Specific Sexual Issue: Same-Sex Attraction Case Study 1
Christian Gentil
School of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Liberty University
Author Note
Christian Gentil
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Christian Gentil
Email: Cwgentil@liberty.ed
Specific Sexual Issue: Same-Sex Attraction Case Study
Specific Sexual Issue: Same-Sex Attraction Case Study 2
Specific Sexual Issue: Same-Sex Attraction Case Study
Client Background and Presenting Problems
Chris is a young college student that is seeking counseling for the anxiety that he has
been feeling over the past few months. Chris recently moved away to college, and is living on his
own for the first time. Chris is a Christian and comes from a very traditional Christian family, but
he struggles with same-sex attraction. Since moving away from his family and coming to
college, he has found himself in many situations where he has been tempted to act upon his
attractions. Chris has begun feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, shame, and confusion. Since he
comes from such a traditional Christian home, he knows as a Christian it is wrong to act on these
attractions, and feels shameful whenever he experiences them. He is also attracted to women as
well, which has made things very confusing for him. He fears how his parents and friends will
react if he ever tells them the truth about his attractions. Chris also finds himself struggling with
what he really believes. His faith has always been a part of his family and what they told him to
believe. Until this point, Chris has not made his faith his own.
Chris is very hesitant to come in seeking counseling for many reasons. He comes from a
very traditional Chinese family, and grew up in a very rich and luxurious environment. Chris has
a hard time identifying as an individual. His culture has taught him to identify as a group and not
as an individual. He fears that it might be difficult for counseling to be effective in helping him.
He finds it difficult to separate himself from the identity that has been forced upon him. He also
fears that if his family finds out that he is in counseling, they will disapprove and try to find
some way to get information on why he is seeking counseling. Yet, even in his fear, he wants his
family to understand and love him, regardless of his attractions.
Specific Sexual Issue: Same-Sex Attraction Case Study 3
Theoretical Conceptualization and Counseling Approach
After hearing the clients background and understanding the presenting problems that he
faces, counseling would be a very viable option for him. As Chris joins counseling, the biggest
technique and approach I would take on counseling him would be helping him to understand his
faith, where his identity lays, and how to root his identity in Christ, and understand his sexuality
from a biblical standpoint in order to address his anxiety and relationships with his friends and
family.
First, Chris will need to address what he believes about God and Christianity. As Chris
grew up in a Christian home, he has a very strong knowledge of the bible and of God. Yet, this
knowledge has always been his family's faith and understanding of God and not something he
has ever made his own. It is very important that Chris be able to articulate what he believes for
his own self and not what his family believes. This is very important, so that he can begin to
understand his Identity in God and what God says about what he struggles with. A good
technique would be to have Chris write out what he believes about God.
After Chris is able to clearly articulate what he believes about God, it will be important to
start to identify where his identity lays. As Chris has already described that he feels shameful and
confused about having these attractions because he knows they are wrong for a Christian to feel,
this shows signs that he still Identifies himself as a Chrisitan. The goal would be to have Chris be
able to walk into each situation where he feels anxious or tempted to act upon those attractions
with a strong identity of who he is in Christ so that he can better battle them. One technique that
could be used in this instance is the technique of homework associated with the Cognitive
Behavioral Theory. By assigning homework, it provides an individual opportunity to reinforce
what they have learned with a session, apply those solutions, test ideas, and practice those
Specific Sexual Issue: Same-Sex Attraction Case Study 4
important skills (Dozois, 2010). In the sessions, I would have him try to identify situations
where he finds himself anxious and tempted, and take time to stop and remind himself of who
Christ says that he is. Then I would give him homework in which he would do the same thing,
when he finds himself tempted or anxious throughout the week, he stops and takes time to
remind himself of who he is in Christ.
Once Chris has been able to clearly state what he believes about God and is able to
remind himself of his Identity in Christ, then it will be important to address what the bible says
about same-sex attraction. I would start by walking him through Genesis 1 & 2 and walking
through what God’s intent was for sex and sexuality. Once Chris shows a clear understanding of
this, I will walk through 1 Corinthians 6 and make sure that he understands that any of the sins
talked about, including homosexuality, is sin and anyone who takes part in this, will not inherit
the kingdom of God. But there are many who have turned from these desires and have found
satisfaction in God (King James Version, 2017, 1 Corinthians 6). This will be important for him
to understand and know that having these attractions and temptations are not a sin, but acting
upon them will be a sinful act.
There are a few different outcomes that are to be expected from the counseling that Chris
will partake in. The first thing is that Chris will be able to articulate what he believes about God,
what the bible says about his struggles, and be rooted in a strong identity in Christ. After having
practiced reminding himself of his identity in Christ when he faces anxious situations, another
outcome would be that he will be able to address his friends and family and the anxiety that is
built up there. He will be able to open up about his struggles and how it has pushed him in his
faith and understanding of God, and also know that no matter what the outcome is, he is loved
and accepted in Christ and that will never change.
Specific Sexual Issue: Same-Sex Attraction Case Study 5
References
King James Bible. (2017) King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
(Original work published 1769)
Dozois, D. J. A. (2010). Understanding and Enhancing the Effects of Homework in
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 17(2), 157-
161. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2850.2010.01205.x
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