Counseling Lesbian Women Religious

No abstract available for this article.     

Therapeutic Experiences of Lesbian Couples

Abstract

This study explores the therapeutic experience of lesbian couples who had received couples psychotherapy earlier in their relationship. It examines their feelings regarding their own levels of acceptance, disclosure of sexual orientation, and connectedness with the professional providing services using qualitative methodology. The perspectives of both members of the lesbian couple were taken into account and explored. Lesbian couples who had accepted their sexual orientation appeared to have higher levels of satisfaction in their therapeutic experience and reported having an improved sense of self. Couples who had a therapist that portrayed a positive acceptance of homosexuality, low levels of heterosexism, and knowledge of issues relevant to the lesbian community reported an experience that was conducive to growth and development thus leading to an enriched relationship.     

Lesbian Women in a Rural Helping Network:

No abstract available for this article.     

The Lesbian Coming Out Process: Therapeutic Considerations

The problems and therapeutic needs of women in the process of identifying themselves as lesbians are described. Means of working through denial rationales are explored.     

Career Counseling and Life Planning With Lesbian Women

The psychological development and “coming out” process of lesbian women are examined with regard to career planning. The interaction of these issues with a model of lesbian identity provides a framework for career counselors who work with individuals or lesbian couples.     

Women and crime: Issues and perspectives

Key issues in the study of female criminality are examined from the structural, individual, and small group perspectives. The literature on female criminality reflects the divergent orientation toward and interpretations of changes in the feminine sex role. Despite the amount of research done, there remain disagreements concerning the basic facts to be explained as well as the appropriate interpretation of existing knowledge.The author is grateful to Robert F. Meier, Mark C. Stafford, Robert M. Regoli, and an anonymous reviewer for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this article. This research was partially supported by the Social Research Center at Washington State University.     

Existential Issues in the Treatment of Lesbian Clients

No abstract available for this article.     

Incorporating Lesbian and Gay Issues Into Counselor Training: A Resource Guide

In order for counselors to facilitate the growth of their lesbian and gay clients, they must be familiar with and become sensitive to the special needs of this population. However, most counselors and counselor trainees have had little exposure to these needs. One way of increasing their awareness and sensitivity is to incorporate lesbian and gay issues into counselor training programs. The focus of this article is to present a limited list of strategies and resources that can be used to supplement materials in traditional courses in counselor training so as to better prepare counselors for dealing with lesbian and gay clients.     

Moving Through Loss: The Spiritual Journey of Gay Men and Lesbian Women

This article describes losses of gay men and lesbian women relative to their relationship with traditional religion and the mental health profession. By helping their clients reframe these losses into opportunities for transformation, counselors can facilitate spiritual integration both within and beyond the context of Judeo-Christian spiritualities.     

Conceptualizing Heterosexual Identity Development: Issues and Challenges

This article summarizes the work of R. L. Worthington and J. J. Mohr (2002); R. L. Worthington, H. B. Savoy, F. R. Dillon, and E. R. Vernaglia (2002); and J. J. Mohr (2002) on heterosexual identity development that constituted the Major Contribution section of the July 2002 issue of The Counseling Psychologist. The author provides an overview of the 2 independently developed models of heterosexual identity development presented in these articles and discusses implications for counseling practice, training, and research. The author also offers a personal perspective on aspects of this body of work, including points raised by L. A. Gilbert and J. Rader (2002) and K. J. Bieschke (2002) in their reaction papers that followed these articles.     

Heterosexual Therapists Leading Lesbian and Gay Therapy Groups: Therapeutic and Political Realities

The authors describe the thought processes, plans, and reflections of two heterosexual therapists who decided to lead gay and lesbian therapy groups in a university counseling center. The debate regarding the viability of the heterosexual counselor and the gay and lesbian client pair is discussed, as are the practical issues informing and maintaining thegroups. Campus political issues regarding the groups and counselor homophobia are explored.     

Gay,Lesbian, and Queer Theologies: Origins,Contributions, and Challenges

Abstract : Theologians and biblical scholars have been writing about Christianity and homosexuality for over three decades, but lesbian/gay and queer theologies are still unfamiliar. Since questions about lesbian, gay, and queer Christians are confronting many denominations, it is important to study these proposals. This essay argues that lesbian/gay theologies trace their histories to theologies of liberation, while queer theology is indebted to postmodern and queer theories. Recent Christological and anthropological proposals are presented, and the essay concludes by exploring the distinct political implications of these theological proposals.     

Sexual Orientation and Developmental Challenges Experienced by Gay and Lesbian Youths

Youths with a homosexual orientation face different developmental challenges during adolescence than those faced by heterosexual youths or individuals who recognize their homosexual orientation later in life. We discuss the impact of “coming out,” or defining a homosexual orientation, on the development and identity formation of youths who come out during adolescence. The process of coming out is presented as entailing four broad dimensions: recognizing oneself as lesbian or gay; exploring one's sexual orientation through the gay and lesbian community; disclosing one's sexual orientation to others; and becoming more comfortable with one's sexual orientation. Some of the major challenges faced by these youths are described, and future directions for research efforts are discussed.     

Women Employment Issues: Test Yourself

The author clarifies major issues of women employment by means of a self-administered true-false questionnaire. Answers may surprise and, perhaps, enlighten employment counseling professionals.     

Lesbian Grief and Loss Issues in the Coming Out Process

This article explores the concept of loss during the lesbian coming out process. A five-stage model is proposed which examines the process of grieving various losses such as the loss of the heterosexual lifestyle, rituals of marriage and divorce, societal acceptance of the relationship, and possible loss of the esteem of family and community. Ethnicity and life stages are discussed. Clinical interventions are proposed.     

Male Narcissism and Attitudes Toward Heterosexual Women and Men, Lesbian Women, and Gay Men: Hostility toward Heterosexual Women Most of All

The present study investigated links between heterosexual men’s narcissism and attitudes toward heterosexual and non-heterosexual women and men. Male narcissism was predicted to be associated with hostility toward heterosexual women more than toward other groups, indicating investment in patriarchal power more than in conservative gender ideology or nonspecific disdain toward all people. Hierarchical regression analyses of responses from 104 male undergraduates (95% Caucasian) from Ohio in the U.S. supported the hypothesis that men’s narcissism is related most robustly to hostility toward women, rather than to equivalent derogation of all groups. Moreover, men’s narcissism is not merely a maker of traditional gender ideology, but instead is associated with favorable attitudes toward lesbian women and is unrelated to attitudes toward gay men.     

Clustered Patterns of Behavioral and Health-Related Variables Among Young Lesbian Women

Lesbian women are at increased risk for a variety of mental and physical health problems compared to heterosexual women. In order to inform treatment and prevention, the purpose of this study was to examine behavioral and health-related patterns among lesbian women and elucidate how these patterns are associated with general discrimination, sexual minority stress, affect, and social support. A sample of self-identified lesbian women (N = 436) completed an online survey from August 2014–March 2015. A latent profile analysis was conducted using measures of body mass index, hazardous alcohol use, binge eating, eating disorder risk, and exercise as indicators. A 5-class solution best fit the data and included two healthy groups: (a) low health risk, moderate exercise (54%), (b) low health risk + high exercise (22%); and three unhealthy risk groups: (c) obese + binge eating (14%); (d) disordered eating + hazardous alcohol use (5%); (e) disordered eating + high exercise (5%). The three unhealthy classes generally reported more general discrimination, sexual minority stress, social anxiety, negative affect, and lower social support compared to the healthy classes. These findings show that behavioral and health-related variables cluster together in several distinct patterns among lesbian women. In addition, general discrimination and sexual minority stress and associated psychosocial functioning may be related to these maladaptive behavioral and health-related patterns and may be important to consider in behavioral interventions.     

Midlife and Beyond: Issues for Aging Women

The author discusses issues confronted by aging women, particularly those related to ageism and body image, emphasizing society's role in influencing women's perceptions of their bodies. Although body image issues cause anxiety throughout most women's lives, women entering middle age become more conscious of this concern. Problems related to a woman's realization that she no longer conforms to society's standards of youth and beauty include low self‐esteem, depression, and anxiety.