Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Culturally Competent Practice with Bisexual Individuals

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Clinical Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals requires clinical social workers to demonstrate cultural competency with these populations. Although there are many common issues across these identities, bisexual individuals experience unique challenges that differ from lesbian and gay individuals. Bisexuality is sometimes misunderstood by heterosexual as well as lesbian and gay individuals, leading to experiences of marginalization from multiple sources. Moreover, clinical social workers may incorrectly assume that the treatment needs of bisexual individuals are the same as lesbian and gay individuals. This paper utilizes qualitative interviews with 45 bisexual-identified people to illuminate five prominent issues in clinical practice with bisexual people. They are: (a) biphobia, (b) practitioner attitudes about bisexuality, (c) identity development, (d) social relationships, and (e) sexual health. Findings illuminate clinical practice strategies that will facilitate culturally competent social work practice with this population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alessi, E. J., Dillon, F., & Kim, H. M. (unpublished manuscript). Determinants of gay affirmative practice among mental health practitioners.

  • Angelides, S. (2006). Historicizing (bi)sexuality: A rejoinder for gay/lesbian studies, feminism, and queer theory. Journal of Homosexuality, 52(1–2), 125–158.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balsam, K. F., & Mohr, J. J. (2007). Adaptation to sexual orientation stigma: A comparison of bisexual and lesbian/gay adults. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54, 306–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barker, M., Bowes-Catton, H., Iantaffi, A., Cassidy, A., & Brewer, L. (2008). British bisexuality: A snapshot of bisexual identities in the United Kingdom. Journal of Bisexuality, 8(1–2), 141–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bieschke, K. J., Paul, P. L., & Blasko, K. A. (2007). Review of empirical research focused on the experience of lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients in counseling and psychotherapy. In K. Bieschke, R. Perez, & K. DeBord (Eds.), Handbook of counseling and psychotherapy with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender clients (2nd ed., pp. 293–316). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bowers, A. M., & Bieschke, K. J. (2005). Psychologists’ clinical evaluations and attitudes: An examination of the influence of gender and sexual orientation. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36, 97–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradford, M. (2004). The bisexual experience: Living in a dichotomous culture. Journal of Bisexuality, 4(1–2), 7–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cass, V. C. (1979). Homosexual identity formation: A theoretical model. Journal of Homosexuality, 4(2), 219–235.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, J. F. (2004). The intersection of race and bisexuality: A critical overview of the literature and past, present, and future directions of the ‘borderlands’. Journal of Bisexuality, 4(1–2), 99–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodge, B., & Sandfort, T. (2007). A review of mental health research on bisexual individuals when compared to homosexual and heterosexual individuals. In B. Firestein (Ed.), Becoming visible: Counseling bisexuals across the lifespan (pp. 28–51). New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egan, P. J., Edelman, M. S., & Sherrill, K. (2007). Findings from the Hunter College Poll of Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals: New discoveries about identity, political attitudes, and civic engagement. Hunter College, CUNY. Retrieved 6/7/12, from http://as.nyu.edu/docs/IO/4819/hunter_college_poll.pdf.

  • Eliason, M. (2001). Bi-negativity: The stigma facing bisexual men. Journal of Bisexuality, 19(2–3), 137–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eliason, M. J., & Hughes, T. (2004). Treatment counselor’s attitudes about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered clients: Urban vs. rural settings. Substance Use and Misuse, 39, 625–644.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Emerson, R., Fretz, R., & Shaw, L. (1995). Writing ethnographic fieldnotes. Chicago, London: The University of Chicago Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Esterberg, K. (2006). The bisexual menace revisited; or shaking up social categories is hard to do. In S. Seidman, N. Fisher, & C. Meeks (Eds.), Handbook of the new sexuality studies: Original essays and interviews (pp. 169–176). New York, NY: Routledge Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldmanstern, T. E. (2007). Bi the way: A quantitative, exploratory study of social workers’ attitudes regarding bisexuality. Master’s thesis. Retrieved from Smith College Libraries.

  • Firestein, B. A. (Ed.). (2007). Becoming visible: Counseling bisexuals across the lifespan. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goetstouwers, L. (2006). Affirmative psychotherapy with bisexual men. Journal of Bisexuality, 6(1–2), 27–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halperin, D. (2009). Thirteen ways of looking at a bisexual. Journal of Bisexuality, 9(3–4), 451–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hebernick, D., Reece, M., Schick, V., Sanders, S. A., Dodge, B., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2010). Sexual behavior in the United States: Results from a national probability sample of men and women aged 14–94. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 7, 255–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, L. (2009). Between the two: Bisexual identity among African Americans. Journal of African American Studies, 13, 263–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herek, G. M. (2002). Heterosexuals’ attitudes toward bisexual men and women in the United States. Journal of Sex Research, 39, 264–274.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hesse-Biber, S., & Leavy, P. (2011). The practice of qualitative research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, J. L., & Newcomb, M. D. (1999). Bisexuality, not homosexuality: Counseling issues and treatment approaches. Journal of College Counseling, 2, 148–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, S., & Hickerson, J. (2003). Affirmative practice: Understanding and working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. Washington, DC: NASW Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Israel, T. (2004). Conversations not categories: The intersection of biracial and bisexual identities. Women and Therapy, 27, 173–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Israel, T., & Mohr, J. J. (2004). Attitudes toward bisexual women and men: Current research, future direction. Journal of Bisexuality, 4(1–2), 117–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe, H. W., Valdiserri, R. O., & De Cock, K. M. (2007). The reemerging HIV/AIDS epidemic in men who have sex with men. Journal of the American Medical Association, 298(20), 2412–2414. doi:10.1001/jama.298.20.2412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jorm, A. F., Korten, A. E., Rodgers, B., Jacomb, P. A., & Christensen, H. (2002). Sexual orientation and mental health: Results from a community survey of young and middle-aged adults. British Journal of Psychiatry, 180, 423–427.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kertzner, R., Meyer, I. H., Frost, D. M., & Stirratt, M. J. (2009). Social and psychological well-being in lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals: The effects of race, gender, age and sexual identity. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 79, 500–510.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, F. (1993). The bisexual option (2nd ed.). Binghamton, NY: Harrington Park Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malebranche, D. J., Arriola, K., Jenkins, T. R., Dauria, E., & Patel, S. (2010). Exploring the “bisexual bridge”: A qualitative study of risk behavior and disclosure of same-sex behavior among black bisexual men. American Journal of Public Health, 100, 159–164.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLean, K. (2007). Hiding in the closet? Bisexuals, coming out and the disclosure imperative. Journal of Sociology, 4, 151–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLean, K. (2008). Inside, outside, nowhere: Bisexual men and women in the gay and lesbian community. Journal of Bisexuality, 8(1–2), 63–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohr, J., Israel, T., & Sedlacek, W. E. (2001). Counselors’ attitudes regarding bisexuality as predictors of counselors’ clinical responses: An analogue study of a female bisexual client. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48, 212–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohr, J., Weiner, J. L., Chopp, R. M., & Wong, S. J. (2009). Effects of client bisexuality on clinical judgment: When is bias most likely to occur? Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56, 164–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mosher, W. D., Chandra, A., & Jones, J. (2005). Sexual behavior and selected health measures: men and women 15–44 years of age, United States, 2002. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, J. A., Rawlings, E. I., & Howe, S. R. (2002). A survey of clinical psychologists on treating lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33, 183–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ochs, R. (1996). Biphobia: It goes more than two ways. In B. A. Firestein (Ed.), Bisexuality: The psychology and politics of an invisible minority (pp. 217–239). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohnstad, A. (2009). If I’m not straight or gay, who am I? Clinical Social Work Journal, 37, 195–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Page, E. (2007). Bisexual women’s and men’s experiences of psychotherapy. In B. Firestein (Ed.), Becoming visible: Counseling bisexuals across the lifespan (pp. 52–71). New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Rust, P. (Ed.). (2000). Alternatives to binary sexuality. In Bisexuality in the United States: A social science reader (pp. 33–54). New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

  • Rodríguez-Rust, P. (2002). Bisexuality: The state of the union. Annual Review of Sex Research, 13, 180–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Rust, P. (2007). The constructing and reconstructing of bisexuality: Inventing and reinventing the self. In B. Firestein (Ed.), Becoming visible: Counseling bisexuals across the lifespan (pp. 3–27). New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rust, P. (1996a). Sexual identity and bisexual identities: The struggle for self-description in a changing sexual landscape. In B. Beemyn & M. Eliason (Eds.), Queer studies: A lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender anthology (pp. 68–86). New York, NY: University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rust, P. (1996b). Managing multiple identities: Diversity among bisexual women and men. In B. A. Firestein (Ed.), Bisexuality: The psychology and politics of an invisible minority (pp. 53–83). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rust, P. (2003). Monogamy and polyamory: Relationship issues for bisexuals. In L. Garnets & M. Kimmel (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on lesbian, gay and bisexual experiences (pp. 127–148). New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seidman, S. (2003). The social construction of sexuality. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spalding, L. R., & Peplau, L. (1997). The unfaithful lover: Heterosexuals’ stereotypes of bisexuals and their relationships. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 611–625.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storr, M. (1999). Bisexuality: A critical reader. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troiden, R. R. (1989). The formation of homosexual identities. Journal of Homosexuality, 17(1–2), 43–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Udis-Kessler, A. (1996). Identity/politics: Historical sources of the bisexual movement. In B. Beemyn & M. Eliason (Eds.), Queer studies: A lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender anthology (pp. 52–63). New York, NY: University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg, M. S., Williams, C. J., & Pryor, D. W. (1994). Dual attraction: Understanding bisexuality. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weitzman, G. (2006). Therapy with clients who are bisexual and polyamorous. Journal of Bisexuality, 6(1–2), 137–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Worth, H. (2003). The myth of the bisexual infector? Journal of Bisexuality, 3(2), 69–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author is deeply grateful to the people who participated in this research. The author would also like to thank Edward Alessi, Jaime Brunton, Emily Kazyak, and the anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. I am also grateful to the Bisexual Foundation, the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at the University of Michigan, and the Kinsey Institute for their financial support of this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 536 George St., New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA

    Kristin Scherrer

Authors
  1. Kristin Scherrer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristin Scherrer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Scherrer, K. Culturally Competent Practice with Bisexual Individuals. Clin Soc Work J 41, 238–248 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-013-0451-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-013-0451-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation