Counseling Gay Male Clients

The issues surrounding working with gay men in counseling are reviewed within this chapter. Prevalence, identity development, and relationships are explored. Gay males experience a significant amount of bias and discrimination; they are the largest single target of hate crimes within the LGBTQI+ population reported to the FBI every year. This risk is greater when intersectional minority identities are also present; more gay males are targets for hate crimes when they present as gender non-conforming, are men of color, as well as live in a rural area of the country. Authors explore physical and mental health issues related uniquely to gay male clients, as a result of the heightened minority stress. Affirmative counseling techniques for working with gay male clients is reviewed, with special attention given to developing counselor self-awareness, developmental counseling, and empowerment strategies. © 2017 by the American Counseling Association. All rights reserved.

Journal Abbreviation: Affirm. Couns. With LGBTQI+ People