Recommendations for Psychotherapy and Counselling with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Clients

Authors: Gisela Wolf, Matthias Fünfgeld, René Oehler & Susanne Andrae

Abstract

Until recently, counselling and psychotherapy with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients in Germany was based upon pathologizing and derogating conceptions of homo- and bisexual lifestyles. Subsequent to the process of depathologization in the diagnostical manuals ICD and DSM, a discrepancy became evident between, on the one hand, the steadily increasing abundance of affirmative research regarding the diversity of this demographic group, and, on the other, the insufficient integration of this expert knowledge into the work of psychotherapy and counselling In the meantime, the relevance of an appreciation of contextual factors in the life of lesbian, gay and bisexual clients for professional psychosocial work is being increasingly recognized. By means of the VLSP-recommendations for psychotherapy and counselling with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients, we wish to offer a transparent and evidencebased foundation for professional psychosocial work with this population. We would also like to provide useful knowledge for lesbian, bisexual and gay clients. It is our aim to encourage a context-sensitive, helpful and harm-avoiding health care based on professional knowledge for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Keywords: Guidelines, psychotherapy, counselling, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, quality assurance

Citation

Wolf, G., Fünfgeld, M., Oehler, R. & Andrae, S. (2015). Empfehlungen zur Psychotherapie und Beratung mit lesbischen, schwulen und bisexuellen Klient_innen [Recommendations for Psychotherapy and Counselling with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Clients]. Verhaltenstherapie & psychosoziale Praxis, 47, 21-48. doi: http://doi.org/10.17194/vlsp.2015.4 [Download]

REFERENCES [Download]

The Development of the Guidelines for Psychotherapy and Counseling with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People by the German Association of Lesbians and Gays in Psychology (VLSP)

Author: Jochen Kramer

Abstract

The Development of the Guidelines for Psychotherapy and Counseling with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People by the German Association of Lesbians and Gays in Psychology (VLSP) Abstract: A number of both German and international guidelines exist for psychotherapy and counseling with lesbian, gay and bisexual people (American Psychological Association, 2000, 2012; Clark, 1987; Fiedler, 2004). The most recent of these have in the last few years been developed by the German Association of Lesbians and Gays in Psychology (Verband von Lesben und Schwulen in der Psychologie, VLSP; Wolf, Fünfgeld, Oehler & Andrae, 2015a). In the present paper we describe why LSB-specific guidelines are necessary and why their further development seemed appropriate. For that purpose, the different existing guidelines are compared. The article also provides a review of the development of the VLSP guidelines and points up necessary further developments.

Keywords: Homosexuality, bisexuality, therapy guidelines, gay affirmative therapy

Citation

Kramer, J. (2015). Entwicklung der VLSP-Empfehlungen zur Psychotherapie und Beratung mit lesbischen, schwulen und bisexuellen Klient_innen [The Development of the Guidelines for Psychotherapy and Counseling with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People by the German Association of Lesbians and Gays in Psychology (VLSP)]. Verhaltenstherapie & psychosoziale Praxis, 47, 9-19. doi: http://doi.org/10.17194/vlsp.2015.3 [Download]