Family psychotherapy with the homosexual family: a community psychiatry approach to homosexuality

Community Ment Health J. 1979 Spring;15(1):41-6. doi: 10.1007/BF00754750.

Abstract

The author points out that homosexual families are not being treated by family psychotherapy despite an indicated need. This situation is inconsistent with good community psychiatry and behooves the mental health workers to become aware of and to work through his unrecognized negative feelings which are interfering with provision of services. Among the main resistances are the lack of familiarity and comfort with the family psychotherapy technique, inability to resist a greater gratification that comes from focusing on sex rather than on a less titillating relationship issue, and judgmental and condemning attitudes toward homosexuality that come from intrapsychic and societal sources.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Community Mental Health Services / trends*
  • Community Psychiatry / trends
  • Family Therapy*
  • Female
  • Homosexuality*
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male