ABSTRACT
Most of the problems presented by same-sex couples are identical to those presented by heterosexual couples, and the therapist needs to distinguish when they are related to LGBT-specic challenges.1 Similarly, LGBT clients with substance abuse problems experience many of the same issues that all substance abusing clients experience, and the therapist must distinguish between those that do and do not pertain to sexual orientation (Matthews & Selvidge, 2005). As summarized by Connolly (2004), “As therapists we must discern how much of the presenting problem stems from societal oppression and internalized homophobia versus normal and universal couple dynamics” (p. 10).
