Healing from heterosexism: A discovery-oriented task analysis of emotion-focused writing

Abstract

Background: Expressive writing exercises are associated with psychological benefits for LGBTQ + adults processing sexual minority stressors, but the processes through which this occurs remain unclear.

Methods: A discovery-oriented task analysis was conducted on emotion-focused expressive writing responses about troubling heterosexist experiences. Eighteen cases were analyzed in total.

Results: The analyses produced a four-stage model that describes the processes of resolving distress related to heterosexism.

Conclusion: Results provide guidance for LGBTQ + affirmative mental health practitioners by naming the processes that clients may experience on the pathway to healing and identifying common obstacles to progress that clients may exhibit.

Keywords:

• Task analysis
• heterosexism
• sexual minority stress
• expressive writing
• LGBTQ

Conflict of interests

The authors have no funding sources or conflicts of interest to declare.