Gay Affirmative Therapy Reflection Paper

The video that I watched reiterated the necessity for clinicians to be well-versed, to properly assist with clients that identify with the LGBT community. Clinicians are considered flashlights, a guide or an aid to assist the clients with their concerns. Also, as the flashlight the clinician and the client cohesively, can uncover other hidden concerns through the process of therapy. However, understanding the correct therapy and techniques to utilizes is an essential component in counseling. The video that I watched was regarding an African American woman who grew up in a small town that, had limited amount of people of color. The majority of the town were of Caucasian decent. The town she was in was known for its large Gay population. The

This therapy recognizes heterosexual privilege and explores the trauma and shame that occurs to Lesbians and gays, even as children. With my client this is imperative to explore and also the isolation component. The first component I would utilize from GAT is understanding heterosexual privilege. I would utilize this time frame as a way to educate regarding this topic and the way that it affects her and the LGBT community as a whole. I would reiterate that this undeserving privilege, and then began to discuss why often times is harder to come out as being Lesbian or Gay. This is due to the privileges or lack thereof when identifying with another sexual orientation other than heterosexual. However, while discussing this component, it is important to validate and empathize with her daily hardships as already identifying with a minority group. This is a good time to build rapport with the

Even though, I do not identify with the community. I do know what is like first hand, to be isolated or discriminated against. Being mixed it is difficult to identify with one group, let alone attempt to be accepted by either or, so that isolation component is a huge factor that can come into play. I think, that since I can identify with her being African American, and yet isolated in an aspect, that can build rapport in the therapeutic relationship. Also, due to the fact that I am a female, this can also better assist with the collaborative approach in the clinical setting. I think that aspect of being a woman, should not be overshadowed as well as being African American in a majority white community. It is important to validate these points while utilizing this theory as a