67th Annual Conference

Friday, February 26

Afternoon Workshops

2:30 - 5:00 P.M.

Workshop 71

Therapeutic Self Disclosure (TSD), Boundaries, and Heterosexism: An Exploration of Issues Facing LGBT Therapists Working Within the LGBT Community.

Presented under the auspices of the AGPA Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues SIG

Chairs:

Brian Brown, M.A., Mental Health Intern, Center on Halsted, Chicago, Illinois

John Campbell, LCSW, CGP, Private Practice, Omaha, Nebraska

Amber Siler-Knogl, M.A., Mental Health Therapist Intern, Center on Halsted, Chicago, Illinois

Therapeutic self-disclosure (TSD) is considered a complicated and controversial therapeutic intervention. Many authors attest to the potential benefits of TSD of sexual orientation particularly for LGBT therapists working with LGBT clients. This course examines the impact of role modeling, universality, and maintenance of boundaries in TSD.

didactic-sharing of work experiences-demonstration-experiential

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Identify the impact of heterosexism on LGBT clients, and

2. Integrate their increased understanding of the ways which LGBT therapists' use of the self can attempt to counter the influences of heterosexism and homophobia.

3. Identify potential therapeutic benefits to TSD, particularly for LGBT therapists working with LGBT groups or clients.

4. Utilize an informed decision-making process when deciding whether TSD of sexual orientation is appropriate.

5. Demonstrate culturally competent therapeutic interventions for “coming out" groups and other LGBT support groups.

Course References:

Satterly, B. A. (2006). Therapist self-disclosure from a gay male perspective. Families in society: the journal of contemporary social services. 240- 247.

Frost, J. C. (1998). Counter-transference considerations for they gay male when leading psychotherapy groups for gay men.  International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 48, 3 -24.

Gartrell, N. K. (1992). Boundaries in lesbian therapist-client relationships. In Women & Therapy, 12(3), 98-117.