Helping Women With Same-Sex Attraction
By Janelle M. Hallman, MA, LPC

I. The Fundamental Need for an SSA Woman: Attachment and Self
The quality of the attachment between a little girl and her mother (biological or step) will directly affect the girl’s growth and development of her core self. Solid, secure and ongoing attachment will typically yield a solid and secure self within a growing and developing girl. Having a secure and ongoing attachment in her first and most primalrelationship will also allow the girl to expect and experience secure and ongoing attachments in her future relationships. Continue Reading

Developmental, Relational and Emotional Etiology of Female Homosexuality
© 2003, Janelle M. Hallman, MA, LPC

Over the years, I have professionally counseled many women who seek to understand the reasons they have same-sex attraction and explore their options in terms of heterosexual relating or non-sexual female friendships. While most of them are well read on the scientific debate pertaining to the etiology or cause(s) of homosexuality, they often sense that there are issues apart from mere genetics or biological influences that play a role in their same-sex feelings and relational patterns. Continue Reading

Female Same-Sex Attraction and Freedom of Choice
© 2005, Janelle Hallman

Every woman who has or has had same-sex attractions and emotional dependencies is absolutely and wonderfully unique and special. They have various backgrounds, Continue Reading

Emotional Dependency

by Janelle Hallman

Notes from audio by Living Hope

A developing girl has 3 needs: need to connect with mother, need to connect with girlfriends, need to connect with her own identity. When we feel holes in our lives (note: see the other article “Janelle Hallman on the Condition of Lesbianism”), it’s easy to confuse sexuality with the unmet needs and feel that a romantic or sexual relationship will somehow fill the need for mom, dad, friend. That’s what happens in a lesbian struggle.

Continue Reading

“Do No Harm” – Working with Women in Conflict with Same-Sex Attraction

© 2006, Janelle Hallman

Not every individual who receives psychotherapy finds the help they were hoping for or concludes therapy with a positive attitude or experience. So it should not be a surprise that some men and women in conflict with same-sex attraction (SSA) have reported negative or unhelpful experiences within reparative therapeutic settings. Continue Reading

Clinical Issues Common to Women in Conflict with Same-Sex Attraction

© 2002, Janelle Hallman

Introduction

The lesbian condition is complex in its origin and very diverse in its expression.  The elements of a woman’s same-sex attraction vary in degree and intensity, as do the temperaments and personality types of the women.   Continue Reading