Textbook of Homosexuality and Mental Health brings together in one volume the entire range of material and variety of perspectives concerning homosexuality and mental health. With more than 50 chapters written by leaders in the field, this book is the most complete review of the topics of homosexuality and mental health and treatment of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals to date. Starting from the belief that homosexuality is a normal variation of human sexuality and not a mental illness, this revolutionary book presents current information on homosexuality from a mental health and medical perspective. Sections focus on demographic, cultural, genetic, biological, and psychological perspectives; development throughout the life cycle; relationships and families; psychotherapy; multicultural identities and communities; professional education; and medical care. A variety of special issues, such as sexuality, substance abuse, violence, suicide, religion, and HIV/AIDS, are discussed. Also included are several unique chapters that cover topics not readily available elsewhere, among them transsexuality; minority gay, lesbian, and bisexual people; the impact of the sexual orientation of the therapist; latency development in prehomosexual boys; and clinical issues specific to psychotherapy with gay, lesbian, and bisexual patients. The clinical and theoretical richness contained in this volume makes it an accessible and invaluable reference for clinicians and the general public alike. Chapters complement each other, while providing enough information to be useful if read on their own.

Take your knowledge of the mental health issues that affect LGBT people to the next level! The Handbook of LGBT Issues in Community Mental Health provides reliable, up-to-date information on clinical issues, administrative practices, and health concerns related to the provision of public sector mental health services to LGBT people. The handbook presents clinical case material and describes various current clinical programs, with details about how they were developed and fostered, as well as their unique role in the provision of mental health services to this population. Contributors share their experiences developing two of the largest public LGBT programs in the United States and offer practical strategies for developing LGBT mental health programming in any community. This single source brings together mental health clinicians, administrators, and advocates whose work involves public sector issues that concern the LGBT community. These seasoned experts provide in-depth information for those who need to know about the current state of mental health care in public psychiatry for LGBT individuals. The book also explores the professional and popular literature on the subject, providing a broad overview of the issues in this expanding clinical area. The Handbook of LGBT Issues in Community Mental Health contains five chapters that target policy, administrative, and programmatic issues, providing a neglected perspective for clinicians, program developers, administrators, advocates, and funders. In addition, you’ll find: two case studies that vividly demonstrate the relevance of culturally appropriate services and highlight the reasons why services in this area are so sorely needed a psychiatrist’s recollections of the changes he faced while working in a homophobic environment within the Veterans Administration system fascinating interviews with Francis Lu and Barbara Warren that probe the thoughts, experience, and opinions of these leaders in the development of public sector mental health programs for LGBT people an examination of the role of gender identity in the treatment of a male-to-female transgender person with major mental illness In the Handbook of LGBT Issues in Community Mental Health, you’ll also find practical, how-they-did-it information that shows: how LGBT organizations in New York State organized to gain public funding for mental health and other human services, and how a new advocacy strategy that consolidated LGBT human service organizations into a statewide network was pioneered in that state how mental health care for sexual minority teens was incorporated into the medical clinic setting at a major metropolitan hospital how a culturally sensitive program for LGBT people with major mental illness was developed in New York State’s largest community mental health center how a small, volunteer community health agency developed into a multi-million dollar facility that provides comprehensive health care to New York City’s LGBT community

A major text for clinicians and researchers who have an interest in homosexuality and homosexual patients with mental disorders, this book is an up-to-date review as well as a handbook covering the full range of affirmative treatments and therapies for lesbian and gay clients. Expert contributors look at problems caused by stigma and homophobic societal attitudes and discuss methods that can be used to work with gay clients in a positive context. Other issues of particular importance in working with lesbians and gay men are addressed.

Over the last three decades, the visibility -- and public acceptance -- of self-identified lesbian women and gay men and bisexual and transgender individuals has increased dramatically, making it more important than ever to understand the dynamics of their relationships. This timely work, part of Volume 21 in the Review of Psychiatry series, offers compelling facts and insights in a concise yet comprehensive format, bringing together the latest research and clinical practice in this rapidly evolving field. Chapter 1 details normal adolescent development and the extra challenges imposed by the development of a sexual identity that is different from that of most of their peers, including the lack of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender role models. Chapter 2 presents a rare discussion about theoretical models (managing a concealable stigma, minority stress and resilience, and coping with multiple minority statuses) and empirical data on aging as a stigmatized sexual minority, including the similarities and differences of aging between the sexual minority communities and the heterosexual community and special issues in working with aging ethnic minority gay men, lesbians, and bisexual persons. Chapter 3 breaks new ground by detailing the expanding role of the psychiatrist or other mental health professional as forensic expert and therapist -- requiring not only an in-depth understanding of lesbian and gay mental health issues, but also the often-daunting task of encouraging and teaching judges and juries to better understand these issues as they relate to discriminatory laws in child custody/visitation, workplace harassment/other discrimination, domestic violence, and immigration/asylum. Chapter 4 covers both the three types of etiological theories on homosexuality presented in the scientific literature and an historical overview of clinical attitudes toward homosexuality, from early modern theories (Karl Ulrichs, Krafft-Ebing, and Freud) to the present day, reporting on some adverse side effects of sexual conversion treatment that have been either overlooked or ignored in the reparative therapy literature and raising important clinical and ethical concerns. Chapter 5 examines the public and professional evolution of thinking toward U.S. African race and toward sexual orientation with regard to the reevaluation of the psychiatric diagnosis and treatment of gender identity disorder. Among other topics, the author presents a fascinating discussion of differences between sexual orientation and gender (e.g., anatomical, social, hormonal, psychological, legal, or political), and distinctions between transgenderism and homosexuality, including an illuminating case example. Thought-provoking and informative, this compact volume will be welcomed by residents, clinicians, and students alike as they continue to look for ways to better differentiate health from pathology and successfully treat these remarkably diverse individuals.

Historically, mental health clinical research has taken inadequate account of psychosocial disorders experienced by those who identify as sexual and gender minorities, however, researchers have recently begun developing and adapting evidence-based mental health treatment approaches for use with these groups. Handbook of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice with Sexual and Gender Minorities offers a comprehensive array of evidence-based approaches for treating sexual and gender minority clients' mental health concerns. The interventions detailed here span a diverse spectrum of populations, including sexual and gender minority youth, transgender populations, same-sex couples, sexual minority parents, and bisexual individuals. Chapters also address numerous mental and behavioral health problems, including anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, trauma, body image disturbance, and sexual health. In addition to an overview of the research evidence supporting each clinical presentation and approach, chapters contain practical how-to guidance for therapists to use in their clinical practice. This book reflects a true integration of the best of sexual and gender minority research and the best of evidence-based practice research, presented by the leading experts in the field. As such it is essential reading for mental health professionals who work with these groups, as well as trainees in social work, counseling, and clinical psychology.

The increase in prevalence and visibility of sexually gender diverse (SGD) populations illuminates the need for greater understanding of the ways in which current laws, systems, and programs affect their well-being. Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, or intersex, as well as those who express same-sex or -gender attractions or behaviors, will have experiences across their life course that differ from those of cisgender and heterosexual individuals. Characteristics such as age, race and ethnicity, and geographic location intersect to play a distinct role in the challenges and opportunities SGD people face. Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations reviews the available evidence and identifies future research needs related to the well-being of SDG populations across the life course. This report focuses on eight domains of well-being; the effects of various laws and the legal system on SGD populations; the effects of various public policies and structural stigma; community and civic engagement; families and social relationships; education, including school climate and level of attainment; economic experiences (e.g., employment, compensation, and housing); physical and mental health; and health care access and gender-affirming interventions. The recommendations of Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations aim to identify opportunities to advance understanding of how individuals experience sexuality and gender and how sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status affect SGD people over the life course.

At a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals-often referred to under the umbrella acronym LGBT-are becoming more visible in society and more socially acknowledged, clinicians and researchers are faced with incomplete information about their health status. While LGBT populations often are combined as a single entity for research and advocacy purposes, each is a distinct population group with its own specific health needs. Furthermore, the experiences of LGBT individuals are not uniform and are shaped by factors of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical location, and age, any of which can have an effect on health-related concerns and needs. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People assesses the state of science on the health status of LGBT populations, identifies research gaps and opportunities, and outlines a research agenda for the National Institute of Health. The report examines the health status of these populations in three life stages: childhood and adolescence, early/middle adulthood, and later adulthood. At each life stage, the committee studied mental health, physical health, risks and protective factors, health services, and contextual influences. To advance understanding of the health needs of all LGBT individuals, the report finds that researchers need more data about the demographics of these populations, improved methods for collecting and analyzing data, and an increased participation of sexual and gender minorities in research. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People is a valuable resource for policymakers, federal agencies including the National Institute of Health (NIH), LGBT advocacy groups, clinicians, and service providers.