Effectiveness of a 9-month queer- and trans-affirming training for mental health providers: A waitlist control group design.

Abstract

Mental health providers (MHPs) often lack the training necessary to provide affirmative care to queer and trans clients (Snow et al., 2019). To date, only a few empirical studies have analyzed the effectiveness of queer-and trans-affirming training for MHPs (Bettergarcia, Matsuno, & Conover, 2021), and most studies do not include a control group, limiting the empirical evidence of effectiveness. The present study used a semimatched waitlist control group design (N = 47) to test the effectiveness of the ACCEPTance training program on MHP's knowledge, attitudes, and skills. The ACCEPTance training program was an in-depth, 9-month, 45-hr training program about queer-and gender-affirming therapy. Results suggest that the ACCEPTance training program increased knowledge and skills related to queer-and trans-affirming therapy. The findings show that in-depth training on queer-and trans-affirming therapy can increase cultural competence and improve access to affirmative therapy for queer and trans individuals. Public Significance StatementThis study evaluated the effectiveness of a 9-month, 45-hr, in-depth training aimed at increasing mental health providers' cultural humility and cultural competence for working with queer and trans clients. Using a waitlist control group design, results indicate that the training was effective at increasing knowledge about sexual orientation and gender diversity and increasing queer-and trans-affirmative therapy skills.