Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Community Mental Health Journal
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal 5/2019

01-07-2019 | Original Paper

Affirmative Competence and Practices of Mental Health Professionals with LGB clients: An Ibero-American Study

Authors: Henrique Pereira, Maria João Cunha, Samuel Monteiro, Graça Esgalhado, Rosa Marina Afonso, Manuel Loureiro

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 5/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

There are not many studies about affirmative competence and practices among mental health professionals working with Lesbian, Gay, and/or Bisexual (LGB) clients. Thus, the objectives of this research are to assess the levels of affirmative competence and practices of professionals in Ibero-American countries. The sample consists of 630 mental health professionals from various countries whose ages range from 22 to 75 years old, with a mean age of 41.46 years. The study utilizes the following measures: a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Sexual Orientation Counselor Competency Scale, and the Affirmative Practice Questionnaire. Results show that mental health professionals who present higher levels of Affirmative Competence are those who have higher levels of education and training on LGBT topics, show left-wing political affiliations, self-identify as LGB, and have no religious affiliations. Regarding Affirmative Practices, it was found that single participants show lower practices, and more studies are needed to better understand this result. Regression models demonstrate that Affirmative Practices and Competences are predicted by the hypothesized variables, namely, religious and political beliefs, and training/education. Hence, this study indicates that mental health professionals could undergo some type of academic or professional training and/or possess experience in regard to working with LGB clients, in order to enhance their approach when working with this population.
Literature
Alderson, K. G. (2004). A different kind of ‘outing’: Training counsellors to work with sexual minority clients. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 38(3), 193–210.
Bernstein, A. C. (2000). Straight therapists working with lesbians and gays in family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 26(4), 443–454.CrossRefPubMed
Bidell, M. (2005). The sexual orientation counselor competency scale: assessing attitudes, skills, and knowledge of counselors working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients. Counselor EducaUon & Supervision, 44, 267–279.CrossRef
Bidell, M. (2011). Examining school counseling students multicultural and sexual orientation competencies through a cross-specialization comparison. Journal of Counseling & Development, 90, 200–207.CrossRef
Bidell, M. P. (2012b). Examining school counseling students’ sexual orientation and multicultural competencies through a cross-specialization comparison. Journal of Counseling & Development, 90, 200–207.CrossRef
Biechele, U. (1996). Psychoterapy for lesbian and gay clients: A regional survey. The Association of Lesbian and Gay Psychologists Europe Newsletter, 5(2), 14–16.
Borges, K. (2009). Terapia Afirmativa: uma introdução à psicoterapia dirigida a gays. Brasil: Edições GLS: lésbicas e bissexuais.
Bowers, R., Minichiello, V., & Plummer, D. (2010). Religious attitudes, homophobia, and professional counseling. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 4, 70–91.CrossRef
Brewer, P. (2003). Values, political knowledge, and public opinion about gay rights: A framing-based account. Public Opinion Quarterly, 67(2), 173–201.CrossRef
Brown, M., & Henriquez, E. (2008). Socio-demographic predictors of attitudes towards gays and lesbians. Individual Differences Research, 6(3), 193–202.
Carlson, T. S., McGeorge, C. R., & Toomey, R. B. (2013). Establishing the validity of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual affirmative training inventory: Assessing the relationship between affirmative training and clinical competence. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 39, 209–222.CrossRef
Carroll, L. (2010). Counselling Sexual and Gender Minorities. Columbus: Merrill.
Costa, P. A., Pereira, H., & Leal, I. (2015). “The Contact Hypothesis” and Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Parenting. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 12(2), 125–136.CrossRef
Cohen, C., & Stein, T. (1986). Reconceptualizing individual psychotherapy with gay men and lesbians. In T. Stein & C. Cohen (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives on lesbians and gay men (pp. 27–54). New York: Plenum.CrossRef
Crisp, L. C. (2002). Beyond Homophobia: Development and Validation of the Gay Affirmative Practice Scale (Dissertation). University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
Fróis, kP. (2004). Globalização e cultura a identidade no mundo de iguais. Cadernos de pesquisa interdisciplinar em Ciências Humanas, 5, 62.
Godfrey, K., Haddock, S. A., Fisher, A., & Lund, L. (2006). Essential training components of curricula for preparing therapists to work with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients: A delphi study. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 32(4), 491–504.CrossRefPubMed
Graham, S. R., Carney, J. S., & Kluck, A. S. (2012). Perceived competency in working with LGB clients: Where are we now? Counselor Education and Supervision, 51(1), 2–16.CrossRef
Grove, J. (2009). How competent are trainee and newly qualified counsellors to work with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients and what do they perceive as their most effective learning experiences? Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 9(2), 78–85.CrossRef
Gusmano, M., Schlesinger, M., & Thomas, T. (2002). Policy feedback and public opinion: The role of employer responsibility in social policy. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 27(5), 731–772.CrossRefPubMed
Haider-Markel, D. P., & Joslyn, M. R. (2008). Beliefs about the origins of homosexuality and support for gay rights. Public Opinion Quarterly, 72, 291–310.CrossRef
Henke, T., Carlson, T. S., & McGeorge, C. R. (2009). Homophobia and clinical competency: An exploration of couple and family therapists’ beliefs. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 8(4), 325–342.CrossRef
Hunsberger, B., & Jackson, L. M. (2005). Religion, meaning, and prejudice. Journal of Social Issues, 61, 807–826.CrossRef
Israel, T., & Hackett, G. (2004). Counselor education on lesbian, gay and bisexual issues: Comparing information and attitude exploration. Counselor Education and Supervision, 43, 179–191.CrossRef
Israel, T., & Selvldge, M. (2003). Contributions of multicultural counseling to counselor competency with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 31, 84–97.CrossRef
Israel, T., Walther, W., Gortcheva, R., & Perry, J. (2011). Policies and practices for LGBT Clients: Perspectives of mental health services administrators. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 15, 152–168.CrossRef
Johnson, S. D. (2013). Assessing Self-Efficacy of Cultural Competence with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients: A Comparison of Training Methods with Graduate Social Work Students (Dissertation). University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Kocarek, E., & PeHlng, J. (2003). Beyond knowledge and awareness: Enhancing counselor skills for work with gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 31, 99–112.CrossRef
Kreitzer, R., Hamilton, A., & Tolbert, C. (2014). Does policy adoption change opinions on minority rights? The effects of legalizing same-sex marriage. Political Research Quarterly, 67, 795–808.CrossRef
Lee, M. G., & Quam, J. K. (2013). Comparing supports for LGBT aging in rural versus urban areas. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 56(2), 112–126.CrossRefPubMed
Leonard, W. (2002). What’s the difference? Health issues of major concern to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI). In Victorians: research paper. Melbourne (AU): Ministerial Advisory Committee on Gay and Lesbian Health, Victorian Government Department of Human Services.
Liddle, B. (1997). Gay and lesbians client’s selection as therapists and utilization of therapy. Psychotherapy, 34(1), 11–18.CrossRef
Long, J. K., & Serovich, J. M. (2003). Incorporating sexual orientation into MFT training programs: Infusion and inclusion. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29(1), 59–67.CrossRefPubMed
Matthews, C. (2005). Infusing lesbian, gay, and bisexual issues into counselor education. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education & Development, 44, 168–184.CrossRef
Matthews, C., Selvidge, M., & Fisher, K. (2005). Addictions counselors’ attitudes and behaviors toward gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients. Journal of Counseling and Development, 83, 57–65.CrossRef
McGeorge, T., & Toomey, R. (2013). Establishing the validity of the affirmative training inventory: assessing the relationship between lesbian, gay, and bisexual affirmative training and students’ clinical competence. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 39(2), 209–222.CrossRef
McLeod, J. (2003). An introduction to counselling. London: Open University Press.
Menezes, I., & Costa, M. (1992). Amor entre Iguais: A psicoterapia da diferença. Cadernos de Consulta Psicológica, 8, 79–84.
Moita, G. (2001). Discursos sobre a Homossexualidade no Contexto Clínico: A Homossexualidade de dois lados do espelho (Dissertação). Universidade do Porto. Porto: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar.
Moita, G. (2006). A patologização da diversidade sexual: Homofobia no discurso de clínicos. Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais, 76, 53–72.CrossRef
Moleiro, C., & Pinto, N. (2009). Diversidade e Psicoterapia: Expectativas e Experiências de pessoas LGBT acerca das Competências Muticulturais de Psicoterapeutas. Ex Aequo, 20, 159 – 172.
Murphy, J. A., Rawlings, E. I., & Howe, S. R. (2002). A survey of clinical psychologists on treating lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33, 183–189.CrossRef
Pope, K. S., Sonne, J. L., & Holroyd, J. (2000). Sexual feelings in psychotherapy. Washington: American Psychological Association.
Poteat, V. P., & Mereish, E. H. (2012). Ideology, prejudice, and attitudes toward sexual minority social policies and organizations. Political Psychology, 33, 211–224.CrossRef
Rock, M., Carlson, T. S., & McGeorge, C. R. (2010). Does affirmative training matter? Assessing CFT students’ beliefs about sexual orientation and their level of affirmative training. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 36(2), 171–184.CrossRefPubMed
Rutter, P. A., Estrada, D., Ferguson, L. K., & Diggs, G. A. (2008). Sexual orientation and counselor competency: The impact of training on enhancing awareness, knowledge and skills. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 2, 109–125.CrossRef
Sorensen, L., & Roberts, S. (1997). Lesbian uses of and satisfaction with mental health services: Results from boston lesbian health project.. Journal of Homosexuality, 33(1), 35–49.CrossRefPubMed
Weishut, D. (2000). Attitudes toward homosexuality: An overview. Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 37(4), 308–319.PubMed
Whitley, B. E. Jr. (2009). Religiosity and attitudes toward lesbians and gay men: A meta-analysis. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 19, 21–38.CrossRef
Whitman, J. S., & Bidell, M. P. (2014). Affirmative lesbian, gay, and bisexual counselor education and religious beliefs: How do we bridge the gap? Journal of Counseling & Development, 92, 162–169.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Affirmative Competence and Practices of Mental Health Professionals with LGB clients: An Ibero-American Study
Authors
Henrique Pereira
Maria João Cunha
Samuel Monteiro
Graça Esgalhado
Rosa Marina Afonso
Manuel Loureiro
Publication date
01-07-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 5/2019
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00373-0

Other articles of this Issue 5/2019

Community Mental Health Journal 5/2019 Go to the issue

Brief Report

Factors Associated with Rapid Readmission Among Nevada State Psychiatric Hospital Patients

Original Paper

Gender Differences and Prevalence of Mental Health Problems in Students of Healthcare Units

Original Paper

Suicide Risk and Depression in Individuals with Chronic Illness

Brief Report

Opinions and Expectations Related to Job Placement of Individuals with Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Study Including Both Patients and Employers

OriginalPaper

A University-Based Transdisciplinary Approach to Mental Health Workforce Shortages

Original Paper

Stepped Care as an Implementation and Service Delivery Model for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis