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Perceived Competency in Working With LGB Clients: Where Are We Now?
Author(s) -
Graham Stephanie R.,
Carney Jamie S.,
Kluck Annette S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
counselor education and supervision
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1556-6978
pISSN - 0011-0035
DOI - 10.1002/j.1556-6978.2012.00001.x
Subject(s) - psychology , sexual orientation , lesbian , competence (human resources) , counselor education , attendance , graduate students , medical education , clinical psychology , applied psychology , higher education , pedagogy , social psychology , medicine , economic growth , political science , psychoanalysis , law , economics
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients use counseling services at higher rates than their heterosexual counterparts, yet current training for counselors may be inadequate. In this online study, 234 graduate counselor education and counseling psychology students completed the Sexual Orientation Counselor Competency Scale (Bidell, 2005) and provided information about their training in working with LGB clients. Participants viewed themselves as more competent on the Awareness and Knowledge subscales than on the Skills subscale. Increased level of training (doctoral vs. master's), number of LGB clients seen in practica, and attendance at LGB‐focused workshops and conferences were associated with increased competence. Implications for programmatic development are discussed.