MAPPING THE PROFILE OF PATIENTS TREATED FOR SEXUALITY-RELATED ISSUES AT A TEACHING CLINIC IN THE WESTERN AMAZONIA

Abstract

This study analyzes the profile of patients seeking care at the Applied Psychology Service (SPA) of a university center in the Western Amazon to address issues related to sexuality. The research adopted a qualitative and documentary approach, based on the examination of 1,150 screening records, of which 98 were selected due to complaints related to sexuality. The results indicate a predominance of Black, single women living in peripheral neighborhoods. The most fre- quent complaints involved sexual violence, difficulties in affective-sexual relationships, and issues concerning gender identity and affective-sexual orientation. It was also observed that a significant portion of the patients had not previously received psychological or psychiatric care. The findings highlight the need for preventive psychological practices in mental health care at the intersection with sexuality, as well as for an ethical-political clinical approach that considers the inter- section of gender, race, class, and sexuality in the production of psychological suffering. Black women and LGBTQ+ indi- viduals constituted the groups that most frequently sought free psychological services to address issues associated with gender and the expression of their sexuality. It is expected that this study may contribute to the development of less normative and more equitable care strategies within psychology training clinic settings in Brazil.