Date of Award

6-2020

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Smith, Laurie

Abstract

This study used surveys to measure the clinical competency of clinicians and their clinical preparedness, attitudes, knowledge of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) clients using an exploratory quantitative research design. The purpose of the research was to assess clinician knowledge, preparedness, and attitudes to identify to what extent further training is needed to work effectively with the LGBT population. Data was collected from seventy-eight participants from southern California. Findings were that clinicians’ knowledge regarding LGBT clients was high, attitudes were open towards this population, and preparedness was also relatively high. Comparisons between LGBT participants and other participants, social workers compared to other disciplines, and those working in the field compared to student interns, and males compared to others showed a slightly higher but not statistically significant clinical competency for LGBT persons, socials workers, and males. Recommendations include increasing LGBT content in all helping professional programs (MSW, MFT, PCC, Psychology), agencies should continue to improve LGBT trainings and clinicians should be encouraged to take LGBT trainings for clinical competency to serve this population increases even more.

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