A Model of Affirmative Intersectional Rehabilitation Counseling With Sexual Minorities

Abstract

Intersectionality is a framework that considers the experience of possessing multiple intersecting identities, as well as any socially reinforced advantages and disadvantages associated with multiple group membership (Cole, 2009). Although intersecting identities can create opportunities of privilege (e.g., being a White man or a physically able bodied woman), there also exist instances of oppression that might exacerbate the experience of stigma for an individual with multiple marginalized identities (

Queering Disability: Exploring the Resilience of Sexual and Gender Minority Persons Living With Disabilities

“…As self-acceptance functioned as a resilience maximizer for participants, rehabilitation counselors should evaluate, support, and affirm a client's sexual, gender, and disability identities, to promote greater client self-acceptance. Identity development is essential to fostering selfacceptance, so rehabilitation counselors should seek training and supervision regarding disability and sexual minority concerns, to include reviewing critical disability identity literature (see Forber-Pratt et al, 2019) and learning more about the Affirmative Intersectional Rehabilitation Counseling Model and other counseling practices that support the unique needs of SGMPWDs (see Dispenza et al, 2016Dispenza et al, , 2017.…”

Disability and Sexual Orientation Disclosure on Employment Interview Ratings: An Analogue Study

“…The results of this study illustrate that sexual minority persons with disabilities can be negatively evaluated during the hiring process, and differentially evaluated when compared with persons who never disclose their sexual orientation. While simultaneously affirming both sexual orientation and disability identities (Dispenza, Viehl, et al, 2016), rehabilitation counselors may find it helpful to inform consumers and clients about how stigma and discrimination could impact the employment interview process. Rehabilitation counselors are also encouraged to help their consumer and clients explore the outcomes of disclosure during the employment interview, and ways of coping with potential unintended adverse consequences.…”

“…Despite the disparate health rates impacting sexual minority persons, the work-related experiences of sexual minority persons living with disabilities have received sparing attention in the rehabilitation literature (Dispenza, Viehl, Sewell, Burke, & Gaudet, 2016). Sexual minority persons already encounter various forms of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination throughout their career-lifespan trajectory (Dispenza, Brown, & Chastain, 2016).…”

Reflections From Applying Intersectionality to a Constructivist Grounded Theory Study on Intimate Partner Violence and Trauma

“…Within the field of social work, there are few published studies using both intersectionality and CGT. However, in health-related fields, studies combining intersectional and CGT approaches are more common (Dispenza et al, 2016; MacDonnell et al, 2017). Some intersectionality scholars cite the use of GT methods specifically for data analysis (Bowleg, 2008; Galdas et al, 2012), along with the usefulness of GT combined with a critical lens in understanding issues such as service access (MacDonnell et al, 2017).…”