Christians who struggle with a conflict between their sexual and religious identities have few therapeutic options available to them. ‘Sexual orientation change efforts’ (SOCE) have rightly fallen out of favor and are no longer practiced by most clinicians. At the same time, the common approach of gay affirmative therapy (GAT) can at times present challenges and may not be a good fit when clients hold to conventional religious beliefs and values.

An alternative to these methods is Sexual Identity Therapy (SIT)—an approach that aims to provide individuals with a safe therapeutic space to explore the tension between their sexuality and their faith. Working within the SIT framework, clients are able to resolve their inner conflict to their personal satisfaction and to freely choose a coherent identity that enables them to move forward in life.

Mark A. Yarhouse, PsyD, is the Dr. Arthur P. and Mrs. Jean May Rech Chair in Psychology at Wheaton College. He is also the chair of the task force on LGBT issues for Division 36 (Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Yarhouse has published over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and is author or coauthor of several books, including Understanding Sexual Identity: A Resource for Youth Ministry (Zondervan, 2013). 

Preface / ix

Part One: Overview of Sexual Identity Therapy

Chapter 1: Religious Identity and Sexual Identity in Therapy / 3

Chapter 2: Assessment / 17

Chapter 3: Discussing Sexual Identity Therapy with Clients / 37

Part Two: Therapy Tools

Chapter 4: A Three-Tier Distinction / 59

Chapter 5: Weighted Aspects of Identity / 69

Chapter 6: Joining Clients on an Attributional Search for Identity / 79

Chapter 7: Identifying Dominant Narratives / 93

Chapter 8: Identifying Proscriptive and Prescriptive Constraints / 103

Chapter 9: Interviewing the Concern / 113

Chapter 10: Recognizing Counternarratives / 117

Chapter 11: Chapters in One’s Life / 123

Chapter 12: Congruence / 133

Part Three: Marriage & Family Therapy: Applying SIT to Specific Groups

Chapter 13: Mixed-Orientation Couples / 145

Chapter 14: When Youth Come Out: Working with Christian Parents / 169

Appendix A: The Sexual Identity Therapy Framework / 181

Appendix B: A Case Study of Sexual Identity Therapy / 201

Appendix C: A Case Study of a Mixed-Orientation Couple / 217

Appendix D: A Case Study of an Adolescent and Family Therapy / 227

Notes / 235

References / 237

Index / 251