Handbook of LGBTQ-Affirmative Couple and Family Therapy

This comprehensive second edition inspires therapists to utilize clinical work to pragmatically address intersectional oppressions, lessen the burden of minority stress, and implement effective LGBTQ affirmative therapy.
A unique and important contribution to LGBTQ literature, this handbook includes both new and updated chapters reflecting cutting-edge intersectional themes like race, ethnicity, polyamory, and monosexual normativity. A host of expert contributors outline the best practices in affirmative therapy, inspiring therapists to guide LGBTQ clients into deconstructing the heteronormative power imbalances that undermine LGBTQ relationships and families. There is also an increased focus on clinical application, with fresh vignettes included throughout to highlight effective treatment strategies.
Couple and family therapists and clinicians working with LGBTQ clients, and those interested in implementing affirmative therapy in their practice, will find this updated handbook essential.-

Rebecca Harvey, PhD, is Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut. She has been proudly queering family therapy practice, supervision, and training for over 25 years. Dr. Harvey is co-author of the book Nurturing Queer Youth: Family Therapy Transformed. Megan J. Murphy, PhD, is Professor and Director of the Couple and Family Therapy Program at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Indiana. She is co-editor with Dr. Lorna Hecker of Ethics and Professional Issues in Couple and Family Therapy (2nd edition). Jerry J. Bigner, PhD, was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University, and was the editor of the Journal of GLBT Family Studies. He has had over 50 research publications and 20 chapters in texts relating to parent-child relations as well as gay and lesbian family issues. Joseph L. Wetchler, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Marriage and Family Therapy at Purdue University Northwest. He formerly served as Editor of the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy and as Associate Editor of the Journal of GLBT Family Studies.

Section 1: Foundations of LGBTQ Affirmative Therapy 1. Evolution of LGBTQ Affirmative Couple and Family Therapy 2. Intercultural Issues in LGBTQ+ Couple and Family Therapy: Supporting Empowerment and Resilience at the Intersection of Identities 3. Heteronormativity and Ethics in the Treatment of LGBTQ Clients Section 2: Working with Couples 4. We Cannot Change What We Cannot Name for Ourselves: Integrating Attachment Theory into Couple Therapy with Gay Men 5. Illuminating Strengths: Multiracial Feminist Couple Therapy with Queer Women 6. "There's a Lot We Don't Understand About Each Other:" Centering Bisexual Partners in Couple Therapy 7. Therapists' Accountability and Engagement with Transgender and Nonbinary Couples 8. Affirming Diversity and Targeting Pleasure: Sex Therapy for Gay Male Couples 9. "I Could Never See You and Now I Dare Not Touch You:" Sex Therapy with Lesbian Couples 10. Sexuality and Desire Landscapes in Transgender, Nonbinary, and Genderqueer Relationships 11. Therapeutic Considerations in Same-Sex Divorce and Relationship Dissolution Section 3: Family and Identity Considerations 12. Invisible Humans: Identity Development and Visibility Management in Gender, Sexual, Erotic, and Relational Diversity 13. I Have Too Many Mothers: Queer Families Raising Children 14. Affirming Queerness: Raising Happy, Healthy Children 15. Gender Affirmative Therapy with Trans and Gender Expansive (TGE) Youth and Families: Listening to Youth and Thoughtfully Following Their Lead 16. Helping LGBTQ Stepfamilies Meet Their Challenges 17. "I Will Always Come Home to You:" Affirmative Therapy with Clients Practicing Consensual Non-Monogamy Section 4: Special Issues 18. "I Didn't Know I Had a Right to Exist:" Queer Elders and Family Therapy 19. Where Should We Go To Church? Or Should We Even Bother: Spirituality and Religion and LGB Couples' Therapy 20. Treatment of Partner Violence in Sexual and Gender Minority Couples 21. Treating LGBT Couples Experiencing Substance Use Disorders: Trauma-Informed and Affirmative Therapy Approaches 22. Rewrite the Script: A Call for More Queer and Inclusive Couple Enrichment Programs Section 5: Training Issues 23. "Why Can't We Just Learn About Normal Couples?" LGBQ Affirmative Training Strategies for CFT Faculty and Programs 24. Self-Disclosure: Considerations for Therapy and Supervision 25. Recovery From Sexual Orientation Change Efforts: Affirming the Intersections of Marginalized Identities Among Survivors 26. Getting Personal: Queer Supervision