Affirmative Psychotherapy with Older Bisexual Women and Men

Abstract

SUMMARY When bisexual clients come to therapy, they are likely to bring specific bisexual aging issues, including coming out, isolation, lack of supportive social networks, and the impact of agism, homophobia, bi-negativity and biphobia in their personal and professional lives. Many have been ignored, patronized, and/or discounted because of their bisexual orientation and will not reveal their identity until the therapist demonstrates an understanding, accepting, and supportive attitude toward bisexuality. This article discusses ways in which therapists can be most helpful. They can increase their knowledge and comfort levels with bisexuality and with polyamory so they can fully support bisexual identity and behaviors. They can use language which is comfortable for the client since language choice varies within the age range referred to as the “aging” population. Some clients may not self-identify as bisexual, particularly those who reached adulthood before bisexual and bisexuality appeared in the media. Therapists can develop expertise and guide clients in finding and using community and online bisexuality-related resources. They can look for resources to support bisexual end of life and other spiritual needs. They can find resources for safer sex education and develop some ability to provide that education when resources cannot be found. They can refuse to assume that everyone is either straight or lesbian/gay male whether or not she or he is coupled, married, divorced, and/or a parent. They can make themselves allies for bisexuals by speaking supportively and accurately about bisexuality with their own and other professional colleagues, and by supporting bisexual visibility in their communities and their professional organizations.