The Therapist's Notebook for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients by Joy S. Whitman and Cynthia J. Boyd

1st Edition

The Therapist's Notebook for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients

Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Use in Psychotherapy

By Joy S. Whitman, Cynthia J. Boyd

Copyright Year 2003

ON SALE

Book Description

Most therapy is set up in a heterosexist context. Explore the issues facing your gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients--and how to deal with them!

The Therapist's Notebook for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients offers therapists treating lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients innovative, practical interventions plus homework and hands-on activities tailored to these populations. Use the notebook to explore the issues surrounding coming out, homophobia in the workplace, spirituality, identity formation, and issues that require a non-heterosexist approach, such as domestic violence and relationship concerns. Grounded in current theory, each chapter explains the rationale for the activity it proposes, includes contraindications, and provides a list of helpful resources for therapists and clients.

Here are just a few of the issues this extraordinary book explores in its four thoughtfully planned sections:

Section I: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Coming Out and Managing Homophobia and Heterosexism addresses:

conflicts in self-perceptions

obstacles to the growth of a healthy GLB identity

dealing with the trauma and anxiety that result from discrimination

using semi-hypnotic visualization to treat internalized homophobia

helping bisexuals decide whether to come out or to “pass”

coping with internalized homophobic messages

dealing with heterosexism in the workplace or at school

Section II: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Relationship Issues will help you and your clients understand and work on issues involving:

choosing the right partner

intimacy and gender roles

financial stability

assimilation, queer pride, and everything in between

how ethnicity and coupling impact sexual identity

negotiating a healthy open relationship

sexual concerns, sexual dysfunction, and pleasuring

sexual role values for bisexual and lesbian women

Section III: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Gender, Ethnic, and Sexual Identity Issues addresses “who am I” issues:

sexual orientation and gender identity

the intersection of sexual and ethnic identity

oppression on multiple fronts

gender exploration for lesbians

Section IV: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Specific Issues tackles concepts including:

enhancing resilience through spirituality

reconciling with religion

spiritual wellness and the spiritual autobiography

body image disturbances

unwanted sexual behavior

creating a safety plan in case of same-sex domestic violence

alienation and finding a caring community

medication adherence for HIV+ clients

the difficulties faced by coupled lesbians with children

family care planning

addiction and recovery

healing from the wounds of homophobia

relationships with ex-partners

managing workplace stress

If you're new to treating lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients you’ll find rich material, based in current literature, to guide your work. If you've already worked extensively with LGBT clients, the activities and fresh, innovative strategies in The Therapist's Notebook for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients will expand and invigorate your skills.

Table of Contents

Section I: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Coming Out and Managing Homophobia and Heterosexism. Conflicts in Self-Perceptions in the Coming-Out Process. Hurdles. Homosexual Identity Formation: Identifying Obstacles of Growth. Semihypnotic Visualization: Treating Internalized Homophobia in Sexual and Gender Minorities. Queer Space: Empowering Realizations of Sacred Sexuality. To Pass or Not to Pass: Exploration of Conflict Splits for Bisexual-Identified Clients. Homosexual Rites of Passage: A Path to Validation. The Experiential Ecomap Exercise: Creating Client-Based Narratives of the Influence of Ecosystemic Environments on the Coming-Out Process. Coming Out of Marriage: Developing an Emerging Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Identity. Who Told Me That?: Challenging Internalized Homophobic Messages. Surviving Trauma and Anxiety As a Result of Events of Discrimination. Managing Heterosexism at Work or School. Overcoming Biphobia. Section II: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Relationship Issues. Assimilation, Queer Pride, and In Between: Personalizing GLBT Relationships, Sexual Practices, and Politics. Financial Stability Within the Lesbian Relationship. Choosing a Partner. Creating a Cultural and Sexual Genogram. Knowing You, Knowing Me: Sexual Identity and the Couple. Working with Couples on Ethnicity and Sexual Identity: The "Parts" Interview. Creating a "Thicker Description": Understanding Identity in Mixed-Identity Relationships. Opening the Door or Locking it Tight: The Negotiation of a Healthy Open Relationship. Gender Roles and Intimacy for Gay Men. Sexual Concerns/Sexual Dysfunction Assessment. Sexual Pleasuring Sessions. Exploring and Negotiating Sexual Meanings. Enhancing Relationships: Sex-Role Values of Lesbian and Bisexual Women. Section III: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Gender, Ethnic, and Sexual Identity Issues. The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression Continuum. The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Gender Expression Genogram. Challenging Multiple Oppressions with GLBT Clients. Who Am I Really?: Understanding the Intersection of Sexual and Ethnic Identity. Facilitating Lesbian Gender Exploration. Section IV: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Specific Issues. A Coming-Out Ritual: Using Spirituality to Enhance Resilience. Reconciling with Religion/Exploring Spirituality. Facilitating Spiritual Wellness with Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals: Composing a Spiritual Autobiography. Body As Self: Resolving Body Image Disturbances in Gay Men. Feelings and Meaning Associated with Unwanted Sexual Behavior. An Alphabet of GLBT and Disability Issues. Same-Sex Domestic Violence: Establishing a Safety Plan with Victims. Same-Sex Domestic Violence: A Tool for Batterers. Helping HIV-Positive Gay Men on Antiretroviral Therapy Maintain Their Medication Adherence. The Balancing Act: Two Lesbian Moms. Family Care Planning for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Parents: Creating Healthy Living Environments for Adults and Children. Making Connections: Parallel Process in Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Recovery from Addiction and Healing from Homophobia. Examining Links Between Drug or Alcohol Use and Experiences of Homophobia/Biphobia and Coming Out. Out in the Workplace: A Cost-Benefit View. Managing Stress: Helping Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals Cope with Coming Out in the Workplace. A Rainbow of Allies. Assisting Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth in Finding a Community. Negotia.