LGBT 101
Joel M. Filmore, NCC, CCDCT, LCPC (IL)
Assistant Professor
Northern State University
Craig Bixler, BA
Graduate Student
Northern State University
Gay–Affirmative Counseling
Defined as:
“Therapy that cerebrates and advocates
the authenticity and integrity of Lesbian,
Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) persons and
their relationships” (Bieschke,
McClanahan, Tozer, Grzegorek, & Park,
2000)
Gay-Affirming Counselor
Defined as:
“One who views sexual minorities and
LGB issues as central and identitydefining as opposed to marginal and
perceived in terms of the heterosexual
norms society holds” (Morrow, 2000)
How does one become a Gay
Affirmative Counselor/Therapist?
McGeorge & Carlson (2011) indicate three steps:
Step 1.
Recognizing, and personal examination of, ones
Heteronormative Assumptions, defined as
“Automatic unconscious beliefs and expectations
that reinforce heterosexuality and heterosexual
relationships as the ideal norm” (p. 15)
Reflection questions to gauge one’s
heteronormative assumptions
1.
What did my family of origin teach me about sexual
orientation? Same-sex orientation?
2.
What are my beliefs about how a person becomes gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender?
3.
What are my beliefs about why I did not become gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender?
4.
What would be my initial thoughts or feelings upon
learning that an LGB person will be working as a teacher
working closely with children?
5.
When I meet someone, how often do I assume that
he/she is heterosexual? What values and beliefs inform
this assumption?
How does one become a Gay
Affirmative Counselor/Therapist?
McGeorge & Carlson (2011)
Step 2.
Exploring Heterosexual Privileges (e.g.
acknowledging the existence of heterosexual
privilege and the ways in which [counselors]
benefit from living in a heterosexist society).
Reflection questions to explore
heterosexual privileges
1.
2.
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5.
How has your involvement in heterosexual relationships
been encouraged, rewarded, acknowledged and
supported by family and friends?
Have you ever had to defend your heterosexuality in
order to gain acceptance among your peers or
colleagues?
Have you thought you might loose your job because of
your heterosexuality?
Have you ever feared that you would be physically
harmed based solely on your heterosexuality?
Do you worry that you will be denied visitation with
your husband/wife, in the hospital, if either of you get
sick?
How does one become a Gay
Affirmative Counselor/Therapist?
McGeorge & Carlson (2011)
Step 3.
Exploring One’s Heterosexual Identity, i.e.,
becoming aware of the dominant socially
sanctioned identities (e.g., White, male,
heterosexual).
Reflection questions to explore
heterosexual identity
1.
What societal beliefs or norms influenced the
development of a heterosexual identity?
2.
Do you understand your own heterosexual sexual
orientation as a stable factor in your identity or do you
perceive your sexual orientation as fluid and changeable,
why?
3.
How does your identification as a heterosexual influence
how you make sense of how a person comes to identify
as an LGB individual?
4.
How does your identity as a heterosexual influence the
way you do [counseling] with all your clients, regardless
of their sexual orientation?
Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills
Granello (2004);
• Don’t work with LGBT clients unless you are gay-affirming
• Keep the client’s context at the forefront
• Confront your internalized homophobia as a prerequisite to
becoming gay-affirming
• Send messages to clients that they are accepting of them as LGBT
persons (do you have anything in your office that says you are
“safe”?).
• Be able to assess client issues related to his/her sexuality, issues
that may be exacerbated by it, and issues that are not affected by it.
• Be aware of local, regional, and national resources available for
clients
• Object to, and work toward, eliminating negative stereotyping of
LGBT persons.
Oppression
• The use of power to deprive LGBT people of their human
rights (i.e. parental, employment, survival benefits, etc.) and
to unjustly exclude them from functioning “normally” as
members of society.
• Oppression is systematic and is maintained by the
continuation, and repeated integration, of prejudice, power,
and privilege into societal institutions (i.e. legal, religion,
academia, and social).
• Systematic oppression is present in any society where
dominant and minority groups exists.
• Oppression can be furtive or deliberate.
Counseling and Language Usage
• Language is extremely important and/or influential in all
counseling relationships. Language identifies and names
our lived experiences. It is cultural, shapes meaning,
determines consciousness, and communicates worldviews
of society members.
• By identifying oppression as a system and by specifying
oppressive practices (i.e. prejudicial acts) toward LGBT
people, affirmative counselors are able to encourage and
empower clients to fight against injustices.
• The act of naming oppressive systems gives affirmative
counselors the ability to recognize and attribute clients'
emotions or inner conflicts regarding society’s negative
attitudes, values, categories, and norms about sexual
orientation.
Coming Out
The Coming Out Continuum
• Coming out and living openly aren’t something you do once,
or even for one year. It’s an ongoing journey that LGBT
people make every single day of their lives.
• Because of internalized homonegativity clients may present
with extreme amounts of stress and depression which has
its genesis in facing oppressive attitudes, rejection, and
potential discrimination (Franke & Leary, 1991).
Coming Out
• Why is the Coming Out process ongoing?
• How can I assist in the Coming Out process as a
counselor?
• What does the Coming Out process look like?
• The first person your client has to be open
with is themselves.
• Look at the benefits and risks of coming out.
• Make a coming out plan.
• Start having the conversations.
Coming Out
Who:
• Determine to whom the client is planning on
coming out.
• Explore the ramifications, potential outcomes,
and pitfalls.
Where:
• Help your client decide where he or she will
disclose, whether it’s in a letter, over the phone,
or, preferably, in a quiet, private place.
Coming Out
Why:
• Before disclosing, encourage client to explore
why he/she is disclosing at this particular time.
• Prepare your client for potential questions
he/she may get asked.
When:
• Encourage your client not to disclose during an
event or holiday. It is an important occasion, let it
have the full attention it deserves.
LGBT Youth
Recognition that they are different
• Confusion
• Fear
• Lack of understanding
Others’ reactions
• Rejection/Disappointment
• Isolation
• Stigmatization
• Bullying, violence, and threats of violence
At-Risk Issues for LGBT Youth
• Family conflict
• Lack of recognition, acknowledgment, or
support
• Feeling cheated and misunderstood
• Guilt, shame, anxiety, self-blame and hate, and
suicide
The Parent’s Perspective
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Disbelief, confusion, shame, embarrassment
Lack of understanding
Uncertainty about what to do
Lack of knowledge about resources and support
Lack of family, friend, and community acceptance
Uninformed medical/psychology professionals
Fear of making the wrong decision
Social stigma
Lack of school support
Concern for child’s safety
Adjustment to new future expectations for their
child
Supporting Your LGBT Youth
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Acceptance
Acknowledgment, respect, and love
Professional support
Expression of their gender
Safety and protection
“Normal” treatment by others
Contact with peers
School support
Puberty-delaying hormones
Simple Affirmative Techniques
• Practice your inner Rogerian
• Unconditional Positive Regard
• Listen to their story.
• Often times LGBT clients simply need to tell someone
who they are, without judgment, and without being told
who they are.
• Ask questions for clarity.
• Never worry that you will offend your gay client by
asking questions. If they can answer, they will.
• If you show your gay client that you are interested in
getting to know them it will go a long way in developing
the therapeutic alliance.
Simple Affirmative Techniques
• Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know
something about the culture.
• Be prepared to educate (yourself and your
client)
• LGBT clients come to counseling with different levels
of knowledge and understanding about the gay
community.
• You should have an understanding of the Gay Identity
Models of development as this will help give you an
idea of where your client is and how to best assist
them.
Simple Affirmative Techniques
• Be Sensitive to Diversity
• Often times when we talk about the “gay community”
the inference is the “white” gay community yet within
the Chicagoland area there are 3 major gay
communities: the European-American, AfricanAmerican, and Hispanic-American gay communities.
• All LGBT individuals are NOT alike. Research shows that
with increased minority status comes additive and
exponential mental health issues.
• Ask your client to tell you how they, their family, and
their culture, view homosexuality and don’t assume you
already know.
The More You Know…
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Community Resources
HIV/AIDS
Gay and Gray
Substance Abuse
Family Issues
Abuse
Domestic Violence
Reparative/Conversion Therapy
Counseling Today Online: No More Sitting on the Sidelines (Chaney, M.,
Filmore, J., Goodrich, K., 2011)
References
Biesche, K., McClananhan, M., Tozer, E. , Grzegorek, J., & Park, J. (2000). Programmatic research on the treatment
of lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients: the past, the present, and the course for
the future. In R.
Perez, K. DeBord, & K. Bieschke (Eds.),
Handbook of counseling and psychotherapy with lesbian, gay, and
bisexual clients. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Capuzzi, D. & Gross, R. D. (2009). Introduction to the counseling
profession. Columbus, Ohio:
Pearson.
Day-Vines, N. L., Wood, S. M., Grothaus, T., Craigen, L., Holman, A., Dotson-Blake, K., & Douglass, M. J.. (2007).
Broaching the subjects
of race, ethnicity, and culture during the counseling process. Journal
of
Counseling & Development, 85, 401-409.
Dermer, S. B., Smith, S. D., & Barto, K. K. (2010). Identifying and
correctly labeling sexual prejudice,
discrimination, and oppression.
Journal of Counseling & Development, 88, 325-331.
Franke, R. & Leary, M. (1991). Surveying the intersection: Pathology, secrecy, and the discourses of racial and
sexual identity. Journal of Homosexuality, 6(2-3), 1-19.
Granello, D. (2004). Assisting beginning counselors in becoming gay affirmative: A workshop approach. Journal
of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 43, 50-64
McGeorge, C. & Carlson, T. (2011). Deconstructing heterosexism: Becoming an LGB affirmative heterosexual
couple and family therapist. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37, 14-26.
Morrow, S. (2000). First do no harm: Therapist issues in psychotherapy with lesbians, gay, and bisexual clients.
In R. Perez, K. DeBord, & K. Bieschke (Eds.), Handbook of counseling and psychotherapy with lesbian, gay, and
bisexual clients. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Meyer, I. & Dean, L. (1998). Internalized homophobia in the therapist and gay or lesbian client: Conscious and
unconscious collusions in self-hate. Psychotherapy, 30(1), 141-151.