Organizing the closet: Brief psychodynamic psychotherapy with a heterosexually married gay man

ABSTRACT

This case report describes the issues encountered during a course of brief psychodynamic psychotherapy conducted by a gay psychiatry resident and a heterosexually married gay client (“Eric”) with significant childhood trauma and personality pathology. The importance of clarifying a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder in patients struggling with sexual orientation is discussed as well as the appropriate response to a patient requesting assistance with changing his sexual orientation. The role and timing of self-disclosure of the therapist's sexual orientation are also briefly touched upon. Finally, the factors which promote transition to a positive gay identity are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Borderline personality disorder
• psychodynamic psychotherapy
• therapist self-disclosure

Disclosure

The author has no conflicts to disclose.