Deconstructing Heterosexism in the Counseling Professions: A Narrative Approach(Multicultural Aspects of Counseling series)

Until recently, the lives and issues of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) people have been rendered largely invisible in the larger society and in the counseling professions. LGB-affirmative counseling professionals are no longer without voice; however, the stories of navigating sexual orientation as counseling professionals have not be told or explored in any systematic way.  Deconstructing Heterosexism in the Counseling Professions uses the personal narratives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual counseling psychologists and counselor educators to deconstruct the heterosexist discourse in the counseling professions, envision a discourse of sexual orientation equity, and make practical suggestions for addressing sexual orientation in professional life. The narrative approach encompasses a diversity of stories and experiences including an emphasis on racial and cultural contexts. These narratives and their analyses serve as a means for the individual and collective self examination that is needed to move LGB affirmative practice, training, and scholarship from the margins to the center of what it means to be a counseling professional. Key Features: • Rather than a focus on "how to", the focus is on stimulating collective and individual self examination and providing empowerment and guidance to counseling professions in navigating sexual orientation in one′s professional life. • This book exposes and challenges the heterosexist discourse in the counseling professions AND examines how to build the strength and complexity of the current LGB affirmative counter discourse in the counseling professions.  • The chapters in the second section of the book provide unique treatments of difficult issues for counseling professionals concerning sexual orientation:  tensions between race and sexual orientation, and issues around openness versus other ways to manage a minority sexual identity. • The book is authored by over 30 counseling professionals and contains narratives about the experiences of over 20 professionals, many of whom are well-known in the LGB affirmative counseling and in the larger fields of counseling psychology and counselor education.  Deconstructing Heterosexism in the Counseling Professions will be essential reading for graduate students, practitioners, and faculty who are interested in issues of sexual orientation and are in counseling psychology and/or the many sub-specialties of counseling. It will also be of interest to counseling professionals whose primary interest may lie in other issues of diversity, particularly the multicultural and feminist professional communities.

Table of Contents:
Foreword - Paul B. Pedersen Preface Acknowledgments 1. Our Stories Will Be Told: Deconstructing the Heterosexist Discourse in the Counseling Professions - James M. Croteau, Julianne S. Lark, Teresa S. Lance Section 1: Narrative Voices 2. Moving From Random Acts of Inclusion Toward LGB-Affirmative Institutions - Eve M. Adams 3. Coming Out to My Homophobia and Heterosexism: Lessons Learned in the Journey of an Ally - Alan D. Berkowitz 4. Over the Rainbow: My Experiences as an Ally - Sharon L. Bowman 5. Invisibility, Alienation, and Misperceptions: The Experience of Being Bisexual - Maria D. Carrubba 6. Transforming Heterosexism: Starting From Myself - Kin-Ming Chan 7. Challenging Multiple Oppressions in Counselor Education - Stuart F. Chen-Hayes 8. Coming Out on the Wave of Feminism, Coming to Age on the Ocean of Multiculturalism - Louise A. Douce 9. Jewish, Bisexual, Feminist in a Christian Heterosexual World: Oy Vey! - Sari H. Dworkin 10. Becoming Visible: A Balance of Challenge and Support - Susanna M. Gallor 11. From Naïf to Activist: Personal Reflections of an Ally - Jane Goodman 12. We Are All Men and We Need Each Other Too - Phillip D. Johnson 13. Blessed Be the Ties That Bind - Michael Mobley, Stacey M. Pearson 14. Sexual Orientation, Shame, and Silence: Reflections on Graduate Training - John M. O′Brien 15. The Evolution of Responsibility: Developing as an Ally - Theresa M. O′Halloran 16. Through Racism and Homophobia: An Ally′s Journey - Ruperto M. Perez 17. Being Bisexual in the Counseling Professions: Deconstructing Heterosexism - Julia C. Phillips 18. Crashing Through the "Lavender Ceiling" in the Leadership of the Counseling Professions - Mark Pope 19. Fluidity in the Disclosure and Salience of My Identities - Jennipher Wiebold Section II: Narrative Perspectives on Special Issues 20. Untold Stories: Voices From the "Closet" of Counseling Professionals - Mary A. Fukuyama, Marie L. Miville, Jamie R. Funderburk 21. Race and Sexual Orientation in Multicultural Counseling: Navigating Rough Waters - James M. Croteau, Madonna G. Constantine Section III: Deconstructing, Envisioning, and Making Practical Suggestions 22. Toward a Discourse of Sexual Orientation Equity in the Counseling Professions - Kathleen J. Bieschke, James M. Croteau, Julianne S. Lark, Beverly J. Vandiver 23. Those Who Care, Teach: Toward Sexual Orientation Equity in Academic and Clinical Training - Y. Barry Chung, Catherine J. Brack 24. Drawing From the Collective Wisdom of LGB-Affirmative Counseling Professionals: Reflections on Affect, Relationships, and Power - Melissa A. Lidderdale, Julianne S. Lark, Joy S. Whitman Index About the Editors About the Contributors

About the Author :
James M. Croteau is a Professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and his practice, scholarship and professional training specialties include lesbian, gay and bisexual issues and issues of race and racism in White Americans. He co-teaches a graduate course on LGB issues in counseling and development. He has organized or edited two special journal issues and published more than 30 journal articles and book chapters. He has served on editorial boards for the Journal of Counseling and Development, the Journal of Vocational Behavior, and The Counseling Psychologist. Julianne S. Lark holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University and has ten years of experience as a clinician. She is currently in independent practice and engages in clinical and advocacy work as an out lesbian. She co-teaches a graduate course on LGB issues in counseling and development. She has co-authored 9 journal articles and serves as an Ad Hoc reviewer for The Counseling Psychologist. Melissa A. Lidderdale has a Masters’ Degree in Community Counseling from the University of Akron and is currently a doctoral student at Western Michigan University. Her areas of special interest/experience include counseling LGB clients; intersections of multiple oppressed identities; client perception of counseling outcome; and counselor supervision and education. She has worked in college and/or university counseling centers and has co-taught courses on LGB concerns for counseling and psychology graduate students. Melissa is a Trustee on the Executive Board of the Association for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues in Counseling (a Division of ACA) and has given 15 presentations at national, regional, and state professional conferences. She has authored one publication on training practitioners to work with LGB clients. Y. Barry Chung is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services at Georgia State University. His specialties include: career development and counseling, multicultural issues, and lesbian, gay, and bisexual studies. He has edited one book and published more than 30 journal articles and book chapters. He has served on the editorial boards of The Counseling Psychologist, The Career Development Quarterly, and Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development.