 For many years, psychiatry viewed homosexuality as a mental illness.Current guidelines instead encourage psychotherapists to assist patients in overcoming the stigma of homosexuality rather than try to change their sexual orientation.Because some mental health professionals are unfamiliar with the social difficulties of the coming out process, particular to other factors such as age, race, ethnicity, or religious affiliation, they are encouraged by the APA to learn more about how gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients face discrimination in its various forms.