“The idea of providing a psychological counseling service dates back a few years.' tells Walter Pergolis, President of Arcigay Gioconda “We agreed that many gay men would need personal and protected spaces to talk about their sexual orientation, how they experienced their homosexuality, and the problems they often encountered. The most interesting reflection focused on the considerations that many gay men who had sought help from psychologists had encountered with a widespread and often subtle, homophobic attitude of the professionals they had referred to.” Pergolis continues “On the other hand, the psychiatric, psychoanalytic, and even behaviorist traditions had not produced valid models for a more serene approach to people who often presented "ego-dystonic" suffering due to their being gay, but who just as often had problems related to the difficulty in asserting themselves in a hostile social environment and who would have needed simple support to strengthen their ego.'
The Reggio clinic, directed by Dr. Margherita Graglia, has been active since October 2001 and is aimed at individuals, couples, families, and, for consultancy, institutions. Among the various activities, we highlight the activation of a self-help group: the meeting group. This group is open to all men and women who wish to explore their sexual orientation and share experiences, experiences, and moments of growth. The main goal is the development and affirmation of one's identity, the expression of feelings experienced in a protected environment, and the attainment of awareness of one's internal and interpersonal dynamics. Meetings take place at the'Arcigay Gioconda, in Via Emilia at the Hospice.