Queering Psychotherapy

by Jane C. Czyzselska (Editor)

LGBTIQ+ people are more likely than cisgender and heterosexual individuals to suffer with mental health issues, yet often have poorer therapeutic outcomes. Mainstream Eurocentric psychotherapeutic theories, developed largely by heterosexual, cisgender and white theorists, tend to see LGBTIQ+ as a singular group through this “othered” lens. Despite the undeniable value offered by many of these theories, they and those who use them – queer therapists included – can often pathologize, marginalize, misunderstand and diminish the flourishing and diversity of queer experience.



In this volume, editor and psychotherapist Jane C. Czyzselska speaks with practitioners and clients from diverse modalities and lived experiences, exploring and rethinking some of the unique challenges encountered in a world that continues to marginalize queer lives.



The contributors to Queering Psychotherapy present key insights and practical advice in a dynamic conversational format, providing intimate access to therapists’ personal and professional knowledge and reflections. This book is an invaluable training in itself.

Genres: Queer, Psychology, Nonfiction, Social Work, LGBT, Counselling

320 pages, Paperback

Published January 17, 2023

Reviews

[Reuben Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with any anthology type book with pieces by different authors, there’ll be some that hit the mark more than others for each individual reader, so I can’t claim to have *loved* every chapter of this, but I still think it deserves five stars overall just for its existence. Some parts were a bit too intellectual or pretentious for me, but on the whole it was pretty accessible and the format of much of it being quite conversational made it feel less like a textbook and more like a queer sharing circle in some ways. At the same time, the relative academicyness (a real word) of it and the fact that I can use it to reference in my assignments (as well as all the further reading that’s been sparked from references and discussion points within it) is a real plus point for me at the moment, and I think it’s such a needed addition to the field and should be on every therapist’s reading list. Particularly the chapters on sex work and intersex experiences were enlightening for me, and even where some other chapters didn’t necessarily teach me anything new, they articulated things in such brilliant ways and gave me a great, validating foundation to support my queer therapeutic stance.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best things I have ever read and almost every chapter was an absolute paradigm shift for me in terms of how I think about queer issues in therapy.

Throughout the book I got the impression it was all being done in dialogue with an imagined queer reader, which was deeply refreshing considering how many psychotherapy books on queer issues seem to presuppose a clueless cishet reader. Even coming at it from my own perspective as a trans lesbian trainee therapist, most of the content was absolutely mind blowing. It also engendered a sense of solidarity between me and other queer practitioners of various backgrounds and ethinicities as we navigate a very white cis-heteronormative profession, trying to do our best by our clients and make our (and their) voices heard.

In particular the two chapters on queer and trans kids put a name to a righteous fury and heartbreak I have felt for many years now in relation to the youngest and most vulnerable members of our communities. And the chapter on intersex issues really broadened my mind and encouraged me to seek out more literature on intersex experience. I came to realise that though I know a great deal more than the average person in that area (being trans and having intersex friends), what I knew was still incredibly basic and surface level.

I am so glad I bought this book, and I feel that I will be referring back to it for many years to come. It has also furnished me with an absolutely huge list of further material to look into.

[Meep · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant. Written in conversational style, with references thrown in, it is possible the first truly intersectional book I’ve seen on working in therapy that considers more than one axis at a time.

From considering ‘the client’ to considering ‘the therapist’ to considering the training environment, supervision and the wider world, it covers a lot. All trainees and qualified therapists should read this and it should (in my opinion), be required reading on any practitioner training.

[birdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential read and tool for interrogating and queering your therapeutic lens. The diverse perspectives explored throughout the text were challenging, liberating, affirming and informative. An important read for any therapist who is currently working with queer clients or wishes to work with queer clients.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to have this on my shelf. It's challengingly formatted for my tastes, being comprised of Q and A style conversations between the editor and the contributors in turn, but I came to really appreciate the permissiveness of this structure. Although part of me longed for a more academic 'chase this idea down until we've really nailed it', the bigger part really enjoyed the way the format allowed for a broad swathe of ideas to present themselves, without always offering answers or conclusions, but without being directionless either. Sort of like being in the sea, as opposed to a river.

Recommended for queers, therapists, and queer therapists.