The therapeutic encounter in same-sex couple counselling – the client's perspective

Abstract

Aim: To gain insight into the client's experiences of the counsellor and the therapeutic encounter in same-sex couple counselling. Method: Opportunity sampling using e-mail and agency contacts and advertising in a journal and magazines resulted in nine respondents being interviewed. The transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Respondents were sensitive to the way in which the counsellor related to them and their couple relationship. Four themes were identified: the counsellor's comfort and discomfort; overcompensating for sexual orientation; needing to protect the counsellor; and the uncertainty and not knowing about the counsellor. Discussion: The client's perception of the counsellor's underlying sense of discomfort will impact on the counselling relationship and therefore the efficacy of the process. This applies when the counsellor is perceived as tentative through being over cautious, or through lack of knowledge of same-sex relationships. In addition, being overly gay affirmative was seen as a block to exploring negative aspects of the relationship. Implications for practice: Counsellors need an understanding of same-sex relationships, and to be able to discuss the intimate details of these with a level of knowledge and comfort. In addition, being overly affirmative can prevent negative aspects of the relationships being addressed.

Keywords:

• Couple counselling
• gay affirmative
• same-sex couples
• Therapeutic relationship

Acknowledgements

Thanks go firstly to the participants in this research, for their time and generosity in sharing their experiences. The project has been supported by a BACP Seed-Corn Funding Research Grant and also received support from the University of Birmingham and Newman University College as employers of JG. The informal support group who read literature and commented on the process provided invaluable insight and thanks also go to JG's two research supervisors Val Owen-Pugh and Elizabeth Peel who have provided support and insightful comments since taking over the supervision of this work.

Notes

1. Therapist and counsellor are used interchangeably.