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Family psychotherapy with the homosexual family: A community psychiatry approach to homosexuality

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Abstract

The author points out that homosexual families are not being treated by family psychotherapy despite an indicated need. This situation is inconsistent with good community psychiatry and behooves the mental health worker to become aware of and to work through his unrecognized negative feelings which are interfering with provision of services. Among the main resistences are the lack of familiarity and comfort with the family psychotherapy technique, inability to resist a greater gratification that comes from focusing on sex rather than on a less titillating relationship, issue, and judgmental and condemning attitudes toward homosexuality that come from intrapsychic and sociatal sources.

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The author wishes to express his sincerest appreciation to Thomas A. Sherwood, R.N., M.A., and to Doris Bartlett for their invaluable assistance and support.

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Di Bella, G.A.W. Family psychotherapy with the homosexual family: A community psychiatry approach to homosexuality. Community Ment Health J 15, 41–46 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754750

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754750

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