Reasons that contribute to this lack may include general discomfort in dealing with sexual issues and topics, homophobia, discriminatory societal pressures, and concerns about one's own sexual orientation. In working with homosexual clients, social workers should follow the same principles used for work with heterosexual clients, being nonjudgmental and accepting of the client as a total human being. Focus of therapy should be on increasing client self-acceptance. A knowledge of issues facing homosexuals and of resources available to them also is needed. Finally, special problems and techniques appropriate to them may be encountered in dealing with such neglected populations as the heterosexual spouse, the children of a homosexual parent, and aging gays and lesbians. If progress is to be made in the area of service delivery to gays and lesbians, social workers will require personal encounters with homosexuals, positive role models, and educational efforts aimed at attitude change. 26 notes and references.