Question

A 45-year old gay man sees a social worker because of a long history of depression. He states that "in most areas of my life things are fine, but I have never had an emotional relationship that felt intimate." He also reports being distanced from the gay community because he's not political and "after all, it is no different from being straight, except that I have sex with guys". The social worker should FIRST:

A. conduct a comprehensive assessment
B. explore the client's disconnection form the gay community
C. refer the client for a medication evaluation
D suggest the client consider joining a gay men's group

Answer 1

The social worker should first conduct a comprehensive assessment to understand the unique context and needs of the 45-year old gay man dealing with depression and a lack of emotional intimacy in relationships.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 45-year old gay man is seeking help from a social worker for a long history of depression and a lack of intimate emotional relationships. Based on the information provided, the first step the social worker should take is to conduct a comprehensive assessment. This step will establish a thorough understanding of the client's life context, mental health history, potential sources of distress, and his feelings about his identity and connections (or lack thereof) within the gay community. It can also illuminate the underlying reasons for his disconnection from the gay community and identify areas where intervention may be most valuable.

Given the historical pathologizing of homosexuality in the field of mental health, which included efforts to "cure" individuals of their sexual orientation, this population has special considerations that must be handled with sensitivity and without assumption. It is important to understand that the client's needs come first, and the social worker must facilitate a non-judgmental space to support the client's sense of self and find ways to alleviate his depression.