Policies and Practices for LGBT Clients: Perspectives of Mental Health Services Administrators

Abstract

Nine administrators of mental health agencies were interviewed by phone about policies, practices, and experiences they perceived to be helpful and unhelpful for LGBT clients in their agencies. A holistic case study approach was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Five salient factors that reflected the themes present across multiple cases were identified: responding to transgender clients, coordination of services within and outside the agency, connection with other LGBT individuals, availability and visibility of openly gay staff, and power and position of LGBT-affirming and LGBT-nonaffirming staff. Each salient factor is described and illustrated by case material. Implications for practice, training, and research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• mental health services
• LGBT
• administrator
• helpful and unhelpful situations

Acknowledgments

A poster based on this study was presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, August 2007. This research was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant K01MH063305.