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

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 womenSection 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 lesbiansSection 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 stressIf 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.

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.