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Presenter: Carolyn Young, LMSW Same-Sex Couples Counseling

Presenter: Carolyn Young, LMSW

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Same-Sex Couples Counseling. Presenter: Carolyn Young, LMSW. SAME-SEX COUPLES COUNSELING. Same-Sex Couples MYTH/TRUTH. Don’t have same problems as heterosexual couples. Same-sex relationships are not important enough to utilize counseling? Can work their own problems out. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Presenter: Carolyn Young, LMSW

Same-Sex Couples Counseling

Page 2: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW
Page 3: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

SAME-SEX COUPLES COUNSELING

Page 4: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Same-Sex Couples

MYTH/TRUTH

• Don’t have same problems as heterosexual couples.

• Same-sex relationships are not important enough to utilize counseling?

• Can work their own problems out.

• Should never foster or adopt children.

• Origin of problems stems from their sexual orientation of choice.

• Same-sex relationships have some of the same problems as heterosexual relationships.

Page 5: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Same Sex vs.

Heterosexual

Same Sex Couples vs Heterosexual Couples

Goals Goals

Loving Family Loving Family

Children Children

Committed Relationship Committed Relationship

Page 6: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

According to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau and 2010 American Community Survey

• Approximately 131,729 same-sex married couple households lived in U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010)

• Approximately 514,735 same-sex unmarried partner households in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010)

• Nationally about 1% of all couple households were same-sex couples. (2010 American Community Survey)

• Out of 594,000 same-sex couple households, 115,000 reported having children. (2010 American Community Survey)

• 84% of these households contained own children of the householder. (2010 American Community Survey)

2010 U.S. Census Bureau

2010 American Community Survey

Page 7: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Measurements of Accuracy

2010 U.S. Census Bureau revised estimates provide 10-year bench mark. U.S. Census Bureau derived data from two questions in a selected box; that could have mistakenly been checked in error.

2010 ACS estimates utilizes yearly time series. ACS is a nationwide survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, social, economic, and housing data for the nation, states, congressional districts, counties, places, and other localities every year.

Page 8: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Married straight couples w/families make up less than half of U.S. households….first time this group dropped below 50% since census data collected on families in 1940.

Husband/wife households w/children fell by 5% between 2000 and 2010.

Unmarried straight couples living together increased by 40.2%--four times the national average, but no comparison to rise in number of same-sex couples living together..80.4% from 2000 to 2010.

nationaljournal.com

Page 9: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Conflicts Same-Sex vs. Heterosexual Couples

Same-Sex Heterosexual

Finances Finances

Household chores Household chores

Child rearing Child rearing

Intimacy Intimacy

EzineArticles.com

Page 10: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Same-Sex CouplesConflict Styles

• Same-Sex couples tend to use effective arguing

• Tend to see humor in conflicts

• Give each other fair hearing

• Brief and quickly forgotten

EzineArticle.com

Page 11: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Heterosexual Couples Conflict Styles

• Argue Ineffectively – “demand-withdraw”

• Conflicts are more frustrating

• Conflict resolution takes days

• Women tend to focus on the relationship

• Men tend to focus on logic and problem solving

EzineArticle.com

Page 12: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Why is therapy importantfor same-sex couples?

• Help couples stay together; especially pre-marital counseling

• Help withstand challenges/minority stresses

• Improve communication

• Deepen intimacy

• Improves patterns of relating

EzineArticle.com

Page 13: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Gender Issues in Counseling Same-Sex Couples

Barriers to Therapist’s Understanding of Same-Sex Relationships

Heterosexual Bias

Therapist Stereotypical Perception

Tendency to overemphasize sex roles

(Eldridge, 1987)

Page 14: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Therapist Heterosexual Bias

• Misunderstanding of same-sex population

• Unaware of heterosexual beliefs

• Religious beliefs

• Cultural beliefs

(Eldridge, 1987)

Page 15: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Therapist Stereotyping

• Gender stereotypes acts as barriers to effective therapy

• Assumption of gender role

• Linking behaviors to previous experience with population

• Unrecognized homophobia

• (Eldridge, 1987)

Page 16: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Overemphasized Sex Roles

• Therapist understanding of an intimate relationship

• Comparing intimate relationships of heterosexuals to same-sex relationships

• Being persistent about identifying roles in the relationship

(Eldridge, 1987)

Page 17: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Guidelines for Therapist and EducatorsRef: Same-Sex Couples

• Therapist Training

• Assist clients to integrate their gay male or lesbian identities into a fulfilling life-style

• Therapist might keep in mind the subtle and insidious nature of heterosexual bias and use knowledge as a reminder for reflection

• Discuss questions with colleagues about bias

• Develop habits of using gender-free language

(Eldridge, 1987)

Page 18: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Guidelines for TherapistContinues

• Constant Research

• Explore same-sex training and education seminars

• Identify resources and same-sex organizations

• Identify colleagues and utilize them as personal mentors

• Utilize Social Media

• Assist couples to develop effective coping strategies and management of minority stress.

• (Eldridge, 1987)

• (Riggle and Rostosky, 2005)

Page 19: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Gaps in Research

• Limited research has been done on Same-Sex Couples

• Willingness of Participants

• Disclosures

• Interest/fear in professionals

Page 20: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

Attachment Theory

• Explains interpersonal and intrapersonal process in romantic relationships

• Framework for understanding individual differences in close relationships

• Secure attachment styles characterized by comfort with intimacy and trust in the availability of attachment figures

• Secure attachment styles have been shown to have positive outlook on their romantic relationships, resolve conflict effectively, and regulate emotions in a healthy way

• (Mohr, 2013)

Page 21: Presenter:  Carolyn Young, LMSW

References

• http://EzineArticles.com?expert=Mike_Ramidden• Eldridge, N. (1987). Gender Issues in Counseling Same-Sex Couples. Department of

Educational Psychology, University of Texas at Austin. Vol. 18(6)

• www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb11-cm181.html

• Mohr, J., Selterman, D., and Fassinger, R. (2013). Romantic Attachment and Relationship Functioning in Same-Sex Couples. Journal of Counseling Psychology. Vol. 6(1), 72-82

• www.closercouples.com/articles/gay-lesbian-couples-counseling/

• www.nationaljournal.com/thenextamerica/demographics/census-more-in-u-s-report

• www.pbs.org/thismotionallife/topic/relationships/same-sex-couples

• Riggle, E.D.B., & Rostosky, S. S. (2005). For better or worse: Psycho-legal soft spots and advance planning for same-sex couples. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35, 90-96

• www.census.gov/acs/www>.