Customer Reviews

Gay Affirmative Therapy for the Straight Clinician: The Essential Guide

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Joe Kort's powerful book sheds light on the great suffering that has been imposed on those of a different sexual orientation and he offers the understanding and guidance (whether we are therapists or not) to help in the healing of this suffering. Kort walks the reader through the many confused, conflicted and prejudicial constructs that have played a role in what he aptly calls "covert cultural sexual abuse," sensitizing the reader to the impact of this abuse on the lives of so many. With clarity and constructive wisdom he educates the straight therapist towards a more informed, compassionate and supportive role when working with the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered client. This book is a must read for all straight therapists.

Joe Kort's book is a well written, well rounded and thoroughly researched text on how to treat gay couples. All therapists can benefit from this book. The case examples are perfect illustrations and the research is timely and up to date. I would like to note that for the reader there is a warning from the author to the straight clinician that regardless of how good our intentions are, we may have been doing this work all wrong. I think the author may be right.

This book is invaluable for straight peoole who counsel the gay and lesbian population. It provided very useful information and gave me a new openness and compassion for psychological issues faced by gays/lesbians. There's clinical information, case studies, and it's written in a very easy to understand language. Thank you for this important book.

This book brings together a comprehensive history, case studies, ideas and positions of the LGBT community as they have emerged over the years. Joe's book speaks to the many aspects of the lives of gay and lesbian individuals and how therapists can effectively help with trauma experienced in early years, the coming out process, helping families cope and understand their gay or lesbian family member to name but a few. Joe presents rich detailed guidance to those in the helping professions. An impressive framework for making sense of diversity. How refreshing to read such a well informed non-pathologizing clinical piece of work. I recommend this book to any psychotherapist called to work with LGBT clients. I tip my hat to you once again Joe - job well done! Kathie August, MA

Joe Kort brings the important issues facing gay and lesbian clients to the reader in a clear, but challenging, format. As a clinician and graduate psychology instructor, I found this book to be an excellent guide, providing therapeutic scenarios along with clinical interpretations and treatment guidelines. The mixed orientation marriage is explained and an exploration of options is given. Kort addresses clinician's countertransference and provides direction to challenge our assumptions as straight therapists. I highly recommend this book to my students and colleagues. Great!

This is significant book. Breaks down stereotypical perspective on what it means to be gay. Great for therapists as well as the lay man/woman.