Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Therapy

Sharon G. Horne & Brandy Smith

In most cases, gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) clients seek out counseling and therapy for the same reasons that heterosexual clients seek services, including relationship and family issues as well as concerns about work and social Stressors. However, several therapeutic concerns specific to GLB sexual orientation include coming out and sexual identity development; anti-GLB and heterosexist attitudes, prejudice, and discrimination; and GLB relationship and family issues. Therapists who are of any sexual orientation can be effective working with sexual minority clients as long as they are knowledgeable about GLB therapeutic concerns and are relatively free of heterosexist assumptions and biases. Coming out is a term used to describe the disclosure of one's sexual orientation to others (e.g., family, friends, coworkers), either by identifying as GLB or by indicating a same-sex relationship or orientation. Someone who has not disclosed his or her GLB orientation either with significant others or at Research ...

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