The Potential Role for Group Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Internalized Homophobia in Gay Men

ABSTRACT In order to develop a healthy sense of self, gay males must developmentally move beyond feelings of self-hatred concerning their homosexuality and conquer feelings of internalized homophobia. The struggle with internalized homophobia occurs throughout the lifespan and is detrimental to the physical and mental health of gay men. In order to spur the creation of interventions, a literature review was conducted to show how group psychotherapy could be of service in ameliorating the root causes of shame central to internalized homophobia. While the literature focused on the importance to gay men of feeling a sense of belonging within the gay community—a concept similar to group cohesion—as central to creating affective interventions, group psychotherapy has yet to be sufficiently explored quantitatively in the treatment of internalized homophobia.