Category: Couples / Close Relationships
Tatiana Gray, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Springfield College
Worcester, Massachusetts
Shelby Scott, Ph.D.
University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Melissa Gates, M.S. (she/her/hers)
Doctoral Student
Binghamton University
SUNY Binghamton
Vestal, New York
Katherine Lenger, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Brown University & Providence VA Medical Center
Providence, Rhode Island
Ellora Vilkin, M.A.
Doctoral Student
Stony Brook University
New York, New York
Tatiana Gray, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Springfield College
Worcester, Massachusetts
There is a wealth of research that indicates that the strength of peoples' intimate relationships contribute to their overall health and resilience, particularly in times of crisis and emergency (Cheung, 2008; Hartling, 2008; Badr, Acitelli, & Taylor, 2007). Sexual minority people possess significant protective factors to effectively cope with intense stress in their relationships (Connoly, 2005) while continuing to face significant stigma and discrimination that diminishes their access to effective healthcare (Baptiste-Roberts, Oranuba, Werts, & Edwards, 2017). Given that, there is a significant need to understand LGBTQ+ couples’ access to care and adapt existing interventions to meet the needs of this traditionally underserved community.
In this symposium we will present recent work toward more thoroughly understanding the unique stressors faced by LGBTQ relationships and providing a framework for affirmative program adaptations to better meet their needs. First, Presenter 1 will present on relationship help seeking behaviors, perceived helpfulness of resources, and barriers to couple therapy for sexual minority couples. Next, Dr. 2 will present results on a relationship intervention for the particularly vulnerable community of Appalachia’s LGBTQ couples. Specifically, she will explore (1) how same-sex and different-sex couples’ present on relationship functioning to a brief-relationship intervention and (2) how these couples change differently across the intervention. Third, Presenter 3 will present the adaptation of an evidence-based relationship education workshop for the specific needs of LGBTQ+ emerging adults. Lastly, Dr. 4 will present findings from the adaptation of the Relationship Checkup for sexual minority couples, specifically inclusive protocol revisions, changes to intimacy and depressive symptoms pre to post Checkup, and couple experiences of acceptance, affirmation, and alliance.
This symposium will be relevant to researchers, students, and clinicians interested in learning more about how to meet the needs of LGBTQ relationships. Each presentation will address a unique perspective on meeting the needs of and lowering barriers for sexual and gender minority individuals to access relationship healthcare. This series will close with discussant Dr. 5. Dr. 5's work focuses broadly on the development of culturally sensitive interventions for same sex couples, with a specific emphasis on resilience and coping within marginalized and oppressed populations. Dr. 5's program of research and clinical expertise make her ideally suited to provide an overview and analysis of the presentations for meeting the needs of traditionally underserved sexual minority relationships in the service of increasing health, well-being, and resilience in the face of significant contextual stressors.
Presenter: Melissa Gates, PhD – Binghamton University
Co-author: Melissa Gates, PhD – Binghamton University
Co-author: Eileen Barden, MS – Binghamton University (SUNY)
Co-author: Dana Ergas, MS – Binghamton University (SUNY)
Co-author: Richard Mattson, PhD – Binghamton University (SUNY)
Co-author: Sarah Young, PhD – Binghamton University (SUNY)
Co-author: Sean Massey, PhD – Binghamton University (SUNY)
Co-author: Christina Balderrama-Durbin, Ph.D. – Binghamton University
Presenter: Katherine A. Lenger, Ph.D. – Brown University & Providence VA Medical Center
Co-author: Olive Schubert, PhD – University of Denver
Co-author: Erica Mitchell, Ph.D. – University of Tennessee
Co-author: Patricia Roberson, Ph.D. – University of Tennessee
Co-author: Kristina Coop Gordon, Ph.D. – University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Co-author: James Cordova, Ph.D. – Clark University
Presenter: Ellora Vilkin, M.A. – Stony Brook University
Co-author: Timothy J. Sullivan, M.A. – Stony Brook University
Co-author: Howard Huang, M.A. – Stony Brook University
Co-author: Joanne Davila, Ph.D. – Stony Brook University
Presenter: Tatiana D. Gray, Ph.D. – Springfield College
Co-author: Rhea Bhatia, M.S. – Springfield College
Co-author: Zev Spiegel, B.S. – Springfield College
Co-author: Grayson Stevens, B.S. – Springfield College
Co-author: Taylor Dovala, Ph.D. – Framework Associates