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Taylor M. Hardock, Psy.D., is a 2025 graduate of the Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, New England

Dissertation Committee:

Katherine Evarts, Psy.D., Chairperson

Rachel Chickerella, Ph.D., Committee Member

Casey Culligan-Benoit, Psy.D., Committee Member

Headshot of Taylor Hardock

Dr. Taylor Hardock

Keywords

Bi+, minority stress, friendship, resilience, community belongingness

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

Minority Stress Theory (2006) posits that individuals with a marginalized sexual identity have unique challenges and stressors. Bisexual+, or bi+, individuals have particular stressors related to not holding a monosexual identity, including specific mental health challenges. Research has shown that friendship can have many positive benefits on individuals, though the literature looking at friendship among bi+ identifying people is very limited. This qualitative study investigates the experiences of friendship between bi+ and straight cis men, especially as they may relate to minority stress and experiences of resilience and community belongingness. A thematic analysis was utilized to understand the personal experiences of 10 bi+, cis men who responded to a survey about their friendships with straight cis men. A total of four superordinate themes were identified from the thematic analysis, each of them having two subthemes within them. These themes are presented with quotes from the participants, followed by discussion of how they relate to existing literature on these topics and populations. An exploration of the clinical implications of these findings, as well as suggestions for future research follow. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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ORCID No.:  0009-0000-9733-9972

Bio:

Taylor M. Hardock has focused much of her doctoral research on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals. As a queer person herself, Taylor believes in telling the story of these individuals with marginalized identities using their narratives, hoping to shift some of the literature away from focusing solely on the negative or challenging experiences that many with these identities may have. Her dissertation was conducted with this in mind, while also combining Taylor's appreciation and admiration for the phenomenon of friendship. Clinically, Taylor practices with a person-centered core that is present throughout all of her therapeutic experiences, emphasizing empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard at all times. While she also often pulls from a variety of evidence-based treatments, she honors these core values at all times and aims to do so in her research, as well. 

Publications:

Hardock, T., Chickerella, R., Levitt, H., & Maroney, M. (2025). “I feel like this contributed to my ongoing pattern of hiding from my sexuality throughout my later life”: A reflexive thematic analysis of the biphobic experiences of bi+ men. Journal of Bisexuality, 1-25. 
https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2025.2451326

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