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ALGBTIC Comptencies for Counseling Trangender Clients (pdf document)

As more and more sexual minorities seek counseling services for assistance with their life challenges, all counselors need to be well versed in understanding the unique needs of this diverse population. The Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC) developed the competencies that follow in order to promote the development of sound and professional counseling practice.

When integrated into graduate counseling curricula, these competencies will assist counselors-in-training in the examination of their personal biases and values regarding LGBT clients, expand their awareness of the world views of sexual minorities, and lead to the development of appropriate intervention strategies that insure effective service delivery.

• understand that biological, familial, and psychosocial factors influence the course of development of GLB orientations and transgendered identities.
• identify the heterosexist assumptions inherent in current lifespan development theories and account for this bias in assessment procedures and counseling practices.
• consider that, due to the coming out process, LGBT individuals often may experience a lag between their chronological ages and the developmental stages delineated by current theories.
• recognize that identity formation and stigma management are ongoing developmental tasks that span the lives of LGBT persons.
• know that the normative developmental tasks of LGBT adolescents frequently may be complicated or compromised by identity confusion; anxiety and depression; suicidal ideation and behavior; academic failure; substance abuse; physical, sexual, and verbal abuse; homelessness; prostitution; and STD/HIV infection.
• understand that the typical developmental tasks of LGBT seniors often are complicated or compromised by social isolation and invisibility.
• affirm that sexual minority persons have the potential to integrate their GLB orientations and transgendered identities into fully functioning and emotionally healthy lives.

• acknowledge that heterosexism is a worldview and value-system that may undermine the healthy functioning of the sexual orientations, gender identities, and behaviors of LGBT persons.
• understand that heterosexism pervades the social and cultural foundations of many institutions and traditions and may foster negative attitudes toward LGBT persons.
• recognize how internalized prejudice, including heterosexism, racism, and sexism, may influence the counselor's own attitudes as well as those of their LGBT clients.
• know that the developmental tasks of LGBT women and people of color include the formation and integration of their gender, racial and sexual identities.
• familiarize themselves with the cultural traditions, rituals, and rites of passage specific to LGBT populations.

• acknowledge the societal prejudice and discrimination experienced by LGBT persons and assist them in overcoming internalized negative attitudes toward their sexual orientations and gender identities.
• recognize that their own sexual orientations and gender identities are relevant to the helping relationship and influence the counseling process.
• seek consultation or supervision to ensure that their own biases or knowledge deficits about LGBT persons do not negatively influence the helping relationship.
• understand that attempts to alter or change the sexual orientations or gender identities of LGBT clients may be detrimental or even life-threatening,and, further, are not supported by the reseach and therefore should not be undertaken.

• be sensitive to the dynamics that occur when groups are formed that include only one representative of any minority culture and consider the necessity of including supportive allies for LGBT clients when screening and selecting group members.
• establish group norms and provide interventions that facilitate the safety and inclusion of LGBT group members.
• shape group norms and create a climate that allows for the voluntary self-identification and self-disclosure of LGBT participants.
• intervene actively when either overt or covert disapproval of LGBT members threatens member safety, group cohesion and integrity.

• counter the occupational stereotypes that restrict the career development and decision-making of LGBT clients
• explore with LGBT clients the degree to which government statutes and union contracts do not protect workers against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• help LGBT clients make career choices that facilitate both identity formation and job satisfaction.
• acquaint LGBT clients with sexual minority role models that increase their awareness of viable career options.

• understand that homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender nonconformity are neither forms of psychopathology nor necessarily evidence of developmental arrest.
• recognize the multiple ways that societal prejudice and discrimination create problems that LGBT clients may seek to address in counseling.
• consider sexual orientation and gender identity among the core characteristics that influence clients' perceptions of themselves and their worlds.
• assess LGBT clients without presuming that sexual orientation or gender identity is directly related to their presenting problems.
• differentiate between the effects of stigma, reactions to stress, and symptoms of psychopathology when assessing and diagnosing the presenting concerns of LGBT clients.
• recognize the potential for the heterosexist bias in the interpretation of psychological tests and measurements.

• formulate research questions that acknowledge the possible inclusion of LGBT participants yet are not based on stereotypic assumptions regarding these subjects.
• consider the ethical and legal issues involved in research with LGBT participants.
• acknowledge the methodological limitations in regard to research design, confidentiality, sampling, data collection, and measurement involved in research with LGBT participants.
• recognize the potential for heterosexist bias in the interpretation and reporting of research results.

• know the history of the helping professions including significant factors and events that have compromised service delivery to LGBT populations.
• familiarize themselves with the needs and counseling issues of LGBT clients and use nonstigmatizing and affirming mental health, educational, and community resources.
• recognize the importance of educating professionals, students, supervisees, and consumers about LGBT issues and challenge misinformation or bias about minority persons.
• use professional development opportunities to enhance their attitudes, knowledge, and skills specific to counseling LGBT persons and their families.