The Equality Complex : Lesbians in Therapy - A Guide to Anti-Oppressive Practice

This original and timely book breaks through the conceptual barriers between lesbians and therapy, and directs the focus of attention to real experiences of one-to-one practice.
The first guide to therapy to be written from the perspectives of lesbian clients, it is also the first to demonstrate the fundamental equalities elements of the National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications standards (NVQs/SVQs) in counselling.
Anti-oppressive principles are applied throughout. The conventional practitioner-teacher training text format is purposefully inverted, and creates the more empowering atmosphere of an experiential workshop or a self-directed training course.
Astute observations by contributors of disempowering and heterosexist therapy methods or attitudes, and equally of good practice, are followed by an introduction to the anti-oppressive approach and a series of counselling examples, including supervision.
This casework develops spontaneously from themes volunteered by the contributors, with each session including sub-textual comments by both client and practitioner. Theoretical discussion is kept to a minimum. This accessible book is an ideal guide for all women who perceive therapy as a resource for exploring the nature of sexual identity during periods of personal and social transitions.