Sexual orientation refers to long-lasting emotional, romantic, sexual or affective attraction to men or women. On the one hand, if sexual attraction is preferentially directed towards people of different sex, it is refered as heterosexuality. on the pther hand, if sexual attraction is directed preferentially towards people of the same sex, that is homosexuality. Furthermore, if sexual attraction is directed towards both sexes, it is bisexuality. However, there are other options, such as pansexuality, that characterizes people who may be attracted to others of any sex, gender identity or expression. Or the asexuality, where people do not feel sexual attraction to others, whatever sex they have. And there are a thousand other nuances that offer a great affective-sexual diversity among the population.

Nowadays, a part of society continues showing negative attitudes towards homosexuality and bisexuality. This causes some homosexual or bisexual people to adopt and internalize those prevailing homophobic attitudes towards themselves, presenting what is known as homophobia or internalized biphobia. Some behaviors, thoughts or attitudes that can be indicative of the presence of internalized homophobia or biphobia are:

1. Thorough control over who knows sexual orientation
2. Feeling uncomfortable with the disclosure of one’s sexual orientation.
3. Feeling uncomfortable interacting in public with a homosexual or bisexual person.
4. Being unable to speak about issues related to homosexuality or bisexuality in public.
5. Feeling intimidated in places frequented by gay or bisexual people.
6. Persistent desire to change one’s sexual orientation.
7. Thinking that homosexual or bisexual people cannot maintain a long-term relationship.
8. Thinking that homosexual or bisexual people are more promiscuous than heterosexuals.

In this sense, it is likely that this discrepancy between what the person feels and the messages that reach them from society create an internal conflict that causes psychological discomfort and requires psychological intervention. The intervention, framed in the cognitive-behavioral tradition, is approached from three levels. At the cognitive level, the goal is the elimination of irrational thoughts and the replacement of distorted mental schemes with new thought patterns. At the behavioral level, the goal is to promote contact with other gay or bisexual people, preventing avoidance behaviors. At the emotional level, the goal is the control and management of related emotions, such as fear or anxiety.