On Psychotherapy, LGBT Identity, and Cultural Visibility: In Conversation with Alison Bechdel

Abstract

Alison Bechdel is an acclaimed graphic novelist whose graphic memoirs have examined her closeted gay father's suicide, her own developing sexual and gender identity, and her experiences in psychoanalysis. The authors of this article interviewed Ms. Bechdel in order to explore her thoughts on the role of her early work in creating visibility for LGBT communities and the specific role of psychotherapy in her development and her artistic work. The article in turn examines Bechdel's work from the perspective of cultural representations of psychotherapy, development of gender identity and expression, and considers the implications of her work for the mental health practitioner caring for LGBT individuals.

KEYWORDS:

• cultural studies, graphic novel, LGBT, mental health, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, transgender