GUIDELINES FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY

Guidelines for Psychotherapy with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients

Guidelines for Psychotherapy with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients

Explanation of practices outlined by APA

Psychologists and psycho therapists face a number of problems when dealing with clients who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. To provide a better treatment to such clients, American Psychological Association provides a guideline to the therapist. These guidelines can be very effective in providing treatment to the clients. Following part of the paper discusses implementation of these guidelines.

Attitude towards LGB Clients

To provide better treatment to LGB clients, it is imperative that psychologists should have a positive attitude towards them. For a longer time people have a perception that bisexuality is a result of mental illness? In 1957, Hooker investigated this assumption and found no prove to support this assumption (Hooker, 1957). There are researches that prove this assumption as correct. The main point to be taken into consideration is that these researches have serious flaws in methodology and assumptions (Gonsiorek, 1991). Thus, it is imperative for psychologists to understand that bisexuality is not a result of mental illness. If they would assume that they would not be able to provide better treatment to the clients. Psychologists should have complete information of human sexuality to deal with these clients. They should receive training and coaching to understand the matter of human sexuality (Buhrke, 1989). For example, when therapists have complete information and knowledge they can provide material related to the matter and cases so that they can comfort themselves. If clients do not have support instead they face pressure to alter their sexual orientation this impacts their well being of mental health.

Relationships and Families

It is important for psychologists to understand that LGB clients form the same relationship as heterosexuals do. The most indispensable aspect that LGBs face is ...