LGBT: Psychological Realities and Culturally Competent Therapy with LGBT Clients and Their Families

This is an introductory course designed to educate the clinician about the diversity of sexual and gender orientation and to familiarize the clinician with the appropriate terminology when working with LGBT clients and their family members. Participants in this course will learn how stigmatization associated with a non-heterosexual sexual orientation can negatively affect the mental health and well-being of lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients, as well as familiarizing the participant with the specific realities of second-class citizenship, prejudice, discrimination, and violence. In this course, participants will become well-versed in the twenty-one APA guidelines for conducting therapy with LGB clients. Participants in this course will learn about same-sex relationships and relationships where one or more members is transgendered, as well as other aspects of family structure and the unique challenges LGBT families face. Additionally, participants will learn about the challenges in life cycle development that an LGBT person faces with regard to adolescence, coupling, family development, generativity, and aging. Finally, this course will provide a brief historical overview of how homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender identity have been perceived in the mental health community, current acceptable practices, and residual impact on LGBT clients.

The first section of the course identifies important LGBT terminology, history and concerns for the LGBT population. The second section showcases recorded interviews with leaders and educators of specific LGBT populations, for example Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, LGBT Latinos and Transgender people. The third section of the course addresses current discrimination against LGBT people and the impact of denying same-sex couples the right to marry. The final section explores the role psychologists and the field of psychology has played in the lives of LGBT people. This section also looks at the current roles and expectations for psychologists working with LGBT people. Finally, we have a Resources Page for further information and study. Transcripts available for all audios and videos.