Clinician-informed insights for group work with Orthodox LGBQ+ individuals

This article presents findings of a study designed to explore the perceptions of clinicians and those involved in pastoral care in their work with LGBQ+ Orthodox Jews. Several recurring themes were identified offering unique insights relevant to group work practice with this population. A focus is placed on the ways in which mutual aid can be used as a helping system that considers these themes while providing support. Key themes include living within ongoing tension between identities, the centrality of secrecy and its costs, the prioritization of family over self, the uneven nature of community support, and the importance of therapeutic accompaniment rather than problem solving. Group work, with mutual aid as its centerpiece, provides a forum for individuals to connect with others experiencing similar issues, creating an opportunity for collective support and understanding. This article explores these themes and considers how group work and mutual aid present as an effective modality for supporting this population.