LR: As a straight, cisgender woman, I ensure that my students know that I am LGBTQ affirming by having safe space stickers and affirming artwork inside and outside my office. How do the LGBTQ students at your school recognize you as LGBTQ affirming? NC: One of my former school counselors didn’t make it clear whether they were accepting of LGBTQ students, so I sadly didn’t seek out support when I needed it. When students go to their school counselor about issues, they don’t just need empathy - they’re also letting the counselor know about issues happening within the school that they have the power to address, ameliorate and prevent, especially when it comes to identity-based harassment and bullying that so many LGBTQ young people face.

It impacted me in profound ways to have a trusted adult in my life who really seemed to understand and care about my well-being. One time, I was having a rough day and she bought me lunch and talked to me for almost an hour. I was also lucky to have a high school counselor who was a member of the LGBTQ community, so she was able to understand my obstacles and provide me with useful and culturally responsive resources. In fact, I love going to regular counseling sessions and think it’s a great way to maintain mental well-being and process certain challenges. I’ve also had some great experiences with school counselors and therapists. This challenging experience made me realize just how important it is that school counselors are trained in supporting and affirming LGBTQ students.

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