Written by two experienced lesbian therapists, Lesbian Couples covers a range of topics—commitment ceremonies and marriage, living arrangements, work, money, togetherness and separate identities, coming out to family and friends, resolving conflict and understanding each other—and uses a variety of helpful examples and problem-solving techniques, drawing from research done on lesbian couples over the past decade. The book pays special attention to differences of race, class, age and physical ability, and addresses the issues raised when one or both partners are recovering from alcohol, substance, or sexual abuse. The book also addresses differences that lesbians may encounter in their relationships regarding such issues as butch-femme, transgender identity, bisexuality, monogamy and sado-masochism. Thoroughly readable and extremely helpful, with an updated resource guide, Lesbian Couples is a book that every lesbian will want to own.

Review

"The authors, both white, middle-class therapists working with lesbian couples, and both involved in long-term lesbian relationships, present a an extremely readable, informative, and nonjudgmental guide for lesbians interested in relationships and for therapists working with them. The authors demonstrate the diversity of lesbian couples, and stress the importance of ongoing communication in dealing with everything from living arrangements to money and time. While one might wish for greater depth in some areas, this is a significant contribution to the psychological literature."James E. Van Buskirk, Acad. of Art Coll. Lib., Library Journal