COUNSELING OF ADOLESCENTS WITH A HOMOSEXU AL ORIENTATION AND THEIR PARENTS

In counseling of adolescents with a homosexual orientation and their p arents we are not only confronted with the typical conflicts of this d evelopmental phase as those between autonomy and dependence. Moreover we are concerned with specific problems which - because of the coming out - result for the adolescent himself as well as for the whole famil y system. It is important in such counselings that the following three questions are considered: the characteristic tendencies of separation of the adolescent and the parental reactions to it, the parental acce ptance of the homosexual orientation of their son, and the coming out process for the adolescent and the family as a whole.