According to Liddle (1997) 'we know very little about gay and lesbian clients' utilisation of therapy' (p.ll). The objective of this research was to explore sexual-minority clients' subjective experience of finding a therapist and beginning therapy with them, capturing the complexity of this real life experience from the point of view of the sexual-minority client. Seven pal1ieipants who identified themselves as belonging to a sexual-minority were interviewed about their experience of finding a therapist and starting therapy. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, this study aimed to explore the subjective meaning that participants used to understand their experience. Five superordinate themes were identified within the data and these themes are discussed with reference to the existing literature. In particular, it is suggested that the participants' experience indicates the importance of working with an affirmative therapist, within an affirmative relationship. Implications and recommendations for therapy are considered and links with how counselling psychology's therapeutic and theoretical aims and practice can fit with the main findings are drawn.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:604019 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Maguire, Amy |
| Publisher | University of Surrey |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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