ADJUSTMENT THROUGH PARTNERSHIP

DON AND JON, MODERATORS

THE NEED FOR A COURTSHIP BEFORE A HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE WAS POINTED UP IN DISCUSSING NECESSARY FACTORS FOR EVOLVING A PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP. A BASIC FRIENDSHIP, COMPANIONSHIP, COMMON INTERESTS AND COMMUNITY PROPERTY WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE COMPONENTS OF SUCH A RELATIONSHIP.

ONE MAN WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS AN ANALYST SAID THAT ONE OF THE CHIEF PROBLEMS HE DEALT WITH IN MARRIAGE COUNSELING WAS THE IM= BALANCE THE PARTIES FELT IN WHAT EACH CONTRIBUTED TO THE UNION. DIFFERENCE IN INCOME IS OFTEN A FACTOR HERE, HE SAID, AND SUGGESTED THAT THOSE SO DISTURBED DRAW UP A BALANCE SHEET OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR EACH PARTNER AND SO DETERMINE THAT WHILE ONE MAY NOT BE CONTRIBUTING AS MUCH MONEY, HE CERTAINLY MAY BE CONTRIBUTING MANY INTANGIBLES OF NET WORTH TO THE RELATIONSHIP.

DIFFERENCE IN AGE NEED NOT BE A FACTOR, IT WAS SAID. IT WOULD DEPEND OF COURSE ON THE RESILIENCE OF THE ELDER AND THE ABILITY OF THE YOUNGER TO ADAPT.

WARNING WAS ISSUED THAT JEALOUSY AND DEMAND FOR ABSOLUTE FIDELITY COULD BE MOST DESTRUCTIVE IN ITS EFFECT ON A MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP.

-

(THE ABOVE TWO SESSIONS REPORTED ON BY DEL MARTIN)

·

PSYCHODRAMA 'A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM DEMONSTRATED WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION. CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM F. BAKER, SAN FRANCISCO PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLOR.

MR. BAKER GAVE A SHORT HISTORY OF "ROLE PLAYING" FROM THE ANCIENT GREEKS TO THE MODERN "PSYCHODRAMA." THE PSYCHODRAMA AS SUCH IS OF RECENT ORIGIN AND USED PRIMARILY BY PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS IN GROUP THERAPY WORK WITH PATIENTS IN MENTAL HOSPITALS.

WR. BAKER USED MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIENCE TO DEMONSTRATE THE TECHNIQUE OF PSYCHODRAMA. TWO SITUATIONS WERE CHOSEN: ONE, THAT OF A GAY BAR WHEREIN TWO HOMOSEXUAL MALES SEATED ALONGSIDE TWO HETEROSEXUAL MALES (ONE A REPRESSED HOMOSEXUAL) REACT VARIOUSLY TO THE ENTRANCE OF AN OBVIOUS "SWISH." TWO, THAT OF A "NORMAL"FAMILY