This article serves as the first in a series of 4 articles providing a theoretically and empirically informed approach to understanding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and communities from the perspective of positive psychology. Termed LGBT strengths, this perspective aims to complement existing perspectives in LGBT psychology focused on distress and pathology to provide a more balanced and representative understanding of LGBT lives. In the present article we provide an introduction to the 3 pillar model of positive psychology and its relevance to the unique experiences of LGBT individuals. Drawing connections between positive psychology and related strengths-based concepts within the existing literature in LGBT psychology, we provide evidence for LGBT strengths across the 3 pillars and within diverse populations of sexual and gender minorities. Discussing the role and importance of fostering a psychological science of these strengths informed by an understanding of the diversity and complexity of LGBT lives, we conclude with an overview of the goals of this series and introduce the subsequent articles in the series which will address implications of LGBT strengths for theory, research, training, and practice.

Coming out has long been depicted as a process that is conducive to personal growth. However, LGBTQ psychology has yet to conduct systematic, theoretically informed research to study how individuals experience coming out growth (COG) and the impact of such experiences on the lives of sexual minorities. The present investigation seeks to address these gaps in the literature through an examination of stress-related growth within the context of coming out as a sexual minority. Findings from a preliminary investigation of COG in a sample of 418 gay and lesbian adults are presented, including the development and initial validation of the coming out growth scale (COGS), and data addressing the relationship between COG and relevant constructs found in the literature on identity development and stress-related growth.

This paper examines how positive psychology principles can be incorporated into clinical training and practice to work with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) clients. LGBT psychology literature has all too often relied on heterosexual and cisgender reference groups as the norm with respect to psychological health, primarily framing the experiences of LGBT individuals through the lens of psychopathology. As a result, strengths that could be ascribed to the LGBT experience have been overlooked within training and practice. While positive psychology is actively being incorporated into clinical and counseling psychology curricula, broadening the paradigm to include LGBT individuals has generally not been included in the discussion. Specific recommendations for training psychologists to incorporate and foster positive social institutions, positive subjective experiences and character strengths when working with LGBT clients and celebrating their unique experiences are provided.

The primary aim of this content analysis was to examine how strength-based themes were addressed in peer-reviewed psychology literature focused on sexual and/or gender minority populations or related LGBT-affirming institutions/organizations, and published between 1973 and 2011. Results suggest that common positive psychology themes were love, integrity, vitality, citizenship, nonprofit organizations, and LGBT-affirming laws. The authors discuss the relative inclusion of transgender and bisexual individuals and people of color in the literature as a whole, and suggest that future work include a greater focus on strengths in the lives of transgender, queer, and nonidentifying sexual minorities, as well as those with intersecting identities. This article concludes by highlighting areas of positive psychology that may be particularly fruitful avenues for future research in LGBT psychology and suggestions for contributing to future literature on LGBT strengths.

Cocaine dependence is a complicated, destructive, and often chronic illness that is difficult to treat. In this article we review the challenges in treating cocaine dependence, as well as recent developments and future directions in psychosocial and pharmacological treatment relevant to treatment of cocaine dependence. Cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs because of its immediate and powerful rewarding effects. Often, cocaine dependent individuals experience difficulty abstaining due to cognitive impairments from repeated cocaine use, strong use-related social and environmental cues, and high levels of life stress. Cocaine use also affects areas of the brain related to motor function, learning, emotion, and memory, further complicating the administration of effective interventions. In addition, development of treatments for cocaine dependence has been complicated by the tendency for abusers not to complete treatment programs and their propensity for relapse. Despite these challenges, some treatment approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications have shown promise in successfully treating cocaine dependence. However, individually, each of these treatments exhibit weakness in longitudinal studies where long-term abstinence is the primary outcome of interest. Although other treatments are being explored, thus far, the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy has elicited the best results for treating cocaine dependence with respect to patient retention and relapse prevention following abstinence. No treatment method has yet been shown to completely and effectively treat cocaine dependence. More research is necessary to test treatment programs and garner further information in order to better understand and treat cocaine dependence.