Gay Counseling
Under Gay Counseling a target group-specific psychosocial is advisory - and therapeutic approach understood which is available in Germany since the mid-1970s. This approach emerged from the gay and lesbian movement. Its primary goal is the promotion and acceptance of homosexual lifestyles in the face of experienced and alleged social discrimination - which is seen as the cause of the difficulties experienced. As part of their coming-out , those seeking advice should learn to accept their homosexuality and to assert themselves confidently.
Unconditional acceptance and empathetic understanding of homosexual lifestyles are required from the therapist or counselor. It is assumed that only those affected, as openly homosexual role models, can offer credible help to those seeking advice, as they are aware of their own homosexual and homophobic aspects and can use them based on in-depth self-awareness .
The offer in this regard has already established itself in many German cities with the help of state support. An example of such a counseling facility is the gay counseling service at the Magnus Hirschfeld Centrum (mhc) in Hamburg, whose range of services includes:
- Telephone, personal and email advice for individuals and couples
- Help with coming-out problems
- Thematic self-awareness and self-help groups
- Mediation in therapy, to doctors and lawyers
- Events on different topics of gay life
- Support of networking within the subculture
literature
- Lüder Tietz (Ed.): Understanding homosexuality. Critical concepts for psychological and educational practice (Waldschlösschen Edition, Volume 5). 1st edition MännerschwarmSkript-Verlag, Hamburg 2004, ISBN 3-935596-59-6 , p. 60 ff.