There is a gap in research focused on satisfaction in therapy as reported by middle-aged lesbians. This study is relevant as middle-aged lesbians are at risk of experiencing further incidents of discrimination based on their sexual orientation compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Middle-aged lesbians are also likely to experience internalized heterosexism, deleterious mental health problems and barriers to mental health services influenced by heterosexism. Thus, it is imperative for family therapists to understand the life experiences of middle-aged lesbians, as well as the factors that lead to their satisfaction in therapy. This qualitative study utilized a descriptive phenomenological methodology to understand the life experiences of a sample of middle-aged lesbians, with a particular emphasis on the components of the therapeutic process that led to their satisfaction in therapy. Data were collected from seven Caucasian lesbian women, ages 40 to 64-years-old. All participants had been in therapy with different therapists for at least three months at the time of recruitment. In-depth interviews explored past experiences of discrimination and heterosexism, their coming out process, the components of therapy that led to their satisfaction with the therapeutic process, and the impact therapy had on participants with regards to increasing their sense of resilience. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.
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