When Identities Collide: Best Practices for Family Therapy with LGBTQ+ Young People in Mormon Families

This study investigates the best-practice guidelines for family therapists working with LGBTQ+ young people and their Latter-day Saint families. Through a modified Delphi method, the study employs a mixed-methods approach to identify the expert consensus on best practices in the field. The study was framed using an intersectional modification of Bronfenbrenner's ecological framework. This study fills several significant gaps in the literature, as it is the first to specifically examine (a) family therapy best practices, (b) LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, and (c) their LDS families. The results of this study will contribute to the advancement of best practices in the field of family therapy, particularly for therapists working with LGBTQ+ young people and their Latter-day Saint families.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Development

Department dc:contributor.department

Adult Learning and Human Resource Development

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Simpson, Samantha K.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Grafsky, Erika L.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Lefevor, G. Tyler
• Russon, Jody M.
• Dolbin-MacNab, Megan Leigh

• LGBTQ+
• Mormon
• family therapy
• best practices
• intersectionality

Statement dc:rights

• Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:36636

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/137555