Lesbians and Gays in Couples and Families: A Handbook for Therapists [Hardcover]

"The text is well written and very readable and readers do not need extensive training or knowledge in the area to gain a great deal from this book. Overall, this book can be an invaluable resource for both the practicing counselors and students." (Counseling Today) "This book exemplifies a unique and valuable contribution to the field of of couples and family therapy for many reasons. To my knowledge, this handbook represents a first attempt at integrating personal accounts, clinical practice, theory, and empirical research in addressing the complexities of being gay or lesbian in couples and families. . . . Because it is informative and comprehensive, I highly recommAnd it to all therapists." "Lesbians and Gays in Couples and Families is most effective in the way it unapologetically challenges the myths our society perpetuates about gays and lesbians, particularly the myth that places sex rather then relatedness at the center of our lives. The book challenges these myths with innovative feminist, relational theories of families and connections, and with sound research to back up most of their claims. This is a book that should be read not only by clinicians working with gay and lesbian clients, but by anyone who is worried about the effects of the patriarchy on future generations . . . gay, lesbian, straight, or bisexual." "This book is a valuable contribution to the growing gay–friAndly literature on clinical work with gay men and lesbians and demonstrates how understanding gay and lesbian relationships adds to our understanding of heterosexual ones." "Joan Laird and Robert–Jay Green are two of the brightest luminaries in our field....This book should be required reading for all family therapists...for educating ourselves, our trainees, and the field of family therapy in general." "Scholarship and clinical wisdom both abound in this timely and important volume. Laird and Green′s book will set the standard in this area for a long time to come." (Alan S. Gurman, Ph.D., coeditor of the Handbook of Family Therapy and professor, University of Wisconsin Medical School) "No one who works with human beings can afford to be without this compelling and long–awaited book. The authors give us a profound new understanding of lesbian and gays, and with this, a fundamentally new and enriched view of the human condition." (Harriet Lerner, Ph.D., author of The Dance of Anger and The Dance of Intimacy) "This profoundly moving collection of essays is more than a handbook for therapists. Everybody concerned about couples, families, mental health, love, support, community, and lives of dignity and decency will want to read this stirring book. Joan Laird and Robert–Jay Green have given us all a very great gift.? (Blanche Wiesen Cook, Ph.D., author of the acclaimed biography, Eleanor Roosevelt and professor of history and women′s studies, City University of New York) "This exceptionally powerful and important book is a major contribution to the helping professions. Despite the fact that I have worked all my professional life in multicultural psychology, I gained insights and new knowledge which I hope will make me a more sensitive and competent helping professional when working with lesbians/gays." (Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D., coauthor, Counseling the Culturally Different: Theory and Practice) "Comprehensive and theoretically grounded... provides clinically useful approaches... A must for therapists working with lesbians and gay men." (Marshall Forstein, M.D., former president, Association of Gay & Lesbian Psychiatrists; medical director, Mental Health & Addiction Services, Fenway Community Health Center) "Laird and Green have collected an impressive amalgam of clinical wisdom and empirical data...destroying stereotypes and shining light in dark corners.... A necessary companion to any couples and family therapist who wishes to have a new perspective on any family grouping, irrespective of sexual orientations." (Laura S. Brown, Ph.D., ABPP, author of Subversive Dialogues: Theory in Feminist Therapy; clinical professor of psychology, University of Washington; and psychologist in private practice, Seattle) "A long overdue book that belongs on every therapist′s bookshelf. In both subtle and obvious ways, we are given direction and guidance for addressing the problems faced by families of lesbians and gays." (Gail A. Rekers, Lesbian Review of Books, Altadena, California) "[Laird and Green] have edited a remarkable book, ambitious in intent, comprehensive in scope, challenging in concept." (Volker Thomas, Book Review Editor, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy) "Uniformly well–written, thoughtful and clinically useful." "Joan Laird and Robert–Jay Green have compiled a much–needed collection of articles on couples and family therapy with gays and lesbians." "They have edited a remarkable book, ambitious in intent, comprehensive in scope, challenging in concept." (Volker Thomas, Book Reviews Editor, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy) "Clearly written and timely chapters provide information about gay fathers and lesbian mothers, lesbian and gay males in committed couple relationships as well as in their families of origin...Lesbians and Gays in Couples and Families helps us confront our ignorance and biases and increases our knowledge base at the same time." (Terrance Patterson, EdD, The Family Psychologist) "[This book] shatters many myths that family therapists may hold about the nature of couple and family relationships...The editors have done a terrific job of pulling together a large amount of theory, research, and case examples into a cohesive body of work. This book challenges our assumptions about the nature of individuals, couples and families and, in doing so, should help wake up the mental health profession to the fact that lesbians and gays are family too." "An excellent compilation of chapters designed to change this situation [of invisibility], bringing gay and lesbian family issues more into the public and professional eye ... In general, Laird and Green have created an extremely thoughtful and provoking forum for many discussions that surely will be continued in the coming years." (Jane Ariel, Ph.D., Journal of Feminist Family Therapy)

Like all professional disciplines, the psychotherapy field has its own legacy of homophobia, heterosexism, silence, and a destructive mythology it must overcome. Until very recently, in fact, lesbians and gay couples have been relatively invisible in the therapeutic community. To fill the gap in the professional literature, Joan Laird and Robert–Jay Green have gathered a distinguished group of practitioners to create an edited collection that focuses on theory, research, and clinical work with lesbians and gays in the context of family relationships. These noted professionals address the experiences of lesbians and gay men as couples, as parents, and in relationship to their own families of origin. The book contains a wealth of research, as well as recommendations, and suggestions for working with gay couples and families in a clinical setting. The book includes vital information on topics such as: The special problems of people of color who are often vulnerable to many levels of discrimination Social problems—such as addiction, sexual trauma, and AIDS—and the effect on couples and family life Parenting in lesbian and gay families The challenges of the straight clinician who works with gay families Creating boundaries in male couples Self–labeling and disclosure And much more Lesbians and Gays in Couples and Families is an essential resource for any clinician—straight or gay—who wishes to become more knowledgeable and skilled in the treatment of this population.