LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy
A central tenet of affirmative therapy is recognizing the unique and varied perspectives of human experiences in order to destigmatize and depathologize the emotions, attitudes, and needs of sexual and gender minority individuals. When implementing affirmative therapy with their LGBTQ+ clients, professionals are expected to use both verbal and non-verbal means to show their affirming stance toward the gender or sexual identity of the individuals (Hinrichs & Donaldson, 2017). LGBTQ+ individuals can bring unique perspectives to the therapy process because they are highly likely to have experienced oppression, discrimination, and marginalization. These issues are often complicated to handle on one’s own, especially due to the need to deal with additional personal matters, such as coming out to their families or finding an authentic sense of self. Therefore, therapeutic methods applied to LGBTQ+ clients should align with the unique needs and experiences of the population.
LGBTQ+ Populations
The LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, queer and questioning, intersex, and asexual) individuals encompass are a group who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Approximately 4.5% of US adults identify with the group (around 14.65 million people), with millennials being the most likely to align with the identification (Young, 2019). Moreover, people of color are more likely to identify as LGBTQ+ compared to whites, which further encourages a bias toward them besides their sexual or gender orientation (Young, 2019). Lower-income individuals have a higher likelihood of identifying with the group compared to their higher-income counterparts (Young, 2019). These brief statistics indicate that the representatives of the LGBTQ+ community are not only faced with identity-related biases and prejudices but are also more likely to experience socioeconomic challenges.
Intersectional Perspective
To address the unique needs of the population, the intersectional perspective offers psychologists an opportunity to explore varied factors that contribute to the well-being of individuals. The term refers to the presence of various social stratifications, ranging from gender identity to socioeconomic status, which does not exist in isolation from one another but are other intertwined (Adames et al., 2018). The combination of social stratifications that relate to one individual shape their experiences and influence their perceptions of the whole self. The intersections among identities are never static but dynamic, which means that they can shift depending on environmental factors and other contextual aspects (Bredström, 2019). Therefore, the intersectional approach to therapy should emphasize the exploration of intersecting identities, allowing them to show their impact in various contexts as opposed to finding a distinct source of an issue being assessed.
LGBTQ+ Affirmative Treatment
LGBTQ+ affirmative treatment does not identify an individual’s gender or sexual identity as the problem. Instead, it focuses on the person’s thoughts and feelings about their identity to address any challenges they experience. Within the approach, acceptance and healing are the key objectives of therapy. It means helping LGBTQ+ clients reach harmony with themselves and thus become more positive and holistic human beings. The method may encompass dealing with such issues as homophobia and heteronormativity. Homophobia is defined as fear, hatred, or deep discomfort with LGBTQ+ individuals, while heteronormativity refers to the assumption that heterosexuality is natural and thus must be considered the norm. The aim of affirmative treatment is to help individuals overcome the negative emotional responses to the pressures of homophobia and heteronormativity.
Tools for Clinicians
Effective affirmative therapy stems from clinicians’ experience dealing with LGBTQ+ clients and understanding their perspectives as they go through life. Among essential tools for therapists is the dedication of time to conducting research into the LGBTQ+ experience while also implementing self-reflection outside the sessions. The more professionals educate themselves on gender identity and expression, the more effective they will become at working with diverse clients. As a result of the education, therapists will use gender-neutral and affirming language while also affirming the experiences of the transfolk within the contexts of their intersecting identities (Bass & Nagy, 2022). Besides, it is beneficial for clinicians to take a systems approach, especially in instances when sexuality and gender are not the focus of the treatment. Therefore, it is important not to assume patients’ gender or sexual identity and instead discuss the challenges that the individual experiences in order to determine the impact of intersecting characteristics. Some individuals may not have experienced oppression and lived within accepting environments, but there may be other personal issues they want to address.
Group Therapy
When dealing with LGBTQ+ individuals, the group therapy approach can help clients feel themselves and accepted within a group of like-minded individuals with similar experiences. The safety that group therapy brings can help individuals open up about their past encounters with oppression and biases (Wandrekar & Nigudkar, 2019). In contrast, some clients may not feel comfortable discussing their individual challenges with a group of peers. Therefore, group therapy should only be implemented among clients who show interest in the method and will not be intimidated by having to share their experiences with more people. To conclude, affirmative therapy can encompass a range of tools and strategies that are applicable to LGBTQ+ clients depending on their concerns and goals for well-being.
References
Adames, H. Y., Chavez-Dueñas, N. Y., Sharma, S., & La Roche, M. J. (2018). Intersectionality in psychotherapy: The experiences of an AfroLatinx queer immigrant. Psychotherapy, 55(1), 73–79. Web.
Bass, B., & Nagy, H. (2022). Cultural competence in the care of LGBTQ patients. StatPearls Publishing.
Bredström A. (2019). Culture and context in mental health diagnosing: Scrutinizing the DSM-5 revision. The Journal of Medical Humanities, 40(3), 347–363. Web.
Hinrichs, K. L. M., & Donaldson, W. (2017). Recommendations for use of affirmative psychotherapy with LGBT older adults. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 73(8), 945–953. Web.
Wandrekar, J., & Nigudkar, A. (2019). Learnings from SAAHAS—A queer affirmative CBT based group therapy intervention for LGBTQIA+ individuals in Mumbai, India. Journal of Psychosexual Health, 1(2), 164-173. Web.
Young, A. (2019). LGBTQ+ population quick facts. Web.