Affirming Sexual and Gender Minority Identities

Reviews the video Affirmative Psychotherapy With Gay Clients featuring Kathleen J. Bieschke (2012). Bieschke sets out to provide a “real world” clinical example of how such psychotherapy should be conducted in her initial psychotherapy session with an actual client, Allan, a gay-identified man. Bieschke is an acknowledged expert in the field of counseling and psychotherapy with sexual and gender minority clients, and this video would be a useful tool for demonstrating nonjudgmental and accepting attitudes. The therapist also does an excellent job of working toward establishing a strong therapeutic alliance demonstrating empathy, understanding, and knowledge of the particular challenges that Allan faces as a gay man. Bieschke works to validate Allan’s identity as a gay man, to encourage his pride in his sexual orientation identity and recognize feelings of difference due to stigma, and to assist him in challenging oppressive stereotypes. The video serves as an excellent model of how a therapist can work effectively with sexual and gender-minority clients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)