Clinical interventions with sexual minority clients: Review, critique, and future directions

Abstract

Sexual minority populations experience disproportionately high rates of depression and anxiety relative to their heterosexual counterparts. Unfortunately, both sexual minority clients and their therapists experience difficulties in therapy. After conducting a review of the extant literature focused on approaches to treating depression and anxiety among sexual minority individuals in psychotherapy, this manuscript aims to: (1) Propose a taxonomy of existing practice models for treating sexual minority clients for depression and anxiety (protocol-based approaches, principles-based approaches, and relationship-based approaches); (2) Describe the current research findings of the evaluations of these practice models; (3) Offer recommendations for research and practice.