Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients

Martell et al. have done a masterful job of bringing cognitive-behavioral therapy alive for therapists who work with the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community. By centering their discussions of CBT in the lives and experiences of LGB clients, the authors powerfully demonstrate the relevance of this therapeutic paradigm to an LGB-affirmative stance. The discussion of ethics and boundary issues is an extra bonus for the reader, especially those therapists who must deal with the small-community problem in a context of a theory that does not focus on the symbolic layers of treatment. This is 'must' reading for LGB-affirmative practitioners and an excellent text for graduate-level courses.--Laura S. Brown, PhD, ABPP, Washington School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University-Seattle

This volume demonstrates excellent, thorough, and current knowledge of cognitive-behavioral therapy and shows in a meaningful and practical way how this approach can be applied to therapeutic advantage with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients. The book offers strong guidance on how to utilize the widely accepted and applicable techniques of CBT while incorporating sensitivity and responsiveness to sexual diversity issues. The combination of highlighting and valuing sexual diversity, while at the same time drawing on methods that normalize and humanize universally experienced problems, is a signal achievement. This is a most useful resource for clinicians familiar with LGB issues who want to learn more about CBT, as well as experienced cognitive-behavioral therapists seeking to better serve their sexual minority clients. It also will serve as a supplemental text for graduate students in a broad range of mental health fields.--Keith S. Dobson, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Canada

Bravo! This fine, very welcome book represents an important and successful melding of two sometimes separate psychotherapeutic communities. The richness of the CBT model (including important, exciting, new developments therein) is integrated with the growing body of scholarly research and findings on LGB experiences. Specific frameworks utilize myriad examples to address the major issues facing LGB individuals and couples and to illustrate the applicability of CBT with these clients.--Kevin T. Kuehlwein, PsyD, Center for Cognitive Therapy, University of Pennsylvania

Martell, Safren, and Prince offer an up-to-date, well articulated review of both the field of cognitive-behavioral therapy and therapeutic issues relevant to LGB people. Their thorough analysis and integration of these topics is unique and the result is essential reading for therapists working with LGB clients and for students training in CBT and/or service provision to LGB people./m-/Gordon Josephson, Doctoral Candidate, University of Ottawa
- Martell, Safren, and Prince's pairing of cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) with lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) mental health issues fortunately is a match made for all the right reasons. The authors are our modern day matchmakers and this volume...is a most welcome introduction. --The Clinical Psychologist, 11/16/2003