ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the historical and societal forces that gave rise to the need for affirmative therapy. Specifically, we examine the intersectional effect of white supremacist, colonialist patriarchal ideas within the mental health system. Next, we explain how these forces have constrained our comprehension of the complexity and fluidity of gender and sexuality, and by extension, have contributed to the marginalization and oppression of those who do not conform to a traditional gender binary. We consider the field of MFT-founded in a challenge to the positivist, mechanistic worldview that has governed so much of modern psychological thought-and recommend it to fully extend its own systemic principles to develop interventions which mitigate the effects of oppression on individuals and within families. Finally, we identify and discuss several issues that affirmative therapy must grapple with if it is to become truly affirming to all lesbian, gay, queer bisexual, transgender, and gender-expansive people. In particular, as affirmative therapy continues to evolve, it must develop an intersectional lens and be intentionally anti-racist and anti-sexist in practice. It also must be able to imagine multiple pathways to the development of healthy sexuality, gender identity, and diverse constructions of intimate relationships, marriages, and families.
