Value and Richness in Diversity - Term Paper Example

VALUE AND RICHNESS IN DIVERSITY goes here] [Your goes here] [Due the paper] Gay and Lesbian Culture The gay and lesbianculture refers to the culture shaped by gay and lesbian communities. A culture is formed when a group of people living at any particular geographical area follow common traditions, customs, and norms. Talking from this aspect, we can say that gay and lesbian culture is formed when groups of gays and lesbians lining in any area of the world share some particular social values and practices related to homosexuality.

Gay culture started becoming prominent in the late 1960s and today it is being recognized as an emerging culture in many European and American countries. However, gays and lesbians are not seen with due respect. They are still discriminated in many parts of the world. Heterosexual people do not feel good to interact with gays and lesbians as there are many differences between the thoughts and cultures of both groups of people. Such isolation and discrimination puts a negative impact of the mental health of many gays and lesbians.

Sexual orientation microaggressions have detrimental effects on gays and lesbians (Sue et al., 2007, p. 284). Mentally disturbed gays and lesbians consult their problems and feelings with psychologists to get mental health treatment. In this paper, we will examine the techniques and challenges a person may face when working with clients from that group or culture.Techniques to deal with Clients Treating in accordance with religious and spiritual aspects would be the first technique that I would use to deal with lesbian and gay clients.

Gays and lesbians also face religious and cultural discrimination as normal minorities face. Therefore, I must understand religious and spiritual beliefs of different groups of gays and lesbians in order to deal with them in an effective manner. Understanding the cause of mental stress and suggesting parents and siblings of clients to accept their sexual status would be my second technique to deal with gay and lesbian clients. Such people usually feel low when they their own parents and siblings disown them due to their sexual statuses.

According to American Psychological Association (2012), psychologists need to assess the parents’ level of rejection or acceptance of their child’s sexual feelings and desires.Challenges One of the main challenges that I may encounter considering my own values, biases, and attitudes about this group or culture would be the way to deal with gays and lesbians. I personally feel that most of the heterosexual people, including me to some extent, like to be at some distance from gays and lesbians because of cultural and sexual differences.

However, I would not bring this feeling when dealing with gay and lesbian clients as it would be against my professional ethics. I would interact with them in a friendly manner to make them feel relaxed and respected. Another challenge for me would be my hesitation to interact with homosexual people. I feel somewhat confused while dealing with gays because I do not the way they think about the people from their own gender. I would overcome this challenge by understanding their feelings and emotions about the people from their own genders other than the ones with whom they are in some sort of sexual relationship.

ReferencesAmerican Psychological Association. (2012). Practice Guidelines for LGB Clients: Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/guidelines.aspxSue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., Torino, G. C., Bucceri, J. M., Holder, A. M. B., Nadal, K. L., & Esquilin, M. (2007). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: Implications for clinical practice. American Psychologist, 62(4), 271–286.