Rainbow Therapy Scotland welcomes practitioners of all identities living and practising in Scotland who work in a non-pathologising way with gender, relationship and sexual diversity. It exists so that practitioners doing this work can meet one another, share knowledge and offer each other support. We run an annual conference for counsellors, psychotherapists and helping professionals, including those in training, with the aim of making space for people to experience connection and participation in ways that are not only discussion-based or academic, with room for shared voices, creativity, playfulness, storytelling and collective experience.
This year's Rainbow Therapy Scotland conference takes place in Glasgow, and our theme is Belonging.
What we stand for
Non-pathologising practice is at the heart of RTS. We believe that diversity in gender, sexuality and relationship structures is not a problem to be treated, corrected or explained away. LGBTQIA+ people deserve therapy that meets them with respect, curiosity and care, and recognises the impact of stigma, discrimination, exclusion and shame.
RTS also stands for community. Counsellors and psychotherapists can often work in isolation, especially when working in specialist or under-resourced areas. We believe good practice grows through connection, reflection and shared learning.
We value curiosity over certainty. RTS aims to create spaces where practitioners can think together, ask better questions and remain open to change. We are guided by professional knowledge, lived experience, ethics, research and reflective practice.
Our Values
Affirming practice
We promote non-pathologising approaches to gender, relationship and sexual diversity.
Community
We bring Scottish practitioners together to reduce isolation, share knowledge and support one another.
Learning
We encourage thoughtful practice informed by research, professional knowledge, lived experience and reflection.
Advocacy
We work to improve the quality and accessibility of LGBTQIA+ affirming mental health support across Scotland.