Navigating Breakups and Divorce in LGBTQ+ Relationships: Honoring Your Story, Healing With Intention
The end of a significant relationship—whether in a marriage, long-term partnership, or polycule—is never easy. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, the pain of a breakup or divorce can feel layered. It may not only involve losing someone you once loved, but also stepping away from a chosen family, shifting roles within your shared social circle, and mourning the future you once imagined together.
In my work with individuals, couples, and polycules across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, I understand that every relationship holds its own unique story. When that story changes, it can feel like the ground beneath your feet has shifted. Through a blend of narrative therapy, positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based practices, I help clients re-author their stories with clarity, compassion, and intention.
Making Space for Grief and Growth
Breakups and divorces often bring a mix of emotions—grief, guilt, fear, relief, even hope. All of these feelings are valid. You might find yourself questioning your self-worth or wondering whether you could have done something differently. In our work together, I help you recognize these internal dialogues as part of your healing narrative, not as final truths, but as stories that can be revised with care and perspective.
There are ways to support your emotional well-being during this transition. While no single action can eliminate the pain, intentional practices can help you reconnect with yourself and create space for healing. Consider:
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Spending time with supportive friends, chosen family, or affirming community members
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Exploring a new hobby or creative outlet
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Practicing mindfulness or meditation to ground yourself in the present
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Moving your body through exercise, dance, or yoga
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Journaling your thoughts to process and externalize difficult emotions
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Volunteering to reconnect with purpose
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Taking breaks for rest and self-care, perhaps even a massage or time in nature
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Participating in support groups designed for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing relationship transitions
These practices are not meant to “fix” what you are feeling. Instead, they serve as gentle reminders that even amidst loss, you can still cultivate meaning, resilience, and agency.
Therapy Can Offer a Steady Anchor
Sometimes, friends and family can hold space for you in ways that are healing and affirming. At other times, the emotional complexity of your experience may call for professional support. If you are navigating the end of a relationship—whether monogamous or polyamorous—I invite you to work with me.
Together, we can explore what this chapter means in the broader context of your life story. Using principles from narrative therapy, we can reframe painful beliefs and examine the values you still carry forward. With tools from CBT, we can challenge negative thought patterns and strengthen your emotional resilience. Through mindfulness, we can create a quiet space for emotional clarity. With insights from positive psychology, we can help you reconnect with your sources of strength, identity, and hope.
You are not alone in this. Many LGBTQ+ individuals and partnerships face similar crossroads, and healing is possible.
If you are ready to begin, I would be honored to support you. Reach out to schedule a consultation. Your story matters, and it deserves to be told with compassion and dignity.
