Tips on coming out to your parents. Written by an LGBTQI therapist in Long Beach.
                     Tips on coming out 
to your parents. 
Written by an 
LGBTQI therapist in 
Long Beach.
Talking to your parents about your sexual orientation or gender 
identity can be an essential part of your coming out journey. Yet, it 
is not always an easy task. You never know how someone is going 
to react until you tell them yourself.
If you are thinking about coming out to your parents, below are some 
tips to consider:
• Take your time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being closeted. Coming to terms with who you are 
can take time, so do not feel pressured to share this information with your parents if you are not ready to 
do so. While there is no “perfect” time to come out, you will know when you feel ready. If you feel 
comfortable with who you are and feel the urge to tell your parents, go for it. If not, take your time and 
think things through. Your coming out journey is precisely that… yours.
• Plan ahead. Coming out to parents can be terrifying to some people. Although it is not pleasant to imagine, it is best 
to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Consider things like an exit strategy, having someone to call if you 
need emotional support, and choosing a public setting when you are ready to come out. On the other hand, you can 
also plan for a good outcome by being prepared to talk about your emotions or answering your parents’ follow-up 
questions.
• Come prepared. Providing your parents with resources, reading material, or videos is an excellent way for you to 
come prepared. The chances are that you studied your sexual orientation or gender identity before fully 
understanding who you are. With that in mind, it is safe to assume that your parents will come with their own set of 
questions and concerns. Having resources ready to go when coming out to your parents can prevent any confusion 
or misunderstandings. For coming out resources, take a look at PFLAG.org, hrc.org, thetrevorproject.org, or glsen.org.
• Get professional help. There are therapists (like at Long Beach Therapy) who are there to help you process your 
feelings, can help you develop a plan for when/where/how to come out to your parents and can be a support for after 
you tell your parents.  Therapy is a good way to make sure you make it through the coming out process with as little 
mental health damage as possible.
Regardless of how or when you come out to your parents, make sure to do so on your 
terms. While no amount of preparation or research will guarantee a positive outcome, being 
prepared to come out to your parents will help you out in the long run. If things do not go 
according to plan, remember that your parents’ first reaction might not always be good, but 
people can change and evolve. If things go well, show your parents that you appreciate 
them and allow them to learn more about your life. No matter what, remember that there is 
absolutely nothing wrong with you and who you are as a person.
If you live in California and are looking for a LGBTQ therapist, please give us a call at Long 
Beach Therapy: 562-310-9741.
As someone who is in the LGBTQ community, I understand the need to find a therapist who is 
an ally. Here are tips to finding an LGBTQ therapist if you live outside of California:  Due to 
licensing restrictions, since I am licensed in California, I can only see people who reside in 
California.  I often see people in other parts of the state through online teletherapy (such as 
zoom), but if you live outside of California, these are some tips in finding a therapist in your 
area.  If you are looking for an individual therapist in your area, try doing a google search on: 
“LGBTQ therapist near me” or type in YOUR CITY or state such as “LGBTQ therapist in 
California” or “LGBTQ therapist in Long Beach” (replace “Long Beach” and/or “California” with 
your city/state name). Since many older therapists in the LGBTQ community use “gay” when 
they are referring to all LGBTQ people, you can also look up “Gay therapist near me”.
Visit https:https://longbeachtherapy.com/ or Call us on 562-
310-9741 now.