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Little attention has been given to how therapist cultural humility may benefit lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. Thus, the current study examined whether therapist cultural humility predicted stronger client-therapist working alliances in a sample of 333 LGB individuals. LGB identity centrality (IC; the extent to which a person's LGB identity is central to their overall identity) and LGB identity affirmation (IA; the extent to which an LGB person associates their sexual orientation with positive thoughts or feelings) were considered as moderators. Therapist cultural humility predicted stronger working alliances between LGB clients and their therapist; however, this association was not moderated by IC or IA. The present results suggest that LGB clients who rated their therapists as culturally humble toward their sexual orientation also reported stronger working alliances with their therapist, regardless of IC or IA. Lastly, exploratory analyses revealed that lower therapist cultural humility ratings were associated with greater sexual orientation acceptance concerns, internalized homonegativity, difficulties coming out, and sexual orientation concealment. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed. Future research should consider the benefits of therapist cultural humility for other gender and sexually diverse persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriating the mythology of Satan as a god of carnality, modern Satanism began as a new religious movement in 1966 with the founding of the Church of Satan. Since then, the religion has experienced numerous schisms and factions, most recently with the formation of The Satanic Temple in 2012. Despite differences in the role of esoteric elements in the religion and other theological or governance reasons for division, Satanists are united in their shared values of sexual liberation and viewing sexuality as a form of authentic self-expression important to their religious beliefs. Conceptualizing Satanism as a non-dominant, sex-positive religion, sex and relationship therapists should understand how Satanists' sexuality can benefit from a religious belief in sexual liberation, but can also be hindered by religious minority stress. The historical development of modern Satanism, the intersections of Satanism and gender, sexual orientation, and relationships, and guidelines for therapists working with Satanist clients are discussed. Modern Satanism is an oft-misunderstood new religious movement. This paper provides an overview of the development of Satanism with special attention to its beliefs and practices relevant to sexuality. Guidelines are presented for sex and relationship therapists on how to appropriately assess and treat Satanist clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern Satanism is an oft-misunderstood and stigmatized minority religion that has largely been viewed by mental health professionals through a lens of deviance. Understanding Satanists’ experiences with this stigmatized identity is absent in the current psychological literature. Conceptualizing Satanism within the minority stress and rejection-identification models, a nonrandom sample of 1,272 self-identified Satanists were surveyed about their strength of identity, anticipated discrimination, and depressive symptoms. Results indicated that aspects of Satanist identity (centrality and in-group ties) positively correlated with anticipated discrimination, and other aspects (in-group ties and in-group affect) negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. Additionally, in-group ties moderated the relationship between anticipated discrimination and depressive symptoms, suggesting that Satanists who have social support from other Satanists are less affected by the depressive repercussions of anticipated discrimination. Implications for mental health professionals treating Satanists presenting with religious minority stressors and depressive symptoms are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study assesses ageism and heterosexism relating to older adult sexual activity within long-term care facilities. To assess caregiver reactions, 153 residential care facility staff members read one of three vignettes. Each vignette described a scenario in which a staff member walks in on two residents (male/female, male/male, or female/female) engaging in sexual activity. Although no main effects were discovered for vignette type, exploratory analyses revealed that the facility where participants were employed was significantly related to their ratings of approval. Furthermore, an interaction effect between vignette and facility types was also discovered for caregivers’ approval of sexual activity among residents. Additionally, a strong overall approval rating of older adult sexuality was reported by staff members. The results of this study warrant that further research is necessary regarding older adults’ perception of caregiver bias, as well as further investigation of caregivers’ perceptions of older adults’ sexual activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies suggest an association between older adults’ sexual health and quality of life. Despite this, previous research suggests a lack of assessment of older adults’ sexual health. To understand this gap, we examined predictors of practicing psychologists’ attitudes to and assessment of the sexual health of older adults. This study utilized purposive online sampling to recruit 119 US practicing psychologists (median years licensed=11). Participants completed questionnaires on sociodemographics, education and training, and were randomized to a vignette condition depicting a middle-aged or older adult with mood and sexual health concerns. Following the vignette, participants completed a survey on attitudes and their willingness to assess patients’ sexual health. Participants’ vignette condition, sociodemographics, clinical education, experience, and specialty did not predict attitudes toward older adults’ sexuality. However, results indicated that negative attitudes toward older adults’ sexuality (p=.01) and sexuality education and training (p=.001) predicted psychologists’ willingness to assess sexual health. Results indicate that in order to increase psychologists’ assessments of older adults’ sexual health, interventions should focus on changing attitudes toward older adults’ sexuality, and increasing psychologists’ sexuality education and training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]