Diversity: Beyond Cultural Competence in Psychotherapy With the LGBT Population
Our understanding and treatment of human diversity as mental health professionals continues to evolve, often to a greater acceptance and valuing of individualized human experience and variance in our clients. Although we as clinicians are constantly evolving in our compassion and inclusion towards previously stigmatized groups, the effects of generational discrimination and intolerance may have left a negative residue on those who have experienced this stigma and a legacy that plays a formative part in the lives of upcoming generations. In order to best bridge that gap, we must continue to strive towards best understanding of this journey for the LGBT population and modify and improve our psychotherapy toolkit for optimal results in the treatment room.
This is an intermediate course for those who seek to achieve cultural competence specific to the LGBT population. The course is comprised of eleven articles and an audiotaped interview (transcript provided) with Dr. Davina Kotulski, in which she addresses the complicated relationship between the medical establishment, psychiatry, and the understanding of those in the mental health field of same-sex attraction and gender orientation and its treatment and maltreatment of LGBT people. The articles review the components of general cultural competence, models currently in place, the impacts of cultural competence on healthcare, the incidence of mood, stress and substance related disorders experienced by the LGBT population, and the application of cultural competence in supervision practices. Additional resources and references are provided for further study, but they are not part of the course.
Educational Objectives
- Identify how the medical and mental health field has evolved on issues of sexual orientation and gender diversity.
- Discuss the historical view and treatment of LGBT individuals by mental health professionals and the resulting residual impact.
- Explain the need for unbiased, accepting mental health services for LGBT and the psychological stress that impacts the mental health of LGBT individuals and the at-risk concerns.
- Specify how clinicians and researchers in the field of mental health can contribute to the well-being of clients and their families from diverse backgrounds with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Syllabus
- Diversity and Professional Competence: Definitional Considerations, Historical Perspectives, and Contemporary Impact
- Enhanced Awareness of Human Diversity and Impacts on Consumer andPractitioner Attitudes, Values, Expectations, Belief Systems, World Views, Actions, and Mental Health
- Perceptions of Orientation throughout history and the ways in which those perceptions have affected the psychological community and service provision
- Incidence of Mental Health issues in the LGBT community
- Access to Healthcare as perceived and experienced by the LGBT community
- Ethical and Legal Considerations associated with the LGBT population
- Best practices for the LGBT community
- Improving Competence in the Practice of Psychotherapy with LGBT clients
- Training & supervision models for culturally competent psychotherapy with the LGBT population