Date of Award

Fall 12-17-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Cassandra White

Abstract

In this Honors Thesis, I will concentrate on the mental health of the LGBTQ+ community, a group of people who often report experiencing lower overall mental well-being and a higher rate of atypical psychological symptoms. This paper will present the data I attained through ethnographic interviews of two groups of people: LGBTQ+-identifying clients of therapy and psychotherapists who specialize in working with LGBTQ+ clients. The data from these interviews suggests that there is a lack of proper education and training for therapists to effectively treat LGBTQ+ clients, and that LGBTQ+ clients of therapy often must educate their therapists in order for their identities to be understood. It is my goal that this research educates readers on the real and harmful effects of homophobia through the narratives of individuals who have faced this form of oppression. I also hope that through an examination of the data from my interviews, useful tools and approaches that therapists can utilize to help their clients heal from these traumas will be unveiled.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/38079442

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