Counseling Psychology and the Amelioration of Oppression: Translating Our Knowledge Into Action

In the new millennium, counseling psychologists have answered the call to address oppression related to intersectional identities. We have played a major role in the development of practice guidelines and policies, as well as in the application of ethical principles in cultural contexts. The Counseling Psychologist has served to disseminate information addressing needs and interventions for diverse communities. In this article, we review the history and impact of our efforts to ameliorate oppression. The pressing challenges of economic and educational disparities are highlighted along with how counseling psychologists are uniquely situated to meet the needs of the underserved. Our research, training, and practice are anchored in methodological pluralism, global helping paradigms, participatory engagement, and the promotion of liberation and radical healing. We offer recommendations to deconstruct current models and reconstruct a decolonized approach, embrace interdisciplinary collaboration to fight cultural encapsulation, strengthen prevention and advocacy, train a culturally diverse workforce, and prioritize intersectional research.

Heterosexism, Racism, and the Mental Health of Sexual Minority People of Color

In the present study, we examined the additive and multiplicative associations of heterosexist discrimination, racist discrimination, internalized heterosexism, and internalized racism with psychological distress and well-being in 318 sexual minority People of Color. We tested multiplicative associations via two sets of interactions: cross-oppression (Heterosexist Discrimination × Internalized Racism, Racist Discrimination × Internalized Heterosexism) and same-oppression (Heterosexist Discrimination × Internalized Heterosexism, Racist Discrimination × Internalized Racism). Consistent with the additive perspective, heterosexist discrimination and internalized racism were uniquely positively associated with distress, whereas internalized heterosexism and internalized racism were uniquely negatively associated with well-being. The Heterosexist Discrimination × Internalized Racism and Racist Discrimination × Internalized Racism interactions were significant in relation to both distress and well-being. Internalized racism was associated with significantly poorer mental health until heterosexist and racist discrimination reached high levels. We discuss the implications of our findings for research and practice with sexual minority People of Color.

Improving Young Male Couples' Sexual and Relationship Health in the 2GETHER Program: Intervention Techniques, Environments of Care, and Societal Considerations

Young male couples are at high risk for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, few HIV prevention programs meet the needs of young male couples that express an interest in how to maintain healthy relationships. As such, we developed 2GETHER, a couple-based program that integrates HIV risk reduction and sexual health information into a relationship education program specific to young male couples. 2GETHER was guided by cognitive-behavioral theories of HIV risk reduction and relationship functioning and was informed by a social-ecological perspective to address factors within and outside the couple that can impact sexual and relationship health. As a micro-level intervention, 2GETHER intervenes directly with couples via psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral strategies to change couples' communication patterns, sexual health behaviors, and relationship satisfaction. Successful implementation of 2GETHER requires mezzo-level interventions that create an affirming environment of care for sexual-minority individuals and facilitators who are culturally competent in working with young male couples. Although macro-level interventions to change societal acceptance of and policies germane to sexual-minority couples are beyond the scope of 2GETHER, we discuss how clinicians can advocate for systemic changes to improve sexual-minority couples' health, and how 2GETHER addresses the impact of such macro-level factors on the couple's relationship. Our experience developing and testing 2GETHER indicates that HIV prevention programs for young male couples should reflect the unique contexts shaping sexual-minority individuals' relationships and lives, and that programs should intervene within and across multiple levels when possible to improve health for sexual-minority men.

Validation of the Work Family Conflict Scale for Sexual Minority Employees

The present study examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Work–Family Conflict Scale (WFCS) in a sample of 295 sexual minority employees. Factor analyses supported a two-factor oblique model, with work–family conflict manifesting as worker role interfering with the family role (WIF) and family role interfering with the worker role (FIW). We also examined the relations of the latent WIF and FIW factors with conceptually related constructs. Both WIF and FIW were significantly negatively correlated with partner support; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender–supportive climates; job satisfaction; and life satisfaction and were significantly positively correlated with turnover intentions, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, WIF (but not FIW) was significantly negatively associated with family support and family satisfaction, whereas FIW (but not WIF) was significantly negatively associated with outness at work. The findings of the present study suggest that the WFCS—and, possibly, the construct of work–family conflict more generally—holds promise for future vocational research focused on the interface of work and family in the lives of sexual minority employees. Implications of these findings for clinical work and research with sexual minority employees are discussed.

Breaking Institutional Habits: A Critical Paradigm for Social Change Agents in Psychology

There is a growing concern in counseling psychology that the field is not matching its commitment to social justice with adequate preparation of social change agents. Compiling and building off of a uniquely interdisciplinary framework, this article offers an alternative way forward for psychologists and trainees. Recommendations include a reorientation to institutions in which psychologists are immediately embedded and a legitimization of direct-action methods.

Same-Sex Couples' Decisions and Experiences of Marriage in the Context of Minority Stress: Interviews From a Population-Based Longitudinal Study

In the emerging context of marriage equality, it is important to explore the reasons for and experience of marriage for long-term same-sex couples, including the role of minority stress. In Wave 3 of the population-based, longitudinal CUPPLES Study we interviewed 21 long-term same-sex couples (14 female, 7 male) who resided in 12 different states and who were legally married. Couple members ranged in age from 37 to 84 and reported being together as a couple from 15 to 41 years. Seven couples lived in states that did not recognize their marriage at the time of the interview. Legal protection and social validation emerged as the two primary domains that captured couples' lived experiences of marriage. Minority stress experiences emerged in the narratives in the context of couples' long-term commitment, the availability of civil marriage, and couples' participation in activist efforts on behalf of marriage equality for themselves and others.

Same-sex relationships and minority stress

Same-sex relationships are stigmatized in a culture that privileges heterosexual relationships. This stigma creates minority stress in the lives of same-sex couples. We review current research on minority stress and same-sex relationships using an ecological framework to conceptualize the sources of minority stress that impact couples. Findings from this review suggest a need for research that moves conceptually and methodologically beyond a focus on the individual to a focus on the dyad and the interpersonal, institutional, and cultural sources of minority stress that affect couple relationships. Focusing on the strengths and resiliencies of same-sex couples will also extend the research. Creating effective dyadic interventions will promote the health and well-being of same-sex couples and their families.

Perceived Discrimination and Social Relationship Functioning among Sexual Minorities: Structural Stigma as a Moderating Factor

Work on structural stigma shows how public policy affects health outcomes for members of devalued groups, including sexual minorities. In the current research, structural stigma is proposed as a moderating variable that strengthens deleterious associations between perceived discrimination and social relationship functioning. Hypotheses were tested in two cross-sectional studies, including both online (N = 214; Study 1) and community (N = 94; Study 2) samples of sexual minority men and women residing throughout the United States. Structural stigma was coded from policy related to sexual minority rights within each state. Confirming hypotheses, support for the moderating role of structural stigma was found via multilevel models across studies. Specifically, associations between perceived discrimination and friendship strain, loneliness (Study 1) and familial strain (Study 2) were increased for those who resided in states with greater levels of structural stigma and attenuated for those who resided in states with lesser levels. In Study 1, these results were robust to state-level covariates (conservatism and religiosity), but conservatism emerged as a significant moderator in lieu of structural stigma in Study 2. Results are discussed in the context of the shifting landscape of public policy related to sexual minority rights within the United States.

Heterosexual Ally Development in Counseling Psychologists

Fourteen pre-doctoral psychology interns and psychologists employed in university counseling settings who self-identified as heterosexual were interviewed concerning their experiences and development with ally work in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Guided by the tradition of interpretive phenomenological qualitative approach with constant comparison analysis serving as the strategy for inductive analysis, results indicated a significant variation concerning how the counseling psychologists viewed the ally experience. However, common meaning, challenges, and training experiences within their ally development were evident, with five main themes emerging: (a) ally meaning and essence, (b) ally growth and development, (c) ally challenges, (d) relationship between social justice and training, and (e) diversity within the LGBT community. Results highlight ongoing discussion, research, and training concerning ally development, with particular focus on modeling and mentorship.