Children of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) parents are not necessarily any more likely than children of heterosexual parents to have mental health difficulties that lead them to seek professional advice. Nonetheless, children of LGBQ parents sometimes do have mental health problems or encounter difficult challenges that lead them into therapy or counseling. Ironically, one of the pressures and difficulties that children of LGBQ parents may face is the need to keep up an appearance of all being wonderfully well, out of fear that any mental health difficulties would be attributed to their family structure. This entry discusses issues therapists should be aware of and approaches to consider when working with children of LGBQ-parent families.

Regardless of theoretical framework and clinical approach, therapists should seek ...