CAUCASIAN LESBIANS ’ USE OF PSYCHOTHERAPY

Evidence suggests that a high proportion of lesbians seek psychological counseling. This study represents an empirical investigation of the dis-proportionate use of mental health services by lesbians, focusing on the hypothesis that lesbians place a greater value on psychotherapy than do nonlesbian women. Participants (1 00 lesbians and 309 nonlesbian women, 97 % Caucasian) completed Surgenor’s revision of the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale. Results indicate that the lesbian group had a significantly more positive attitude toward seeking psychological counseling than did the nonlesbian sample, re-gardless of whether or not they had experienced psychological coun-seling. In a national survey of 1,917 lesbians, 73 % of these women were currently in therapy or had previously sought the services of a mental health profes-sional (Bradford & Ryan, 1987). This figure stands out in striking contrast to the 13.84 % national base rate of mental health service usage by adult women (National Center for Health Statistics, 1974-1975). These empiri-cal data on the disproportionate usage of mental health services by lesbians is supplemented by a body of anecdotal evidence focusing on the impor-tance of therapy within the lesbian community (Cardea, 1985; Hoagland, 1988). I gratefully acknowledge the help of my advisor, Ursula Delworth, and committee members Chuck Claiborn and Tim Ansley with all aspects of this project. Also, Laura Brown provided much encouragement and assistance with conceptualization