Tina M. Timm

Identity and Agency: The Meaning and Value of Pregnancy for Young Black Lesbians

Young sexual minority women disproportionately experience pregnancy, repeat pregnancy, and become parents, when compared with their heterosexual peers. Black sexual minority women who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are a part of three demographic groups likely to experience adolescent pregnancy. A paucity of research has examined why these young women become pregnant. The authors begin to address this gap by examining the meaning of pregnancy from young women’s perspective. Modified grounded theory was used to analyze data from interviews with 14 young Black sexual minority women, aged 16–24. Pregnancies, intentional and unintentional, were common among the participants and within their sexual minority community. Pregnancy affirmed sexual identity and same-sex relationships as well as garnered sexual and reproductive agency. Participants’ pregnancy experiences contradicted the belief that young women sought or valued pregnancy because it provided access to heterosexual privilege. Although the main functions of intentional pregnancies did not differ drastically from those of young heterosexual women, we argue that these young women’s pregnancy and parenting desires may be magnified because of the particular realities they face as sexual minority women. Further, we situate our analysis within the context of a Black cultural environment and argue that pregnancy and motherhood may be adaptive subsistence strategies for women who are largely socially devalued.

The Effects of Differentiation of Self, Adult Attachment, and Sexual Communication on Sexual and Marital Satisfaction: A Path Analysis

This article explores the relations among differentiation of self, adult attachment, sexual communication, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction, in a path analysis model. In a sample of 205 married adults, the path analysis results indicated that (a) differentiation of self had no direct effect on marital or sexual satisfaction, although it was significantly related to sexual communication; (b) adult attachment had a direct effect on marital satisfaction, but not on sexual satisfaction; (c) sexual communication is a mediating variable; (d) sexual communication was positively related to sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction; and (e) no gender differences existed in the model.

SELF-OF-THE-THERAPIST WORK: A BALANCE BETWEEN REMOVING RESTRAINTS AND IDENTIFYING RESOURCES

The authors propose that self-of-the-therapist work is most productive when therapists and supervisors approach family of origin issues and historical life events in a balanced way and suggest that they move to an approach that ideally liberates restraints posed by self-of-the-therapist issues, while at the same time accesses resources available to therapists because of the same issues. This is a shift from the primarily restraint focus that has dominated self-of-the-therapist work. This paper also provides personal experiences of the authors, guidelines on how to create safety and balance, as well as practical examples of self-of-the-therapist exercises.

The Role of the Therapist in Therapeutic Change: Does Therapist Gender Matter?

ABSTRACT Clients are often matched with therapists based on certain criteria. These may include characteristics such as age, race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender. This article reviews the literature on the role of gender matching in therapy. While there is still much to be learned about therapist variables in the change process, gender alone does not appear to influence clinical outcomes directly, except in some cases for adolescents. However, research suggests that other variables may moderate or mediate the impact of gender in the process of therapy, especially when working with couples and families. This article focuses on the field of couples and family therapy and how gender affects the therapy process when there is more than one client in the room.

“Do I Really Have to Talk About Sex?” Encouraging Beginning Therapists to Integrate Sexuality into Couples Therapy

Unfortunately, sexuality continues to be a neglected topic in therapy with couples. This is problematic because sexuality is an integral part of a marital relationship. Not talking about it sends a message that it is taboo and ignores valuable clinical information about how the couple negotiates an important form of intimacy. One of the biggest barriers to productive, therapeutic conversations about sexuality is a lack of training; many mental health professionals simply are not adequately trained to engage couples in conversations about their sexual relationship. Using the PLISSIT (Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions, Intensive Therapy) Model as a foundation, this article encourages beginning therapists to integrate conversations about sexuality into their clinical work with couples. This article includes suggestions that will increase their comfort level with the topic of sexuality, as well as specific questions for use during intake and ongoing treatment.

Experiences Delivering a Marital Intervention for Couples With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Previous researchers have indicated that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are vulnerable to relationship stress, lower marital satisfaction, and potential relationship dissolution. We describe the experiences of three couples who participated in a 10-week, in-home couples therapy intervention using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Each couple and their progress through the intervention are described using therapist and supervisor reflections, and qualitative evaluation interviews with the participants after termination. Based on the experiences of the couples, we conclude that couples would benefit from an in-home couples therapy intervention aimed to strengthen their relationships.

Sexual Debut of Young Black Women Who Have Sex With Women Implications for STI/HIV Risk

Young Black women continue to be at high risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, little is known about the risks specifically to young Black women who primarily have sex with women (YWSW). As part of a larger sexual health project, in-depth qualitative interviews were completed with 14 Black women ages 16-24, who identified as lesbian. Using within and cross-case analysis, this article explores their consensual sexual debut experiences with both males and females. The most obvious indicator of risk was the almost universal lack of safer sex practices. Other risks include the context of the debuts including young ages of debut, lack of adult supervision, use of alcohol, and lack of agency in female debuts. The two motivations for debuting with males that may put young women at increased risk are intent to get pregnant and the need to “cover up” or “test” sexual attraction.

Exploring Core Issues in Adoption: Individual and Marital Experience of Adoptive Mothers

Theoretical literature on adoption discusses what are known as the “core issues in adoption.” The original core issues have been modified specifically for the adoptive family system and include 1) loss and grief, 2) entitlement, 3) claiming, 4) unmatched expectations, 5) family integration, 6) bonding and attachment, 7) identity, and 8) mastery and control. Using a self-report survey, this descriptive research assessed the degree to which adoptive mothers (N = 104) reported experiencing these core issues individually, and in their marriages. Results indicated that all of the core issues were experienced, but in varying degrees. Although challenging, some participants reported that their marriage was strengthened as a result of having encountered these issues. Qualitative data illuminated what was difficult and supported the need for skill-building marital interventions for adoptive parents.

What Couples Who Adopt Children From Child Welfare Want Professionals to Know About Supporting Their Marriages

This article provides suggestions for supporting the marriages of couples who adopt children from the child welfare system. These suggestions emerged from qualitative data obtained from 22 spouses in 4 focus groups. Data reveal that couples want professionals to address the impact of adoption on the marital relationship prior to placement of children, to facilitate contact among adoptive couples that focuses on couple relationships in addition to parenting issues after children have been placed, and to actively support the marital relationship in postplacement/postadoption services even when childrens behaviors or needs constitute the presenting problem. Taken together, results indicate that it is appropriate for a broad range of professionals to address the couple relationship throughout the adoption process.

Revisiting the Sexual Genogram

The sexual genogram is an essential tool for assessing both transgenerational and current issues regarding sexuality. While the original article on constructing a sexual genogram is comprehensive (Hof & Berman, 1986), not much has been written about it since that time. On the 25th anniversary of the sexual genogram, we wanted to revisit it with an eye on contemporary sexual issues. Several updates are suggested, including comprehensive, inclusive questions to elicit information about the diversity of gender expression, sexual orientation, and sexual communication. Additionally, we encourage the use of the sexual genogram in all forms of treatment (individual and couple), as well as integrating a sexual timeline to understand sexual development over the course of the clients lifetime.