Lirona Rosenthal
23 tháng 10, 2025
2:00 CH
Session summary
As a psychologist in the UK, I work closely with trans and non-binary individuals facing escalating their safety. The tightening restrictions and rising hostility toward trans lives mirror broader global patterns of eroding human rights. Through my clinical practice, I see therapy as more than a mental health service it is an act of solidarity, a space where individuals can process both personal and societal struggles, and a tool for resistance against dehumanisation. By weaving my personal experiences with my professional practice, this paper will highlight the crucial role of therapy as a space of safety, resilience, and solidarity, while also offering insights into how to choose the right therapist and what to look for in therapy within the context of social threats to humanity.
Biography
Originally from Israel, Lirona relocated to South East London nine years ago. Lirona is a Jewish, bisexual woman, sharing her life with her wife and two teenage boys. Her background has been shaped by both personal and professional experiences of identity, immigration, and advocacy. While Israel provided social acceptance as a gay woman, legal recognition of her family was absent. More significantly, her human rights activism particularly around the occupation and the treatment of Palestinians led her to seek a place where she could continue her work and her life in a way that aligned with her values. Now based in the UK, Lirona works extensively with LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly trans and non-binary clients, as they navigate increasing threats to their safety, rights, and well-being. Lirona’s approach to therapy is rooted in solidarity, recognising the profound impact of systemic therapy. Lirona believes therapy is not just a space for healing but also an act of resistance, fostering resilience in a world where safety and acceptance cannot be taken for granted.
