Telling our story: a narrative therapy approach to helping lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people with a learning disability identify and strengthen positive self-identity stories

摘要

Historically, and to a somewhat lesser extent presently, people with learning disabilities have had little or no voice in the stories other people (particularly professionals) tell about them and their lives. Four psychology workshops, based on a narrative therapy approach, were run for a group of people with learning disabilities who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) who regularly attend a support group called 'Mingle'. The workshops invited members to tell their stories, especially the parts not usually told. The aim was to support people to identify and strengthen positive self-identities. Workshops were facilitated by two trainee clinical psychologists within a Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT).