Here is a valuable contribution to the new and growing body of clinical literature concerning mental health issues for gay males and lesbians. Lesbians and Gay Men: Chemical Dependency Treatment Issues addresses in-depth, specific issues in the treatment of chemical dependency in this population. Authors discuss special problems of the gay population and describe actual clinical techniques for treating them. Readers can easily apply these techniques and strategies for treatment directly to their own work. The book is full of case studies and other helpful information, making it one that practitioners may turn to again and again.A discussion of addiction and homophobia opens the book and creates a base for the chapters that follow, which present clinical material on topics such as:
- the treatment of homosexual addicted clients by heterosexual therapists
- the impact on professionals of treating HIV-infected substance abusers
- the role of spirituality in the recovery of gay males
- chemical dependency in gay and lesbian youth
- lesbians from alcoholic families
- stages of lesbian recovery from alcoholism
- dual diagnosis of homosexual persons Other useful chapters contain information on formatting an experiential weekend workshop for recovering lesbians and gay men, and ideas for applying family therapy concepts to the treatment of these individuals.An extremely practical book, it increases practitioners’arsenals of skills by explaining clinical strategies that can be put into use immediately. References at the end of each chapter guide interested readers toward further learning on specific topics. Health providers, chemical dependency counselors, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists will find Lesbians and Gay Men: Chemical Dependency Treatment Issues a book to depend on for effective treatments of both gay men and lesbians.
