Helping Christian Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients Recover Religion as a Source of Strength: Developing a Model for Assessment and Integration of Religious Identity in Counseling

Abstract

Spirituality, including its expression in religious identity, has been increasingly recognized as a vital source of strength in coping that can be integrated in the counseling process to affect positive outcomes. However, lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients frequently experience conflicts between their religious and sexual orientation identities that complicate or prevent their access to religion as a source of support. Complicating matters, counselors may feel ill equipped to address religious concerns in counseling settings that are not faith based. The Goals, Renewal, Action, Connection, and Empowerment (GRACE) model is offered as a means to assess and integrate religious identity with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients in the counseling process. A composite hypothetical case illustrates the application of the model with a client.

KEYWORDS:

• spirituality
• religion
• religious identity
• religious conflict
• coping
• strength
• lesbian
• gay
• bisexual