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from Theological Issues and Clinical/Therapeutic Issues
How Should Psychologists Deal With
Religious, Sexually Confused Adolescents?
November 22, 2005 -
Psychologist Mark A. Yarhouse, PsyD, and Erica S. N. Tan, PsyD, have recently
published "Addressing Religious Conflicts in Adolescents Who Experience Sexual
Identity Confusion," in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, (2005,
Vol. 36, No. 5, 530-536).
In their article, the authors address how psychologists should deal with
religion when counseling religiously-oriented individuals who are dealing with
same-sex attractions. The authors define what is currently understood as sexual
orientation and sexual identity, and then briefly survey "religious identity
development" and the impact that religious belief has on how an adolescent views
his same-sex attractions.
A person's religious socialization can be a critical factor in the development
of a religious identity and to a related concept known as "spiritual identity,"
which is defined as a person's "sense of identity and worth in relation to God
and his or her place in the universe." These are often in conflict with a
person's sexual identity or orientation.
The authors observe that "adolescents often find that their faith communities do
not condone same-sex behavior or identification and that this often leads to
inner conflicts and conflicts with family members." This frequently results in
anger toward God or an attempt to find a faith community that supports same-sex
attractions. Often, the adolescent will leave his faith community altogether.
Yarhouse and Tan argue against a psychologist disputing a family's moral
concerns in counseling an individual with same-sex attractions. The authors
point to three basic reasons for avoiding this: "First, science cannot speak to
the moral status of sexual behavior ... Second, psychologists are to respect
religion, including traditional expressions of religion, and must be cautious
about working from a bias that might erroneously reject as prejudice what may
actually be formed judgments. Finally, such a posture may create a barrier
between the psychologist and the family that undermines the therapeutic
relationship."
The authors further argue against disputing religious beliefs and values for
both ethical and professional reasons. There may be logical, empirical, and
functional disputations. Logical disputations involve commenting on arbitrary or
unreasonable beliefs; empirical disputations involved pointing out when a belief
conflicts with facts; and functional disputations involve challenging beliefs
that lead to self-defeating thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
"In our view, clinicians should generally avoid disputing religious beliefs and
values for ethical and professional-clinical reasons," say the authors.
The authors conclude by observing: "As these recommendations suggest, a number
of challenges arise when psychologists consider the range of issues that may be
faced by adolescents who experience religious conflicts in light of their
same-sex attractions. Careful attention to the many ways in which religious
strain may come about, be explored, and eventually be resolved may help
psychologists provide services that are more relevant to adolescents
experiencing sexual identity confusion and religious conflicts."
Mark Yarhouse is Director of the Institute
for the Study of Sexual Identity at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Updated: 8 February 2008
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