Family Counselling: Chosen Families (and what is a "family" anyway?)

Family can be one of the biggest sources of support—or one of the most difficult aspects of life for young LGBTQIA+ individuals.

As a queer person, I understand the delicate dynamics that exist within families when a child or loved one comes out, but also that sometimes "family" is a hard concept to define. That’s why I offer family counselling sessions tailored to bridge the gap between LGBTQIA+ youth and their families, whatever family means to them.

Family can be anything from your biological relatives to the friends you’ve gathered over the years, to your partner(s), and also your partner’s partners. What makes a family isn’t the shape it takes - it's the commitment to do the work that lets us show up as our best selves and give others the space to do the same.

We all crave connections because every connection teaches us something new: relationships, in all their forms, are mirrors. They reflect back parts of us we might not have seen or acknowledged before.

For this reason, relationships often bring up past wounds. Family, whether biological or chosen, can be where some of our most profound healing happens. Through open communication, acceptance, and a lot of inner work, connections can become the way to not only connect with others, but also connect & reconnect with ourselves.

In my work, I help families learn how to talk, listen, ask the right questions, and support their loved ones without judgment. I love to bring elements of applied theatre to help families role-play difficult conversations and explore each other’s perspectives in a non-threatening way. By bringing creativity into family counselling, we make it easier to break down walls and build something new.

After all, family is where we find home - in others and within ourselves -, and sometimes our home needs a bit of redecoration ;)

Chiara