority stress: when distress is social In our current social context, emotional distress often does not stem from the individual,