Career development and counselling needs of LGBTQ high school students

LGBTQ+ youth: Careers threats and interventions

“…The existing literature suggests focal points and strategies that are critical for satisfying the LGBTQþ population's career needs in different contexts (Chen & Keats, 2016;Hill & McGrath, 2018;Rivers & Swank, 2017). Poor quality career counselling for sexual minorities could be a significant barrier in the career life development of LGBTQþ individuals.…”

“…Besides concerns about whether disclosing personal sexual/gender identity might influence their career development, confusion about their sexual orientation or gender identity could also influence their career choices and future development. Sexual identity confusion might be the most pressing issue for students who are of high school age (Chen & Keats, 2016). Cass (1996) suggested that LGBTQ+ youth will go through different stages when committing to their sexual identity.…”

“…Although there is greater awareness of the mental health concerns that the LGBTQþ group faces, there is still a dearth of research concerning career development and counselling issues for LGBTQþ individuals. In addition to the vocational problems that LGBTQþ people might share with their non-LGBTQþ peers, as a sexual minority group, they also can face unique career concerns related to their self-identity (Bieschke et al, 2007;Chen & Keats, 2016).…”

“…LGBTQþ young adults (ages 25-34). It is assumed that within the context of life-career problems and challenges discussed here, these young LGBTQþ groups have much in common (Chen & Keats, 2016;Russon & Schmidt, 2014). Thus, terms such as LGBTQþ youth, young…”

“…It is worth noting that the target group of LGBTQ+ youth refers to a large umbrella of young populations, i.e., LGBTQ+ adolescents and emerging adults at (ages 14–25) and LGBTQ+ young adults (ages 25–34). It is assumed that within the context of life-career problems and challenges discussed here, these young LGBTQ+ groups have much in common (Chen & Keats, 2016; Russon & Schmidt, 2014). Thus, terms such as LGBTQ+ youth, young LGBTQ+ group(s), young LGBTQ+ population(s), LGBTQ+ individual(s), client(s) are used interchangeably in the discussion, all referring to the young LGBTQ+ people and clients from ages 14–34, unless specified otherwise.…”