Feminist Counseling Psychology and Lesbians, Bisexual Women, and Transgender Persons

Feminist counseling psychologists have made important advances to our understanding of lesbian and bisexual women and transgender persons, the challenges that they face as a result of living in a heterosexist context, and the complex interplays of navigating multiple identities and oppressions. The purpose of this chapter is to survey theory, research, and practice in hopes of presenting readers with a snapshot of the current status of scholarship in this area and to foster mental health professionals culturally competent, empirically based services to this population. We critically review...

Feminist counseling psychologists have made important advances to our understanding of lesbian and bisexual women and transgender persons, the challenges that they face as a result of living in a heterosexist context, and the complex interplays of navigating multiple identities and oppressions. The purpose of this chapter is to survey theory, research, and practice in hopes of presenting readers with a snapshot of the current status of scholarship in this area and to foster mental health professionals culturally competent, empirically based services to this population. We critically review nine main areas: (a) sexual identity development, (b) transgender identity development, (c) similarities and differences between lesbian and bisexual women, (d) the links between external and internalized oppression and psychosocial health, (e) coping with and resisting oppression, (f) immigration and acculturation, (g) life span transitions and issues, (h) career development and workplace issues, and (i) counseling and psychotherapy issues.