Integrating Identities: Facilitating a Support Group for LGBTQ Students on a Christian College Campus. Issue 4 (7th August 2016) - Vespone, Brianna M.
ABSTRACT: College can be a challenging time for young adults, as many are experiencing life on their own for the first time, adjusting to new lifestyles, new social groups, and new ways to express themselves. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) college students, the challenges are increased as they face harassment, discrimination, and struggles with identity. For LGBTQ students on a Christian campus, the integration of spiritual and sexual/gender identities can pose even more challenges. Research has shown that LGBTQ individuals are at a higher risk for mental health issues, as are those who fail to integrate spiritual and sexual/gender identities. This article will use a review of the current literature to address the need for LGBTQ support groups on Christian college campuses as a means to help these students resolve internal identity conflicts. This article also will demonstrate a rationale for why these groups are needed, identify specific interventions that can be effective, provide implications for counselors, and offer suggestions for future research.