Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Commons^™

Conceptualized Heterosexual Theory And Identity Development, Breyan Haizlip, Scott Schaefle, Danica Hays, Jennifer Cates

Scott Schaefle

Through the use of consensual qualitative research and interpretative phenomenology, the present study examined how 50 heterosexually identified counselors-trainees conceptualized their sexual identity development. The results provide support for Conceptualized Heterosexual Theory, which indicates that how heterosexual counselors conceptualize their sexual identity is related to four developmental dimensions: inherent orientation responses, pre-conceptualized heterosexuality, heterosexual identity development, and identification, directed towards 3 distinct identities: interdependent heterosexuality, independent heterosexuality, and unresolved heterosexuality. Implications for counselor education and future research are discussed.