ABSTRACT

Our workshops for gay and lesbian couples in Cape Cod's Provincetown, the major gay resort in the Northeast, always attract participants from diverse settings: large cities, small towns, rural hamlets. The P-Town workshops teach Imago theory and communication skills while enabling couples to understand and explore the effects of homophobia on their relationships. Although these workshops are process rather than subject oriented and couples may pick whatever issue is relevant to them, frequently those of homophobia and lack of mirroring while growing up are responsible for many of the problems that arise between couples. As therapists, who are themselves lesbian, we believe it is important to help couples become aware of the impact of these two issues on their relationship. Imago techniques offer a unique way to bring their often covert influence into the couple's consciousness and to help partners come to terms with the need to create opportunities for mirroring and other support.