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Of coarse, treatment professionals always do a good job of helping GLBT clients be honest about who they are, right?  Well, not always.  In fact, some clients have reported that their counselors actually told them not to disclose their sexual orientation in groups.  Some of the reasons the counselors gave for this advice included:  ”You are here for your [issues], not your sexual orientation.”  Or, “you can tell me, but other staff / clients would not be as accepting.”  Unfortunately, there are horror stories from the other side of the spectrum – clients whose counselors forced them to disclose their sexual orientation in group, only to be tormented and abused by peers outside of the group.

It is no wonder that many GLBT clients in treatment report feelings of isolation, fear, depression, anxiety, anger, and difficulty trusting others.  The pervasive effects of cultural victimization becomes clearer once the victimization is identified as abuse.