| Abstract: | Summary Gay men live in a culture of trauma in the United States. Phase Oriented Psychotherapy offers an integrative treatment model for helping gay men overcome the helplessness and disconnections that result from trauma. Successful recovery in this model yields a basic cognitive shift from indiscriminately attributing traumatic significance to present events to accurately differentiating discomfort from danger and responding to situations with aware choice. The model is a synthesis of the phase-oriented model of recovery with the principles of gay-affirmative psychotherapy. Recovery occurs over stages: (a) Stabilization of symptoms and the development of coping skills; followed by (b) Integration of dissociated or fragmented aspects of experience (including affects, sensations, beliefs, memories, identity); leading to (c) New Self and Relational development. This type of work will present distinct challenges to both therapist and client. Specific techniques are offered to aid the therapist both to assist the client and protect him/herself. |
