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Crisis Counseling with Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual (GLB)Clients
Dr. Burl E. Gilliland, Professor
Counseling Psychology
The University of Memphis
Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research
Memphis, Tennessee 38152-6010 (Phone: 901.578.2841
The purpose of this presentation is to provide participants with background information, ideas,
attitudinal rationale, and strategies for interventions with clients experiencing crises related to
their particular sexual orientations and/or sexual identities (rather than heterosexual). Several
components are included in this session.
(1) Brief introduction of the developmental aspects of sexual identity;
(2) Gay, lesbian and bisexual identities;
(3) Homophobia;
(4) Typical crises faced by gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) people;
(5) Crisis intervention strategies unique to gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients, including suicide,
suicidal ideation, and prevention;
(6) Training GLB-affirmative crisis workers and counselors;
(7) Videotaped segments showing information and training useful for GLB-affirmative crisis
workers and counselors;
(8) Interactive audience participation (questions and discussion).
RATIONALE
The rationale of the presentation derives from the belief that it is incumbent on crisis workers and
mental health professionals to seek out accurate information about GLB clients, to educate
ourselves about the unique needs and experiences of homosexually oriented people in our culture,
and to provide equity in the level of services (on a par with services provided to heterosexual
clients) to this often misunderstood, underserved, and frequently abused population.
On a broader view, another objective of the presentation is to bring to the awareness of the
participants that crisis counseling with GLBs would be far less needed if the whole society's view
of homosexual orientation were more positive. GLBs frequently face abusive treatment such as
gay bashing, wrongful outing, loss of child custody, and other discriminatory practices. Thus, it is
important to look at the larger socio-political context in which people live their daily lives and in
which crisis intervention takes place. Changing society would do more for GLBs than an army of
crisis workers attempting to "fix" people one by one. A major theme of the presentation is that
crisis counselors must work toward expunging our own homophobia, being more GLB affirming
with everyone (all GLBs and heterosexual people alike), and working toward educating and
changing the attitudes/beliefs of ourselves and others regarding GLB people.