Factors influencing therapist selection among gays, lesbians and bisexuals

For this study 609 gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals were surveyed with respect to openness about sexual orientation and preference for a therapist with a particular sexual orientation. Other factors considered important in selecting a therapist such as licensure, referral source, gender, cost a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Counselling psychology quarterly 1997-09, Vol.10 (3), p.287-297
Main Authors: Kaufman, Judith S., Carlozzi, Alfred F., Boswell, Donald L., Barnes, Laura L.B., Wheller-scruggs, Kathy, Levy, Patricia A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Bisexuality
Counseling
Factors
Gays & lesbians
Homosexuals
Medical sciences
Polls & surveys
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychotherapists
Selection
Sexual orientation
Therapeutical relation and framework
Therapy
Treatments
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:For this study 609 gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals were surveyed with respect to openness about sexual orientation and preference for a therapist with a particular sexual orientation. Other factors considered important in selecting a therapist such as licensure, referral source, gender, cost and specialty were also examined. Data for this study was collected using two different methods. In the first method, data was collected from respondents subscribing to internet listervers serving gay, lesbian and bisexual subscribers. In the second, more traditional method, surveys were distributed by mail or hand delivered to various organizations serving gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities in two southwestern states. Findings suggest that significantly more lesbians than gay men and bisexuals in the e-mail sample prefer a therapist of the same sexual orientation. No significant relationships were found between degree of openness and importance of the therapist's sexual orientation. Other factors related to therapist preference were explored, and results are discussed.
ISSN:0951-5070
1469-3674
DOI:10.1080/09515079708254180