Sexual orientation knowledge and attitudes and its association with therapy satisfaction among lesbian, gay, and bisexual + Hispanic Puerto Ricans

This study aimed to examine the difference in therapy satisfaction between lesbian, gay, and bisexual + (LGB +) individuals and heterosexual individuals, and to identify the association between therapy satisfaction and the perception of knowledge and attitudes of their last therapist among the LGB + participants. Through an exploratory design with a comparative group, 125 LGB + and 75 heterosexual participants were recruited online by availability. Results indicate that the participants' sexual orientation has no significant relation on therapy satisfaction. However, there was a significant positive association between satisfaction with therapy and the LGB + participants' perception that their therapist demonstrated knowledge and positive attitudes. This research highlights the importance for continuous education and curriculum efforts on LGB + issues.

More complex incidental bidirectional naming results from exposure alone

Incidental bidirectional naming (Inc-BiN) has been defined as a verbal developmental cusp whereby children demonstrate learning the names of things as listener and speaker as a function of observation alone. Stimulus characteristics have been found to affect performance in tests for Inc-BiN. To further explore this effect, Experiment 1 compared untaught listener and speaker responses for novel familiar-type versus novel nonfamiliar-type stimuli with 20 first-grade students following naming experiences in which the participants observed each visual stimulus five times while hearing its name. Participants performed significantly better with familiar-type than with nonfamiliar-type stimuli. Experiment 2 examined the effects of a repeated-probe intervention to induce Inc-BiN with nonfamiliar-type stimuli. Participants were six first-grade students who demonstrated incidental unidirectional naming (i.e., acquired names as listener from exposure alone). Implementation of the intervention was staggered across dyads of participants in a multiple-probe, simultaneous-treatments design. One participant in each dyad received the intervention with nonfamiliar-type stimuli only and the other with both nonfamiliar- and familiar-type stimuli. Pre- and postintervention Inc-BiN probes with stimuli not included in the intervention suggested both conditions were effective in establishing Inc-BiN for nonfamiliar-type stimuli. These findings have implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying Inc-BiN.

A Moderation Analysis of Perfectionism, Cultural Sensitivity, and Counselors-In-Training Attitudes Toward Non-Dominant Sexual Identities

The purpose of this study was to explore the moderating effect of maladaptive perfectionism on the relationship between cultural sensitivity and counselors-in-training attitudes toward non-dominant sexual identities. A total of 209 counseling graduate students participated in the study. Results showed that cultural sensitivity predicted attitudes toward individuals who identify with a non-dominant sexual identity after controlling for age. Also, a regression analysis demonstrated that maladaptive perfectionism is a moderator in the relationship between cultural sensitivity and attitudes toward individuals who identify with a non-dominant sexual identity among counselors-in-trainings. Implications in the counseling and education field and suggestions for future research are discussed.

A systematic review to determine how service provider practises impact effective service provision to lesbian, gay and bisexual consumers in a mental health setting

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) consumers utilize mental health services at a similar rate to their heterosexual counterparts yet report greater dissatisfaction with service quality. This dissatisfaction may be explained by service provider's microaggressions, stemming from a lack of cultural competence in working with LGB consumers. This systematic review examines how the practises of mental health service providers impacted effective service provision to LGB people in a clinical practice. Five health databases (Scopus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and CINAHL) were examined to determine relevant studies for this review. Twenty four qualitative and quantitative studies between 2000 and 2020 examining data related to how service provider practises impacted effective service provision to LGB people were included in the final review. A narrative synthesis, thematic summary approach was employed to account for the multi-method nature of the data. Themes developed in our analysis are organized under the three components of cultural competence, service provider attitudes, knowledge and skills. Provider attitudes ranged from positive to negative towards LGB people and heterosexism were present in several services. Poor service provider knowledge about the issues impacting LGB consumers leads to a weakened therapeutic alliance and service providers often lacked a comprehensive understanding of the issues impacting LGB people. Service providers were seen as more skilful if they were LGB, created a safe space and had completed cultural competence training. Trends within the characteristics (explorative nature, mixed service provider samples, potential for bias) of the 24 studies included in the review are discussed. Based on the results, recommendations are included to ensure services demonstrate cultural competence in working with LGB consumers.

Attitudes of therapists and other health professionals towards their LGB patients

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people continue to suffer minority stress around the world, but particularly in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. This anti-homosexual prejudice can enter into the therapist-client relationship and seriously damage the outcome of psychotherapy, particularly in instances where therapists regard their clients' sexuality as contributing to their psychological difficulties. This paper takes an historical perspective to research on the attitudes of a range of professionals who provide talking therapies or other types of psychological support to their clients who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. The nature and origins of prejudice, its effects on LGB clients, and how it might best be addressed are considered. Challenging the ethics and evidence base for treatments that purport to change sexual orientation, as well as asking heterosexual therapists to reflect on their own heteronormative assumptions, are crucial to effecting change and ensuring LGB people are treated equally to their heterosexual counterparts.