Bereavement counseling for gay individuals.

This article is intended to sensitize therapists to the particular concerns of the gay bereaved. Clinicians need to be aware of and accept homosexual and lesbian lifestyles as well as knowledgeable about grieving procedures before engaging in a therapeutic relationship with gay bereaved individuals. If the therapist has minimal information about either of these areas, the patient should be referred to another clinician who is more informed. The therapist and patient together should explore the possible mechanisms for a bereaved lesbian or gay man to cope with within his or her social environment. While it is now less of a problem than in the recent past, there is still little awareness of the specific problems homosexuals encounter and society has few structures to deal with them. Homosexual and lesbian couples who mourn their mates need to be seen and see themselves as worthy of support.