Conversion therapy versus gay-affirmative therapy : working with ego-dissonant gay clients : [a dissertation submitted to AUT University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Health Science (MHSc), 2008] / Andrew Kirby; supervisor: Stephen Appel.
This dissertation explores the issue of doing psychotherapy with ego-dissonant gay male clients. The methodology used is a modified systematic literature review with clinical illustrations. A dichotomy exists in the literature in relation to treating egodissonant gay clients who experience conflict...
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Format: | Ethesis |
Language: | English |
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Online Access: | Click here to access this resource online |
Summary: | This dissertation explores the issue of doing psychotherapy with ego-dissonant gay male clients. The methodology used is a modified systematic literature review with clinical illustrations. A dichotomy exists in the literature in relation to treating egodissonant gay clients who experience conflict between their sexuality and opposing values and beliefs. Each position tends to respond with a limited, exclusionary choice to either reject or accept one's sexual orientation. This dissertation examines if there is a way to treat ego-dissonant clients without endorsing homophobic treatments or negating opposing values and beliefs. Freud's views on homosexuality and sexual reorientation are delineated to inform and contextualise later writings on the subject. A review of conversion therapy and gay-affirmative therapy investigates the evidence of each, following which emerging integrative solutions are examined. Finally, a Kleinian model is proposed for individuals where neither a choice of a side nor comfortable resolution of the conflict seems feasible. While it is proposed that gay-affirmative therapy benefits the majority of ego-dissonant gay clients, this study recognises that each psychotherapeutic paradigm discussed caters, to some degree, to the uniquely different needs of individuals. Author supplied keywords: Psychotherapy; Gays counselling; Homosexuality; Sexuality. |
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Physical Description: | 1 online resource Also held in print (89 leaves ; 30 cm) (T 616.89008664 KIR) in off-campus storage, box. no. 163. |
Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |