What every psychotherapist should know about homosexuality

The article is published in its original language

One of the leading professional associations of psychologists — the American Psychological Association — published a document in 2006 that sets out a number of guidelines to be followed by every psychotherapist who works with clients of homosexual orientation.

Attitudes toward homosexuality and bisexuality:

1 — Psychologists understand that homosexuality and bisexuality are not evidence of mental illness.

2 — Psychologists should understand that their own attitudes and knowledge about everything concerning lesbian, gay, and bisexual people may affect assessment and therapy, and that they should therefore seek consultation themselves or make an appropriate referral when necessary.

3 — Psychologists strive to understand how societal bias (such as prejudice, discrimination, and violence) threatens the mental health and well-being of clients of homosexual and bisexual orientation.

4 — Psychologists strive to understand how prejudice or mistaken beliefs about homosexuality and bisexuality may affect the way a client presents themselves in the course of therapy.

Relationships and families:

5 — Psychologists strive to learn more about lesbian, gay, and bisexual relationships and to recognize their significance.

6 — Psychologists strive to understand the particular circumstances and challenges faced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual mothers and parents.

7 — Psychologists understand that the families of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people may include people who are not bound to one another by legal or biological ties.

8 — Psychologists strive to understand how a person’s homosexual or bisexual orientation may affect their family of origin and their relationship with that family.

Guidelines concerning diversity:

9 — Psychologists should understand the particular life situations and problems faced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual people who belong to ethnic minorities (race and origin) as a result of the coexistence of several systems of social norms, moral values, and beliefs that may often contradict one another.

10 — Psychologists should understand that bisexual people face particular challenges.

11 — Psychologists strive to understand the specific life problems and risks that young people of homosexual or bisexual orientation have to deal with.

12 — Psychologists take into account generational differences among lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and the particular problems that third-generation adult lesbian, gay, and bisexual people may experience.

13 — Psychologists should understand the particular problems faced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual people who have physical, sensory, and/or cognitive/emotional disabilities.

Education:

14 — Psychologists support professional education and training on all issues concerning lesbianism, homosexuality, and bisexuality.

15 — Psychologists should increase their own awareness and understanding of homosexuality and bisexuality through continuing education, training, supervision, and consultation.

16 — Psychologists make reasonable efforts to become familiar with the organizations and services for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in the fields of mental health, education, and community life.

These guidelines have been incorporated into the code of professional ethics for psychologists.