Sexual Orientation and Counselor Competency: The Impact of Training on Enhancing Awareness, Knowledge and Skills

ABSTRACT

The current study explored the potential impact of a training program on graduate counseling students' competency to serve lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. In this pilot study, the Sexual Orientation Counselor Competency Scale (SOCCS; Bidell, 2005) was administered to students enrolled in a counselor education program. Results indicated that the training program had a positive impact upon the competency areas of knowledge and skills as measured by the SOCCS. The benefits of incorporating an LGB counselor competency component in training modules to serve the LGB community are discussed. Ways for counselor educators and supervisors to enhance their own LGB competencies and help their student's ability to meet the needs of LGB clients are also presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Competency
• lesbian
• gay
• bisexual
• counselor
• training

Philip A. Rutter, PhD, Diane Estrada, PhD, and Gregory A. Diggs, PhD, are assistant professors, University of Colorado, Denver and Health Sciences Center.

Laura K. Ferguson is a graduate student of Counseling Psychology/Counselor Education, University of Colorado, Denver and Health Sciences Center.

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