A Research Study On The Lesbian Community

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) falls within societal minority groups such as low income, people of color, and disables (AHRQ, 2011). Due to their gender identity, discrimination, violence, and even denial of human rights and healthcare services is a common challenge among LGBT population. LGBT still faces many health disparities primarily related to the historic bias of healthcare professionals anti-LGBT manners even though society acceptance has been favorable. According to Ard and Makadon (n.d), “until 1973, homosexuality was listed as a disorder…, and transgender still is.” This stigma prevents healthcare professionals to openly ask questions in a non-judgmental manner related to sexual identity. On the other hand, if the patient senses that the healthcare environment is discriminating they may be reluctant to disclose important information as their sexual orientation; thus, missing important opportunities of been educated about safety and health care risks.

I decided to write my paper on “Lesbianism An act of resistance”. While she made a lot of good points I found myself lost in the beginning, trying to figure out which direction she was pointing the paper in. Mainly the paper was used to compare a lot of injustices to lesbian women by male-supremacist, racist, misogynist, and homophobic men. Not too far into the reading she started comparing women’s oppression and African Americans oppression in the USA. Her end goal was to point out that racism and sexism were created and acted on initially by the same person; the white male. I can agree to an extent with her, but, in the end, we are our own person and it’s been a continued behavior. Are we supposed to expect that because of one race,

Strong support with the black community might have been affected by the connotation between African American women athletes and “mannish” lesbianism. Factually, European American ethnic thought categorized African American women as violent, rough, zealous, and physical which are the same qualities assigned to masculinity and sport. The image of the manly lesbian athlete had an unswerving effect on women competitors, strategies of athletic organizations, and the overall fame of women’s sport.

Throughout the video Dr. Patterson, displayed and executed various competencies of understanding the way in which her client’s coming-out may impact her client’s overall quality of life as well as the impact on her husband and family. Guideline 10. Psychologists strive to understand the ways in which a person's lesbian, gay, or bisexual orientation may have an impact on his or her family of origin and the relationship with that family of origin (American Psychological Association,

The case study of Sara and Amy was selected to develop a counseling plan. This couple is in a lesbian and bi-racial relationship, Sara is Caucasian and in her early thirties and Amy is African American and in her late thirties. This couple has lived together for 1year and resides far away from both of their families of origin. Both are employed, however Sara recently lost a good paying corporate position and now maintains two lower paying jobs with longer hours. This couple is seeking counseling for Sara’s persistent lack of interest in sexual relations with her partner Amy. The purpose of this paper is to assess

The three articles we were asked to read discussed personal and professional discord, how to address these value-based conflicts when they occur, and the intersectionality of faith, sexual orientations, and gender overall. These articles all explained what potential viewpoints (personal and professional) could do to the counseling process and what can be done to prevent this (e.g. how to address these value-based conflicts within the counseling setting). Also, these articles explained how being self-reflexive and aware of these conflicts can lead to less occurrences and positive outcomes for your clients.

In Chapter 10 of Rudolph K. Sanders’ book, Christian Counseling Ethics: A Handbook for Psychologists, Therapists and Pastors, Mark Yarhouse, Jill Kays and Stanton Jones discuss the “sexual minority” as it pertains to the field of professional counseling. This group is defined as “individuals with same sex attractions or behavior, regardless of self-identification” (Sanders, et. al., 2013, p. 252). By looking at counseling the homosexual community through its etiology, standards by which a counselor should proceed with treatment, and the options a client has on deciding treatment options, we can be better prepared as Christian counselors to be better prepared in serving the needs of others.

The basis of Critical Social Theory is to uncover and realize the oppressive realities such as heterosexism, heteronormativity, and/or homophobia and motivate victims such as the LGBT group to emancipate from the dominations of heterosexism that enslaves them (Horkheimer, 1972, p. 213). Those, in particular the LGBT patients, do not realize they are being oppressed with heterosexism in the healthcare system such as when a health care provider assumes one's sexual orientation, assuming a spouse is the opposite sex or gender, assuming a pregnant woman is married to a male, assuming heterosexual family status, and assuming a woman is on birth control, despite whether or not she is a lesbian. Horkheimer's Critical Social Theory (1972) noted that a person halts inner conflicts and tensions once coercion and opposition are eradicated (p. 219). Once an individual has the knowledge and awareness of the histories of their oppresion, they are in power to overthrow the oppressor and emancipate from the dominant group, which in this case heterosexism. By ignoring these key features vital to building a trusting nurse-patient relationship during the health assessment can lead to being misunderstood and not meeting the patient's health goals. Nurses have the knowledge and power to empower patients and advocate for them by self-reflecting heterosexist beliefs, uncovering oppressive heterosexism in the social system, and critiquing the traditional views with inclusive views to accommodate for the LGBT patient. All patients have their own lived-experience thus health care providers need to tailor health interventions and promotion according to patient needs. Heterosexism is a standard that does not always apply to everyone, especially LGBT patients. Thus , LGBT patients are excluded from everyone else to achieve positive health outcomes. Horkheimer's (1972) Critical Theory also

Gladding in chapters 3, 9, 12, 14, 15 and 16 looks at working with culturally diverse, therapeutic approaches of psychodynamic, Bowen, Structural, Solution-Focused and Narrative Family Therapies, the ethical, legal and professional issues in family therapy and working with substance related disorders, domestic violence and child abuse. Multiculturalism is a term used “to refer to distinct cultural groups within a region or nation and their needs” (p. 55). In providing family therapy to culturally diverse families, it is essential for one to develop “openness to diversity and cultural competence” (p. 56). Additionally, the success of family therapy in working with the culturally diverse is dependent on factors including that of sensitivity, experience, acceptance, ingenuity, specificity and intervention. Accordingly, the influence and importance of extended family and kinship ties are essential considerations for working with culturally diverse families. In working with gay and lesbian families, family therapists need to remain open, and aware of their beliefs and biases associated with gay and lesbian lifestyles. Likewise, with African American families, therapists need to have an understanding of multigenerational family systems, and address social and institutional issues such as racism, poverty and discrimination which have adversely affected African Americans.

Counseling is a field that can be very rewarding for both the client as well as the clinician. Nevertheless, it can also offer great challenges. The benefits of counseling far outweigh the bad. Nonetheless, there is a certain population of individuals who some clinicians may have a difficult time counseling more than others. The recent concerns for gender and sexual orientation constantly are in the limelight, especially amongst the political forefront. This has made clinicians more aware of their own individual biases. Other concerns that may pose a potential conflict during therapy is the aspect of confronting clients who associate with a particular culture, which may be unfamiliar to the clinician. In this paper, I will analyze an in-depth evaluation regarding the many opportunities therapy can bring as well as discuss any potential biases or challenges, which may pose a potential problem in the near future. Also, this paper will take a look at challenges as oppose to race, gender, sexual orientation, the elderly, and people disabilities.

Refusing to counsel the lesbian couple regarding their relationship issues can be characterized as a form of discrimination towards their sexual orientation. As such, this discrimination could subject the social worker to liability as professional malpractice. “Professional malpractice is generally considered a form of negligence.” Frederic G Reamer, Social Work Malpractice and Liability: Strategies for Prevention (2003). As Social workers you are mandated obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical disability. Moreover, counselors have a professional and ethical duty—set forth in the Code of Ethics,

I had the privilege of attending the discernment training provided by the NHAMFT on October 2, 2015. I was astounded to learn that 30% of couples entering into couple’s therapy are mixed-agenda couples (Doherty, 2011). According to the speaker, Rachel Zamore (2015), mixed-agenda couples are unsuccessful with couple’s therapy because they are “half-hearted.” Meaning one person is “leaning in” and one person is “leaning out” of the relationship. She continued to explain that because therapists lacked the models and protocols to deal with these couples, they were literally falling through the cracks due to the lack of effective support.

Client appeared to be experiencing a lot of frustration toward to LDS church, and this is based on client's description that she is very angry in regards of church's view of LGBTQ community. It appears that client's frustration could also be due to her childhood sexual abuse experience. It appeared that client would laugh when discussing difficult situations such as when she expressed that she feels angry when she wants to help LGBTQ communities, but was not able to do so. This may be a protective mechanism for the client so that she does not show her actual emotions relate to social incidents. It appeared that client might have a hard time sharing her frustration in regards to LDS church to others in her life. Client appeared to be worried that her relationship with her daughter would change due to the church. It appeared that client was embarrassed after finding out that the therapist is a LDS because the client worried that she would offend the therapist. Client showed that she is very open-minded in regards of her relationship with the therapist. She appeared to be very thoughtful, and has good insights into accepting

The Lesbian Gay Queer Transgender community, also known as LGBT, has existed since the beginning of human civilization. Sexuality between homo-sapiens has always been a complex spectrum between pleasure and reproduction. Many have viewed heterosexuality as natures primary view of sexuality, but cultures have differed in this view and practice. The Greeks viewed sexuality as a spectrum free to interpretation, subjective to those perpetuating LGBT identities. Aristocrats, philosophers, and emperors all partook in homosexuality, transgender cross-dressing, and were not always hyper masculine but equally queer. Homophobia was a pressured idea in many middle eastern cultures, as religions observe heterosexuality as true righteousness or holiness.

One of the issues that should be addressed in treatment is the socialization that lesbian clients participate in. In treatment, it is necessary to give any client tools for recovery. These tools should include alternative activities that do not revolve around the getting and using of alcohol and drugs. This may be a difficultly task when dealing with LGBT clients especially since there are not many options for socialization besides bars, clubs, or parties. In Oklahoma there are about 333 thousand same-sex couples per the 2010 Census (The Williams Institute, 2011). Oklahoma has some programs and organizations that give the LGBT community different opportunities where they can meet other members without being surrounded by alcohol and drugs. Two main organizations are specific geared towards lesbians. Herland offers social and educational services that focus on lesbian issues but is offer to all women (Herland, 2008). Herland is an excellent organization to recommend to lesbian clients located in Oklahoma. The second organization is known as OKCLesbian. Additionally, OKCLesbian offers substitutions for socializations at bars, clubs, and church. They often have large dinner events called Lez Eat where local lesbians can get together, have fun, and enjoy a nice meal together. Giving clients different choices to socialize in sobriety may perhaps increase their likelihood of staying sober and finding new friends to enjoy it with. Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the