ABSTRACT
Social workers preparing to do individual practice with men who have sex with men (MSM) need to understand that these clients present at any social service or health care agency or in private practice seeking direct or clinical social work services. MSM may be at any stage of the life cycle, and it is crucial that social workers do not make any assumptions about the nature of these clients or their presenting problems prior to doing a complete psychosocial assessment. In addition, it is important for social workers to understand that men who simply have sex with other men, repeatedly and over time, may never identify themselves as homosexual or gay (Kinsey, Pomeroy, & Martin, 1948). It cannot be stressed enough that for social workers to effectively engage with sexual minority clients they should not confuse sexual behaviors or even affectional preference with sexual identity.
