Therapy and counselling experiences of queer adults in Germany

IF 1.2 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research Pub Date : 2024-09-01 DOI:10.1002/capr.12814

Sonja Bröning, Agostino Mazziotta

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Abstract

Background

Mental health professionals play a crucial role in either alleviating or exacerbating stress among queer clients.

Aims

Drawing on minority stress theory, we conducted a study to examine the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or consensually non-monogamous clients with current or recent psychotherapy or counselling experiences in Germany.

Method

A convenience sample of 492 queer individuals participated in an online survey, providing insights into their most recent experiences with psychotherapy or counselling and evaluating the success of these processes. Among the participants, 92% identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or another non-heterosexual identity, while 8% identified as heterosexual. Additionally, 54% reported being in consensually non-monogamous relationships, and 23% identified as gender-diverse.

Results

The majority (92%) had prior experience with psychotherapy, with over half reporting their last session within the last month. The remaining 8% reported counselling experience. Most participants rated their recent psychotherapy or counselling process as successful. Exemplary practices were more common than inappropriate ones. While overt discrimination by mental health professionals was rare, subtle inappropriate behaviours were still prevalent. Affirmative and actively reassuring practices were strongly linked to subjective therapy success.

Conclusion

The study's findings warrant cautious optimism regarding a non-discriminative stance in German mental health professionals while highlighting the need for further research, training and guidelines for therapists and counsellors.

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德国成人同性恋者的治疗和咨询经验

背景心理健康专业人员在减轻或加重同性恋客户的压力方面发挥着至关重要的作用。研究目的根据少数群体压力理论，我们开展了一项研究，探讨德国女同性恋者、男同性恋者、双性恋者和/或双方同意的非一夫一妻制客户目前或最近的心理治疗或咨询经历。方法 492 名同性恋者参与了在线调查，了解他们最近的心理治疗或咨询经历，并对这些过程的成功与否进行评估。在参与者中，92%的人认为自己是女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋或其他非异性恋身份，8%的人认为自己是异性恋。此外，54%的人称自己处于自愿的非一夫一妻制关系中，23%的人称自己性别多样。结果大多数人（92%）曾接受过心理治疗，其中一半以上的人表示他们上一次接受心理治疗是在上个月。其余 8%的人表示有过咨询经验。大多数参与者认为他们最近的心理治疗或咨询过程是成功的。模范做法比不当做法更常见。虽然心理健康专业人员公开的歧视行为很少见，但微妙的不当行为仍然普遍存在。肯定和积极安抚的做法与主观治疗的成功密切相关。结论这项研究的结果值得我们对德国精神卫生专业人员的非歧视性立场持谨慎乐观的态度，同时也强调了进一步研究、培训以及为治疗师和辅导员制定指导方针的必要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

12.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： Counselling and Psychotherapy Research is an innovative international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to linking research with practice. Pluralist in orientation, the journal recognises the value of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods strategies of inquiry and aims to promote high-quality, ethical research that informs and develops counselling and psychotherapy practice. CPR is a journal of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, promoting reflexive research strongly linked to practice. The journal has its own website: www.cprjournal.com. The aim of this site is to further develop links between counselling and psychotherapy research and practice by offering accessible information about both the specific contents of each issue of CPR, as well as wider developments in counselling and psychotherapy research. The aims are to ensure that research remains relevant to practice, and for practice to continue to inform research development.