ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the use of a gay affirmative treatment (GAT) approach in a case involving a gay man who was a victim of sexual assault in adolescence. The case example explores when to introduce GAT, how to introduce GAT, and to what degree to use GAT. As such, GAT can be integrated into a number of established models of clinical work. The stance is simply that there is nothing pathological about having a homosexual or bisexual orientation. In the late 1980s and into the late 1990s, GAT was about the removal of internalized homophobia, and developing and consolidating a gay identity. Several models of identity development were produced by psychology. Before the 21st century, GAT concerned itself with internalized homophobia. Now, GAT concerns itself with heterosexism. Sex offender-specific treatment is based on relapse prevention and is designed to address sexually deviant and abusive behavior.
