Abstract

LEITE, Madalena  and  CATELAN, Ramiro Figueiredo. Affirmative family therapy with lesbian, gay and bisexual persons. Pensando fam. [online]. 2020, vol.24, n.1, pp. 239-254. ISSN 1679-494X.

Psychological practices with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals have often been performed inappropriately, supported by a heteronormative logic that is hostile toward non-heterosexual orientations. Considering this scenario, our article aims to present basic elements of affirmative family psychotherapy, a model for working with families including LGB members, in order to develop culturally sensitive, empathic and respectful interventions in relation to sexual diversity. At first, the panorama of the depatologization of homosexuality is described. The conceptual model of minority prejudice and stress is, useful for understanding the impacts of violence on the mental health of LGB people, is presented. Some empirical data on family support and mental health of LGB people are also reported. Subsequently, the model of multicultural skills and affirmative psychotherapy is addressed. Then, strategies for psychotherapeutic management are presented, as well as fictitious clinical examples to illustrate the practice. It is concluded that psychotherapists in an affirmative framework should be aware of the challenges faced by LGB population, developing instrumentalization for a more adequate work.

Keywords : Family psychotherapy; Affirmative psychotherapy; Sexual diversity.

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