Identifying Counselor Competencies for Working with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients

The authors present a qualitative analysis of a process by which a research team of counselors-in-training confronted their heterosexist biases while investigating heterosexual attitudes toward sexual minorities. Members of the research team discovered that it was essential to reflect on and evaluate their attitudes. assumptions. and biases before they could conduct scientific research about affirmative attitudes toward lesbian. gay male. and bisexual male and female individuals. Self-reflective narratives written by each research team member were analyzed using consensual qualitative research methodology. Results yielded 10 general categories or themes. Implications for counseling theory, training. and future research are discussed.An estimated 5 to 25 million people in the United States self-Identify as lesbian, gay. or bisexual (LGB; Gelberg & Chojnacki, 1995). Although the members of the LGB population are not a visible minority, they are still treated differently than are members of the majority, heterosexual population.LGB individuals experience oppression on a variety of levels because of their sexual identity/orientation. LGB individuals' daily experiences differ from those of the heterosexual majority in numerous ways, including but not limited to a lack of fundamental civil rights. discrimination. rejection or ostracism by family of origin. societal censure, physical violence. and objectification by campaigns of defamation and hatred (Perez. Defsord, & Bieschke, 2000).Recent efforts in the counseling field demonstrate that there is a dedication to affirmative practice and training regarding counseling for (or providing services to) LGB individuals (Bieschke. Eberz, Bard, & Croteau. 1998;Bowman. 2003;Croteau, Bieschke, Philips. & Lark. 1998; Fasstnger, 1991;Phillips & Fisher. 1998;Phillips, Ingram. Smith, & Mindes, 2003). Yet, many counseling graduate students feel inadequately trained to work with LGB clients (Bieschke et aI., 1998;Croteau et al., 1998 There are potential consequences to the low levels of training regarding LGB issues. Counselors may exhibit heterosexist biases in their work with and attitudes toward LGB individuals (Rudolph. 1988(Rudolph. . 1990).LGB clients have reported being dissatisfied with their counseling experiences because of incorrect assumptions and blatant biases on the part of their counselors. Examples of these biases include automatically assuming that a client is heterosexual before he or she indicates his or her sexual orientation. not recognizing the problems of social prejudice against gay men and lesbians and/or internalized homophobia. and lacking the basic knowledge ofLGB issues necessary to be an effective counselor (Garnets. Hancock. Cochran. Goodchllds, & Peplau, 1991;Glenn & Russell. 1986; Graham. Rawlings. Halpern. & Hermes. 1984;Liddle, 1996;Rudolph. 1988Rudolph. . 1990). These findings indicate a critical need to increase the number of heterosexual allies and mentors in the counseling field (Lark & Croteau. 1998). An investigation of how heterosexual coun...

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“…There are few empirical examinations of LGB-affirmative counseling training approaches (Gilliland & Crisp. 1995: Israel, 1998: Rudolph. 1988.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On Becoming Allies: A Qualitative Study of Lesbian‐, Gay‐, and Bisexual‐Affirmative Counselor Training

Dillon

Worthington

Savoy

et al. 2004

Couns Edu & Supervision

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“…He expressed feeling betrayed, dishonored, and truly scared that this news would be relayed to other church peers. While this may have appeared as if a separate irrational fear was arising, the dangers of being "outed" are very real and potentially debilitating to LGB client's progress (Israel et al 2003). The counselor now needed to move away from some of the cognitive piece and focus in on the feelings of betrayal and the rational response of fear of rejection and judgment due to this imposed disclosure.…”

Section: Rational Vs Irrationalmentioning

confidence: 98%

Creating a Space for Spiritual Practice: Pastoral Possibilities with Sexual Minorities

Heermann¹,

Wiggins²,

Rutter³

2007

Pastoral Psychol

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Is a religious gay person an oxymoron? It appears possible, given that the research on religion and spirituality among sexual minority individuals is so limited. While books written on the intersection of religion and psychotherapy may include a chapter addressing the religious and spiritual lives of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals, there are no critical texts focusing solely on this issue. In this paper, we review some of the most recent research on homosexuality, religion, and spirituality, and discuss how LGB individuals may integrate these two identities. A case presentation is offered and implications for pastoral counselors and methods of supporting the integration of the spiritual/religious identity in tandem with a LGB identity are also discussed.

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“…Introspective surveys of supervisors' and trainers' own internalized heterosexism or homophobia could be very beneficial. Remember, many of us were educated at a time when counseling supervision literature and training protocols did not differentiate between GLBT couples counseling and heterosexual couples counseling (Israel et al, 2003). The SOMS inclusion of surveys for supervisors could very well fill this gap by asking supervisors and supervisees self-of-the-therapist questions about knowledge, awareness, and suppositions held about GLBT clients and couples (Long & Bonomo, 2006).…”

Section: Where To Go From Herementioning

confidence: 95%

“…Both counselors wished supervision had included role-plays on what to say, with the addition that supervision had helped in the imparting of GLBTappropriate language or sexuality counseling language. Given the responses and the discomfort at various times during this counseling relationship, it may be best to incrementally incorporate issues of GLBT issues with a GLBT client in the individual counseling skills class (Halpert & Pfaller, 2001) and a GLBT couple scenario in the couples counseling course (Israel et al, 2003).…”

Section: Where To Go From Herementioning

confidence: 99%

“…While clinicians will have some experience in serving GLBT individuals or couples during their clinical training practicum, it seems quite rare that graduate level-training coursework would actually include clinical vignettes or knowledge seminars to discuss the sexual minority client population's unique needs (Israel et al, 2003;Rutter et al, 2008). In addition, few supervision or clinical training protocols exist to address the unique needs of GLBT couples and families.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Couples Counseling for a Transgender-Lesbian Couple: Student Counselors’ Comfort and Discomfort with Sexuality Counseling Topics

Rutter

Leech

Anderson

et al. 2010

Journal of GLBT Family Studies

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This article describes the supervision and training aspects of two student counselors in their service to a transgender and lesbian married couple. Through journal assignments, multiple themes emerged from these supervisees' responses to serving this unique couple. Two critical areas of reflection included both counselors' concerns of clinical preparedness and experiences of supervision. Beyond the descriptors of transgender and lesbian, the counselors were least comfortable with the mere discussion of sexual intimacy and its place in the presenting problem for this couple. The arenas of clinical supervision, self of the therapist, and counselor preparation as it may promote active exploration of sexual intimacy discussion in the arena of couples counseling are explored along with implications for counselor educators' and supervisors' own ability to promote this candid and needed discussion with supervisees.

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Identifying Counselor Competencies for Working with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

On Becoming Allies: A Qualitative Study of Lesbian‐, Gay‐, and Bisexual‐Affirmative Counselor Training

On Becoming Allies: A Qualitative Study of Lesbian‐, Gay‐, and Bisexual‐Affirmative Counselor Training

Creating a Space for Spiritual Practice: Pastoral Possibilities with Sexual Minorities

Couples Counseling for a Transgender-Lesbian Couple: Student Counselors’ Comfort and Discomfort with Sexuality Counseling Topics

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