Group Work With Lgbtq Adolescents

The mental health of individuals in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community is something that is a serious problem. For most of the history of the United States and many different parts of the world LGBT people faced much persecution and in some cases even death. This constant fear of discovery and the pressure that one feels on oneself when “in the closet” can lead to major mental distress. Research has shown that people who identify as LGBT are twice as likely to develop lifetime mood and anxiety disorders (Bostwick 468). This is extremely noticeable the past couple years in the suicides of bullied teens on the basis of sexual identity and expression. The stigma on simply being perceived as LGBT is strong enough to

It is generally not an easy time and can be even more trying for adolescents that are not heterosexual. These adolescents experience stressors that others do not in regards to sexuality because not only are they trying to come to terms with puberty and the changes their body is going through, but they are also having to come to terms with a sexual orientation that some deem deviant and unacceptable. This article discussed these specific issues related to lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth. The researchers compared the amount of support that LGB youth feel that receive for the stress that navigating sexuality brings and the amount of support they receive from stress of other problems. The results showed that support of sexuality stress from family and heterosexual friends was less available than support for other stressors. Researchers concluded that sexuality support may be the absolute most relevant aspect of the mental health of LGB youth, though that form of support is least available to

School psychologists must help create and foster an environment that educates administrators, teachers, and non LGBT students. Many lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender youth do not feel safe in school. Sexual minority students may suffer harassment (verbal and/or physical) from teachers and peers. As a result, they may experience more absences than heterosexual students. In addition, LGBT youth may turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of coping with the stressful school environment (Patterson 2013, p.192). Many will contemplate or even commit suicide.

Being an adolescent is a pivotal and experimental phase for most people. During these years, people are prone to innumerable forms of stressors in their lives. It is not uncommon for this group to face victimization by parents, peers, and so-called friends during their daily lives. Dealing with common stressors may influence teenagers to participate in strain-relieving activities . . .some of which are not always legal. Underage drinking and illicit drug abuse alone are two expanding problems plaguing teens. More often than not, these two behaviors are done simultaneously. This poses an even greater threat to the mental and physical health of those who decide to engage in substance abuse. On the contrary, support groups exist to aid in minimizing risky teen behavior by offering an alternative social environment. Lowered cigarette use, consumption of alcohol, drug misuse, and an overall healthier state are outcomes of an established support group for LGBT students; the positive impression of these groups implemented in schools is reason enough to acknowledge their importance and also encourage expansion into schools that do not have them (Heck et al., 2014).

The Williams, Connolly, Pepler, and Craig (2005) study focuses on issues they feel are specific to sexual minority (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) adolescents and those that are questioning their sexuality. Williams et al. questions the way sexual orientation, victimization, psychosocial adjustment, and social support are intertwined in relation to sexual minority youth. They hypothesized that the absence of social support, from both family and friends, along with the experiences relating to being a victim, bring about a sexual minority orientation in adolescents. Additionally, Williams et al. sought to prove that victimizing experiences of sexual minority adolescents mediated the connection between psychological adjustment and social

The LGBTQ youth is facing a serious problem within their community. There are many contributing factors that make a child decide to leave there home. However, sometimes they leave involuntarily which will go in depth later in the paper. Whatever the choice may be for a youth to leave we need to study and realize the factors. There are plenty of reasons why a child might run away; however, a common issue is their sexual orientation.

J. (2014). Toward Transformative Practice: Facilitating Access and Barrier-Free Services With LGBTTIQQ2SA Populations. Social Work In Mental Health, 12(3), 212-230. doi:10.1080/15332985.2013.875092

The youth workers have a professional relationship with the young people who already have experience of what it was like to be a LGBT young person at a particular school. The group work activities help the young people to learn about themselves and about the world through other young people’s eyes. Young (2006) argues that young people who feel safe and respected can lead to having meaningful conversations where they can critically evaluate their past and current experiences. Smith (2001) adds that high-quality relationships can provide a sense of safety and security. LGBT youth Scotland comes together to make life better for Scottish LGBT youth. If the youth workers can get the young people to work together and build strong relationships, then they will be stronger in their

homophobic bullying involving LGBTI young people occurs at school and has a profound impact on their well-being and education (National GLBT Health Alliance, 2008)).

We have recovery programs for LGBTQ teenagers who suffer from substance abuse. The abuse of alcohol and cigarettes are detrimental to teenagers’ health and independence. As a result, we cooperate with professional alcoholic and chain smokers treatment center and invited qualified therapists to follow individual cases. We can guarantee that the teenagers will get professional assistance and

1) The issues surrounding LGBTs is appalling. Homosexuality was once label as a specific mental illness. Engaging in a relationship with someone of the same gender was considered “deviant” – a sin, criminal behavior, uncleanliness and mental illness (Nelson & Prilleltensky, 2010). Labeling others for gender nonconformity is what started discrimination, oppression, and marginalization. As a community psychologist, recognizing diversity and seek

As a social worker I would like to form a support group specifically tailored for parents of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender teenagers. Research suggests that LGB teens experience better health outcomes when their parents support of their sexual orientation in positive and affirming ways (Bouris A., Guilamo-Ramos V, et al., 2010). Recognizing, communication understanding can better prepare parents to be understanding, supportive and nurturing of their teenager’s sexual orientation. LGBT youth are at an increasing alarming risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts. How parents respond to their LGBT teen can be a positive or negative experience for their

In his journal article, Meyer (2003) researched the prevalence of mental disorders in g/l/b individuals. G/l/b individuals were found to be more likely than heterosexuals to suffer from substance abuse disorders, affective disorders and suicidal ideation. Suicide, in particular, is a serious social issue. It has been found that g/l/b adolescents have rates of suicide attempts at least four times those of heterosexual youth (Bagley, 2000). Meyers (2003) contends that minority stress (i.e., stigma, prejudice, and discrimination that creates a hostile and stressful social environment) causes increased mental health problems. There are three processes of minority stress relevant to g/l/b individuals: (a) external, objective stressful events, (b) expectations of such events, and (c) the internalization of negative societal attitudes. However, g/l/b persons can learn to cope with and overcome adverse effects of stress. Group counseling is one avenue that can have mental health benefits. Through a group, g/l/b individuals are allowed to experience a social environment in which they are given support

The helping process at my field placement site involves many various aspects of assisting and supporting teens in the LGBTQ community. My site, Youth Outlook offers drop-in sites throughout the suburbs of Chicago that offers adolescents a safe and supportive environment to discuss issues that they experience, as well gain education about various topics. Teenagers who attend weekly group sessions often come to socialize with peers and also to discuss issues they may be experiencing in their home, social and school environments. Over the last few weeks, I have observed several aspects of the helping process at Youth Outlook.

Although homosexuality is becoming more widely accepted among individuals of society, there is still a sense of stigma that surrounds those adolescents who are homosexual. There are many individuals in society who suffer from homophobia or are anti-gay, tears used to express ones irrational fear of being gay, lesbian or bi-sexual or even being in contact with someone who is same-sex orientated. Many young adolescents, who identify themselves as homosexual, undergo a great deal of emotional and/or physical abuse on a daily basis. Bullying against homosexual adolescents is a widespread problem in man schools around the world. Recent studies show that majority of homosexual students in schools do not feel safe when attending school everyday and often live a life surrounded by homophobic and anti- gay attitudes and causing them to stay home or perhaps even drop out of school entirely. In many