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Sexual Orientation Microaggression Rating Scale (SOMRS): Development and association with alliance ruptures
Joey Sergi1, Anna Babl2, Jonathan T Warren1
1Yeshiva University, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.
Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.)
|August 8, 2024
Summary
Therapists sometimes commit sexual orientation microaggressions against sexual minority clients. A new observational measure, the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Rating Scale (SOMRS), found these microaggressions correlate with therapeutic alliance ruptures.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Therapeutic Alliance Research
Background:
- Sexual minority individuals frequently experience microaggressions in therapy.
- Therapists may fail to recognize or report these microaggressions.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop an observational measure for therapist-committed sexual orientation microaggressions.
- Examine the link between these microaggressions and therapeutic alliance ruptures.
Main Methods:
- Developed the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Rating Scale (SOMRS).
- Used SOMRS to code microaggressions in therapy sessions with gay and bisexual men.
- Assessed the association between microaggressions and withdrawal ruptures.
Main Results:
- The SOMRS demonstrated good interrater reliability.
- Microaggressions were observed in 34% of sessions.
- Significant association found between microaggressions and withdrawal ruptures in the alliance.
Conclusions:
- The SOMRS is a viable tool for researching microaggressions.
- Findings highlight the impact of microaggressions on the therapeutic alliance for sexual minority clients.
- The SOMRS can aid clinicians in identifying and addressing harmful in-session behaviors.
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