Couples therapy with gay and lesbian clients: an analysis of important clinical issues.

This article reviews and critiques couples therapy research that has focused on gay and lesbian relationships. In conducting our examination, we felt that it was imperative to address the sociopolitical climate that affects same-sex couples and that historically impeded this area of research. Upon addressing the therapist's role and comparing heterosexual relationships to same-sex relationships, this article presents the theoretical formulations and empirical findings that have informed gay and lesbian couples therapy research. We also present limitations of the current literature and suggestions for future research.