About Sydney Gay Counselling

Trusted LGBTQIA+ Therapy for Over Two Decades

Welcome to Sydney Gay Counselling, my private therapy practice dedicated to improving the lives and relationships of Australian and international LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples.

For more than 20 years, I’ve been privileged to guide members of our community toward authentic, fulfilling relationships and lives.

About Clinton Power

Hi, I’m Clinton Power—a registered clinical counsellor, psychotherapist, and Gestalt therapist who has walked alongside the LGBTQIA+ community for over two decades.

I founded Sydney Gay Counselling with a deep commitment: to create therapy that genuinely understands and celebrates LGBTQIA+ experiences because I’ve lived them myself.

As a gay man, I don’t just theoretically understand the unique challenges you face—I’ve navigated many of them personally. This lived experience, combined with 20+ years of specialised professional training, allows me to create a truly safe, affirming space where your experiences are not just acknowledged but deeply understood.

Since 2003, I’ve dedicated my practice exclusively to serving LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples, helping hundreds of clients transform their relationships and reclaim their authentic selves.

Why Choose an LGBTQIA+ Specialist With Deep Community Roots

When you’re seeking therapy as an LGBTQIA+ person, having a therapist with genuine community connection makes all the difference. My 20+ years of specialised experience means:

• You won’t waste time educating me about LGBTQIA+ experiences or terminology
• Your identity will never be treated as a “problem” to be fixed
• You’ll work with someone who has witnessed the evolution of our community firsthand
• Your therapy is informed by both clinical expertise AND lived experience
• You gain access to specialised techniques developed specifically for LGBTQIA+ concerns

My deep community involvement—from supporting people with HIV/AIDS as an Ankali volunteer to creating LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy training for other professionals—ensures your therapy is grounded in authentic understanding of our community’s unique needs.

Specialised Experience

Client Experiences

My Therapy Philosophy

I was a professional classical musician for 20 years and played with world-class orchestras in Australia and overseas. As a performer, I was often dealing with performance anxiety, and I developed an interest in the mind and performance psychology. This interest led me to my studies in counselling and psychotherapy.

Before beginning my counselling studies, I was an Ankali emotional support volunteer for people living with HIV/AIDS—an experience that deeply informed my approach to therapy.

My therapy and counselling philosophy is LGBTQIA+-affirmative. This means I believe there is nothing inherently wrong with being gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, or transgender. I believe that emotional, physical, and psychological wellness comes from embracing and accepting your LGBTQIA+ identity.

My approach is grounded in several key principles:

• Honouring individual experience — I recognise that each person’s journey is unique and deserves to be seen and validated
• Relationship-focused healing — I believe that meaningful connections are central to wellbeing
• Holistic perspective — I consider all aspects of a person’s life, not just the presenting issue
• Collaborative partnership — Therapy works best when we work together as equals in the process
• Practical skill-building — I balance emotional exploration with concrete strategies you can apply immediately

These principles inform my work with all clients, regardless of their relationship structure or identity. My goal is to help you live authentically and create relationships that truly nourish and support you.

Specialist in LGBTQIA+ Couples and CNM Relationships

I specialise in working with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and consensually non-monogamous couples. For over two decades I have devoted my career to developing expertise in couples therapy with same-sex relationships and ethically non-monogamous dynamics.

My approach is particularly effective for:

• same-sex couples seeking deeper connection and communication
• individuals and couples working through sexual challenges
• partners navigating polyamory, open relationships, or relationship anarchy
• couples transitioning from monogamy to CNM structures
• established CNM relationships facing communication breakdowns or boundary issues

I can help you create a respectful, loving, and meaningful relationship structure—whether traditional or nontraditional.

When I work with you and your partner(s), I help you learn how to manage conflict effectively, establish clear agreements, create positive relationship patterns, and restore the connection and intimacy in your relationships. My clients appreciate my non-judgemental approach, which honours their unique relationship choices while providing practical tools for growth.

Practice Locations

Professional Background

I am a former faculty member of Jansen Newman Institute of Counselling and Applied Psychotherapy, where I facilitated group therapy for counselling and psychotherapy students and trained them in therapeutic skills.

I used these group therapy skills to offer a gay men’s group therapy program that helped participants reduce their sense of loneliness and isolation while learning new relationship skills.

In 2011, I founded Australia Counselling Directory to help the public find registered counsellors in their local area. From 2013 to 2015, I created and hosted 100 episodes of the Australia Counselling Podcast for mental health professionals.

I’ve been regularly interviewed by the media on LGBTQIA+ issues and relationships. In 2023, I created an online course for therapists called LGBTQIA-Affirmative Therapy: A Compassionate and Inclusive Approach, which has been completed by over 150 mental health professionals worldwide.

Qualifications & Professional Memberships