When I received the material for this commentary there seemed to be two significant issues: firstly, the difficulties and dilemmas about the patient's sexual orientation and, secondly, as the therapist had indicated when she agreed to contribute her clinical work, that she considered herself very stuck in her endeavour with this patient. I asked the therapist if she had any aspirations, hopes or theoretical preferences in terms of my selection of clinical commentators. She indicated that she would particularly value some Jungian input as this way of thinking would be more in accord with her own approach.

I set out to find commentators who demonstrated a capacity to address questions about sexual identity and orientation as well as the ability to resolve impasse. One commentator was selected to give a Jungian perspective, another was selected precisely because they could offer an alternative theoretical approach, and the third because they might help unravel the impasse.

Sue Robinson