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SAME-GENDER ATTRACTION GUIDEBOOK
Introduction
Checklist for Clergy
Guide for Caregivers
Appendix (Handouts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRINCIPLES OF INTERVIEWING

SEEK GOD’S INSPIRATION. Seek and follow God’s promptings. Believe in your ability to make a difference.

SUITABLE  LOCATION. Interviews should be held in a formal setting, however be flexible enough to meet a person’s need.

ESTABLISH A SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE. Develop and maintain a spiritual atmosphere for the visit. Include meditation, prayer, scripture reading, and church involvement as part of an on going plan for change.

ESTABLISH A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. Make the effort to help the person feel at ease and to realize you are genuinely interested in helping them overcome the problem.

ACCEPT YOUR LIMITATIONS. You are not expected to know everything about same gender attraction. Follow the steps in this booklet.

AVOID LABELING. The words homosexual, lesbian, and gay are adjectives to describe particular thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Refrain from using these words as nouns to identify particular conditions or specific persons. It is wrong to use these words to denote a condition, because this implies that a person is consigned by birth to a circumstance in which he or she has no choice in respect to the critically important matter of sexual behavior.

EMOTIONAL CONTROL. Remain positive at all times. The information you hear may be disturbing. Even if the individual becomes upset, control your own emotions.

INSTILL HOPE. Be positive and communicate hope throughout the interviewing process. In all situations it is possible to diminish same gender desires and stop same gender actions if the individual is committed.

BE PATIENT AND PERSISTENT. Patience, encouragement, and persistence are important. Let the individual and the family know you are willing to work with them for an extended period of time.

SET GOALS AND FOLLOW-UP VISITS. Involve the individual in setting goals. Monitor the progress on these assignments.  Set follow-up visits as needed.