Family Therapy with GLBT Youths: Kite in Flight Revisited

Abstract

In the past decade, inquiry into sexual identity development has offered a greater understanding of the experiences reported by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) youths over the life course (Cohler & Hammack, 2007). While previous critiques of sexual development literature have resulted in greater support for many GLBT adolescents, we argue that the increases in acceptance and support afforded many sexual-minority teens are overall contextually dependent. In addition, clinicians working with GLBT youths in various contexts may be ill-equipped to provide the needed resources for this population of youths and families (Burgess, 1999). The Kite in Flight (Parker, Bermudez, & Neustifter, 2008) model is a family therapy approach that has been examined for use with GLBT youths to address the need for more effective therapeutic approaches with this population. Specifically, this article will further explore contextual and environmental influences for use with the Kite in Flight family therapy approach. Included are transcripts from two case examples that illustrate the influence of contextual and environmental factors using the model.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescence
• family therapy
• GLBT youths