Telling our story: a narrative therapy approach to helping lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people with a learning disability identify and strengthen positive self‐identity stories

Abstract

Accessible Summary This article is about a group for people with learning disabilities who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (e.g. people who dress in clothes traditionally worn by the opposite sex). People who went to the group liked telling stories about their lives and other people listening to them. People who went to the group said it helped them learn about who they are and to feel good about themselves. SummaryHistorically, and to a somewhat lesser extent presently, people with learning disabilities have had little or no voice in the stories other people (particularly professionals) tell about them and their lives. Four psychology workshops, based on a narrative therapy approach, were run for a group of people with learning disabilities who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) who regularly attend a support group called ‘Mingle’. The workshops invited members to tell their stories, especially the parts not usually told. The aim was to support people to identify and strengthen positive self‐identities. Workshops were facilitated by two trainee clinical psychologists within a Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT).