63rd Annual Conference

Friday, February 24

Morning Workshops

10:00 A.M.-1:15 P.M.

Workshop 52

The One and the Many: Exclusive Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Groups and LGBT Group Members in Predominantly Heterosexual Groups

Chairs:         

Pat Alford-Keating, Ph.D., CGP, Senior Staff Psychologist, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

Doug Braun-Harvey,

Jamie Moran, M.S.W., LCSW, CGP, Private Practice, San Francisco and Menlo Park, California 

What advantages are there to an exclusive LGBT group? Cultural commonalities and shared experiences assist clients in addressing safety and trust issues, thus increasing intimacy and work accomplished. How does the lone LGBT participant fare in an otherwise heterosexual group? This panel will address salient issues describing key components to working with an exclusive LGBT group, as well as common obstacles to connecting with the lone LGBT group member.

Demonstration-experiential-didactic-sharing of work experiences

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Describe clinically indicated rationale for an exclusively LGBT group.

2. Differentiate at least two factors unique to each group focused solely with LGBT Groups.

3. List five issues to be aware of in working with a lone LGBT client in an otherwise exlusively heterosexual group.

4. Describe at least three countertransference issues for a heterosexual group leader in working with a lone LGBT group participant.

Course References:

1. Cabaj, R. and Stein, T. (Eds.). (1996). Textbook of Homosexuality and Mental Health. Washington, DC.: American Psychiatric Press Inc.

2. Greene, B. (Ed.). (1997). Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Among Lesbians and Gay Men: Psychological perspectives on lesbian and gay issues. 3. Sage Publications.

3. Israel, G. & Tarver, D., (1997). Transgender Care: A primer on transsexuals, transvestites and others. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

4. McIntosh, P. (1998). White Privilege and Male Privilege: A personal account of coming to see correspondences through work in women’s studies. Wellesley, MA: Center for Research on Women, Wellesley College.