anti-Causality


Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Challenges for GLBQ youth who are "coming out"

"Coming out" can be an exceedingly difficult process.  GLBQ youth are at high risk for "clinical disorders and maladaptive behaviors" (Orecchia, 2008, p. 66), and they face increased stress from the "coming out" process (Riley, 2010).  "Coming out" follows the social identity formation process for GLBTQ adolescents for which there is no "analogous development" (Riley, 2010, para. 5) process for heterosexual youth.  It is a dimensional process (Coleman, 1987) that occurs over a number of stages, and includes internal conflict and a sense of isolation (Orecchia, 2008):

  • A youth becomes aware of being "different,"
  • confusion occurs as he begins to feel same-sex attractions;
  • the youth assumes the new identity, and
  • commits to it as a "way of life."

"Coming out" is necessary to prevent isolation and loneliness that accompanies hiding one's identity (Orecchia, 2008).  By "coming out," youth risk verbal, physical, and sexual abuse because of their sexuality from the world at large, and, in many cases, rejection by their families.   GLBTQ youth "coming out" have higher rates of school failure, suffer higher substance abuse and arrest rates, are more likely to get STDs, mood disorders, and, most important, have higher suicide rates.  25% of homeless youth are GLITCH; only an approximate 5-10% of the population is GLBTQ.

The counselor of a GLBTQ client should remain neutral to the "coming out" process, and, when the client decides to go forward with it, should not hurry it.  The client's family should be included (Orecchia, 2008), as family reactions may go to fear, guilt, shock, anger, and denial (Riley, 2010).  Cultural and religious beliefs may have to be modified, and there are often embedded misconceptions of the causes of homosexuality that need to be dispelled (Orecchia, 2008).

Finally, the client needs to encouraged to empathically embrace the changes his family is going through.


Resources

Coleman, E. (1987). Assessment of sexual orientation. Journal of Homosexuality, 14(1/2), 9-24. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Orecchia, A (2008). Working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth: Role and function of the community counselor. Graduate Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1(1), 66‐77.

Riley, B. (2010). GLB Adolescent's “Coming out”. Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 23(1), 3-10. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6171.2009.00210.x.







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