The history of mental health practice with gay, lesbian and bisexual people is both complex and constantly evolving. This introductory program to the series focuses on some of the most important historical developments from ancient times to the present, including:
- Early attempts topathologize and change homosexuality.
- The influences that led to the depathologizing of homosexuality.
- The contemporary bias in psychotherapy, illustrated by a poignant account of therapy abuse by Robert Gentry, the nation’s first openly gay mayor.
- “Conversion therapies” to repathologize homosexuality and modern attempts to change sexual orientation.
- Recent affirmative mental health approaches.
- The current APA guidelines for working with GLB clients.
- Real testimony of affirmative psychotherapy from a client after years of negative therapy experiences.
Archival film clips and interviews with the experts are used throughout to illustrate this history of treatment approaches and mental health attitudes towards the GLB community.
This video is part of the 7-video series, Psychotherapy with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Clients. Other videos in this series include:
- Psychotherapy with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Clients 1: Historical Perspectives
- Psychotherapy with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Clients 2: Individual Assessment and Psychotherapy
- Psychotherapy with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Clients 3: Relationships, Families and Couples Counseling
- Psychotherapy with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Clients 4: The Coming Out Process
- Psychotherapy with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Clients 5: The Bisexual Experience
- Psychotherapy with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Clients 6: Diversity and Multiple Identities
- Psychotherapy with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Clients 7: Sexual Minority Adolescents
