Understanding Sexual Identity Therapy
This past year I’ve dealt with an interesting challenge that faces Christians who produce scholarship in controversial areas. My area is sexual identity, and I’ve been researching and providing services in this area for many years now. There are not many models for how to do integration in this area, and there are few people even doing it. So the challenges are plentiful.
Specifically, the topic I’m addressing is how to provide clinical services to people who are sorting out sexual identity issues. The model I’ve been developing (and the accompanying framework I’ve been co-developing with Warren Throckmorton) is referred to as sexual identity therapy (SIT). What is SIT and how did it come about?
SIT is essentially a client-centered and identity-focused approach to navigating sexual identity questions or concerns. It has often been contrasted to reorientation therapy and gay affirmative therapy. It is based on the idea of helping people reach congruence, so that they live and identify themselves in a way that is consistent with their beliefs and values. Sexual attractions or orientation may or may not change, but the overall emphasis is on identity. Read more
SIT Framework and Working with Mixed Orientation Couples
I (Mark) will be presenting the SIT Framework at the American Association of Christian Counselor’s (AACC) World Conference in Nashville on Friday, September 18th. The title of the talk is “Working with Mixed Sexual Orientation Couples.” Mixed orientation couples are couples in which one partner experiences same-sex attraction and the other does not. This presentation is a conceptual paper based on our review of the literature (I am co-presenting with Jill Kays, a doctoral student in clinical psychology whose dissertation deals with this subject) and a previous five-year longitudinal study of ‘resilient couples,’ or couples in mixed orientation marriages who stayed together and reported marital satisfaction.
Sexual Identity Therapy (SIT) represents one stage in our four-stage approach to working with mixed orientation couples. In this context, SIT is provided to the sexual minority who is making decisions about his or her identity and behavior, as well as the unique considerations in that type of relationship. Other stages address the important relational considerations, such as dealing with disclosure or discovery and, for those couples who are interested in the relationship, clinicians can follow recommendations for improving the marriage.
The conference location is the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville. The session is scheduled for 8:45-10:00am on Friday morning. I will post some of the PowerPoint slides on the site after the workshop.SIS
