Intersectionality, Sexuality and Psychological Therapies: Working with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Diversity

This book explores the diversity in lesbian, gay, and bisexual lives, with the aim of opening up therapists′ understanding of this diversity so that they can work in an ethical, supportive and non–discriminatory way with these individuals.

While previous work in this area has focused on specific aspects of sexuality, this book weaves together the multiple identities that people have, which can be complex, jagged, incomplete, and rapidly changing. Taking a closer look at these issues through dedicated chapters on gender, race and ethnicity, spirituality and religion, age, immigration, class and disability, as well as physical and mental health, the authors implicate the notion of a singular gay community′ and expose the true fractions and plurality that exists in society.

Intersectionality, Sexuality, and Psychological Therapies is firmly grounded in contemporary theory, research and practice of psychology, and covers a breadth of approaches and schools of thought.

Contributors ix

Foreword by Dominic Davies xv

Acknowledgements xvii

Introduction 1
Roshan das Nair & Catherine Butler

1 Intersecting Identities 9
Damien W. Riggs & Roshan das Nair

2 Gender 31
Sonja J. Ellis

3 Race and Ethnicity 59
Roshan das Nair & Sonya Thomas

4 Religion 89
Roshan das Nair & Sonya Thomas

5 Refugees and Asylum Seekers 113
Stephen Higgins & Catherine Butler

6 Social Class 137
Roshan das Nair & Susan Hansen

7 Physical Health 163
Adam Jowett & Elizabeth Peel

8 Mental Health 185
Roshan das Nair & Sarah Fairbank

9 Disability 213
Catherine Butler

10 Age and Ageing 239
Stuart Gibson & Susan Hansen

11 From Invert to Intersectionality: Understanding the Past and Future of Sexuality 263
Esther D. Rothblum

Index 269

Dr. Roshan das Nair works as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, and at the University of Nottingham. He has previously worked in the areas of sex, sexuality, and HIV/AIDS in Zambia and India. He is a board member of the Nottingham Sexual Health Providers forum and was the editor–in–chief of the Psychology of Sexualities Review of the British Psychological Society′s Psychology of Sexualities Section. He is also their representative on The International Network on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns and Transgender Issues in Psychology.

Dr. Catherine Butler has worked in HIV and Sexual Health her entire career, and most recently was Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Infection & Immunology at Barts & The London Hospital Trust. Her previous publications and academic interests include co–editing the book Sex, Sexuality and Therapeutic Practice, editing special editions of The Psychologist, Lesbian and Gay Psychology Review, Clinical Psychology Forum and numerous book chapters and articles on the topics of minority sexualities, sexual assault, HIV, working with interpreters, and personal/professional integration