lonely and desperate

Despite widespread protests and more than 19 states barring same sex marriages, many licensed professional counselors are now offering gay-lesbian-specific sessions and even pre marriage counseling. Whether it’s called a “marriage,” a “domestic partnership” or a “civil union,” this new market is opening to ensure healthy relationships and normalized households. As more gay couples opt for adoption and child rearing, it’s become increasingly more important for a family marriage counselor to offer same sex couple services too.

In some ways, a same sex marriage will suffer the same trials and tribulations as their heterosexual counterpart, as both will argue about finances, power struggles, household chores, child rearing, autonomy and intimacy. Also, a 2008 study by the American Psychological Association found that same sex couples are just as happy and committed in their romantic relationships as heterosexual couples.

However, the American Psychological Association study also found that couples in same sex marriages were happier in their relationships and better at resolving conflicts. A second study by the University of Washington, San Diego State University and the University of Vermont found that “Same-sex couples were more satisfied with their relationships, reported more positive feelings toward their partners, and reported less conflict than married heterosexual couples.” They also noted that gay and lesbian couples in civil marriages were more likely to stay together than those who were just in relationships.

No doubt, those in same sex marriages face a set of unique issues that heterosexual couples do not. For instance, gay unions are not normalized and therefore these couples may not feel the social pressure to stay together. These couples are already labeled “deviant” by the majority of society, whether they break up or remain together. They may also face public persecution or scrutiny from disapproving family members.

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