Counselors Self-Perceived Competency in Working with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) Clients

WONG SIEW SHUANG 157312

American Psychiatric Association removed homosexual behaviour from DSM-III Adequate preparation to work with LGB clients is mandated by the ethical and accreditation standards of mental health professional organisations

In reality
Counseling students and practicing counselors are feeling

minimally trained to provide counseling services to diverse group. Counselors lack of education about LGB issues. Counselors are biased against LGB individuals Counselors self-reported attitudes are inconsistent with their behaviours in analog counseling situation.

Education and training regarding to LGB issues seem to be limited, caused uncertainty in counseling competence among counselors.

Counseling in Malaysia is believed tends to be directive, with religious value being at the starting point

There are very few studies in Malaysia have focused on the LGB counseling competency among counselors.

1. What are counselors self-perceived competencies, including attitudes, knowledge, and skills competencies, when counseling lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients? 2. Is there significant relationship between counselors self-perceived competency level and primary practice setting in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients? 3. Is there significant relationship between counselors self-perceived competency level and program level in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients? 4. Is there significant relationship between counselors self-perceived competency level and additional training experiences in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients? 5. Is there significant relationship between counselors self-perceived competency level and gender in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients?

1. To examine the counselors self-perceived competencies, including attitudes, knowledge, and skills competencies, when counseling lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients.

2. To identify the relationship between counselors self-perceived competency level and counselors primary practice setting in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients.
3. To identify the relationship between counselors self-perceived competency level and the highest program level in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. 4. To identify the relationship between counselors self-perceived competency and additional training experiences in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. 5. To identify the relationship between counselors self-perceived competency level and gender in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients.

H1 : There is a significant relationship between primary practice setting and counselors self-perceived competency level in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. H2: There is a significant relationship between the highest program level and counselors self-perceived competency level in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. H3 : There is a significant relationship between additional training experiences and counselors self-perceived competency level in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. H4 : There is no significant relationship between gender and counselors self-perceived competency level in relation to working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients.

Adding the research exploring counselor competency with LGB clients.

Benefit the following authorities :

Counselors

Malaysian Counselor Association Board of Counselors Ministry of Higher Education

Location and population

Respondent

Instrument

Lack of literature within the country

Conceptualizing Counselor Competence -Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills Multiculutal Counseling & Therapy (MCT)

Training Training Content, Training Form, Training Environment

Counselors Competency Working with LGB Clients

Assessment of Counselor Competence -Knowlege, Attitudes, Skills

Author Farmer L.B., Welfare L. E., Burge P.L. (2013)

Source Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development Journal of Counselor Education & Supervision

Research Design Quantitative descriptive

Sample 468 counselors

Graham, Carney, & Cluck (2012)

Quantitative descriptice

234 counseling students

Farmer L.B. (2011) Doctoral Quantitative dissertation, Virginia descriptive Polytechnic Institute and State University

479 counselors

Author Graham (2009)

Source

Research Design

Sample 230 counseling graduate students

Doctoral Quantitative Dissertation, Auburn descriptive University in Partial Fulfillment of the Doctoral Dissertation, The University of Texas Quantitative descriptice

Day, S. W. (2008)

234 counseling students

Bidell (2005)

Journal of Counselor Education & Supervision

Quantitative descriptive

312 counseling students, counselors, counselor educators or supervisors

Descriptive research

To examine phenomenon that is occurring at a specific place or time.

Correlational research

To determine whether, and to what extent, a relationships between two or more variables.

Research Population

Population - Counselors who currently working in the institutions located at Klang Valley area, either in school setting or community setting.

Sample -80 counselors working as school counselor or community counselor. -Based on G*Power (assumed correlation coefficient of 0.3, statistical significance of 0.05, and statistical power of rejecting null H at 0.95

Sexual Orientation Counselor Competency Scale (SOCCS) Bidell (2005) 29 items, measuring 3 components, rated on a 7-point likert scale

Descriptive statistic Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation.

Inferential statistic Independent-sample t-test

Results, Discussions, Implications, and Recommendations

Table 1: Distribution of respondents according to the competency level in attitudes subscale

Score 1 2 (low) 3 5 (moderate) 6 - 7 (high) Total

Frequency 25 46 9 80

Percentage 31.25 57.50 11.25 100%

Table 2: Distribution of respondents according to the competency level in skills subscale

Score 1 2 (low) 3 5 (moderate) 6 - 7 (high) Total

Frequency 31 47 2 80

Percentage 38.75 58.75 2.50 100%

Table 3: Distribution of respondents according to the competency level in knowledge subscale

Score 1 2 (low) 3 5 (moderate) 6 - 7 (high) Total

Frequency 2 74 4 80

Percentage 2.50 92.50 5.00 100%

Table 4: Distribution of respondents according to the competency level in total SOCCS

Score 1 2 (low) 3 5 (moderate) 6 - 7 (high) Total

Frequency 4 76 0 80

Percentage 5.00 95.00 0 100%

Table 5: Descriptive statistics of counselors self-perceived competency on the total SOCCS and three subscales

SOCCS

Mean

Standard Minimum Maximum Deviation Score Score 0.70 1.44 2.55 1.10 5.59 7.00

Overall SOCCS Attitudes

3.89 3.84

Skills
Knowledge

3.50
4.51

1.21
0.80

1.00
2.38

6.73
6.50

Hypothesis Analysis for H1

Table 6: t-test analysis in relation to the relationship between primary practice setting and counselors self-perceived competency in working with LGB clients Primary Practice Setting School Counselors Community Counselors N Mean SD df t p

39

3.80

.64

78

-1.177

.797

41

3.98

.74

Note: * Not significant at = .05

Hypothesis Analysis for H2

Table 7: t-test analysis in relation to the relationship between the highest program level and counselors self-perceived competency level in working with LGB clients

Highest Program Level Bachelor s Degree Masters Degree

Mean

SD

df

41

3.82

.67

78

-.943

.492

39

3.97

.72

Note: * Not significant at = .05

Hypothesis Analysis for H3

Table 8: t-test analysis in relation to the relationship between the additional training experience and counselors self-perceived competency level in working with LGB clients Additional Training Experience Yes No N Mean SD Df t p

39 41

4.03 3.77

.72 .65

78

1.668

.402

Note: * Not significant at = .05

Hypothesis Analysis for H4

Table 9: t-test analysis in relation to the relationship between gender and counselors self-perceived competency level in working with LGB clients
Gender Male Female N 16 64 Mean 4.32 3.79 SD .68 .66 df 78 t 2.811 p .777

Note: * Not significant at = .05

Lack of exposition and training related to LGB issues and counseling LGB individuals

Importance of effective and efficient training programs.

Implications

Conservative society, thinking, and beliefs.

Deep-rooted cultural and religious values caused unshakeable preconceived perceptions towards LGB clients

For the relevant authorities

Board of Counselors Malaysian Counselor Association Ministry of Higher Education Universities Counselors

For future study

To particularize the factors that might affect the counselors selfperceived competency Replication of this study can be carried out by involving a different samples or a greater number of samples Translate the instrument into Malay language

1. The self-perceived competence with LGB clients by counselors is at a moderate-low level. 2. There is no significant relationship between primary practice setting and counselors self-perceived competency level in relation to working with LGB clients. 3. There is no significant relationship between highest program level and counselors self-perceived competency level in relation to working with LGB clients. 4. There is no significant relationship between additional training experience and counselors self-perceived competency level in relation to working with LGB clients. 5. there is no significant relationship between gender and counselors selfperceived competency level in relation to working with LGB clients.
Issue regarding to counselors competency in working with LGB clients should be look into deeply. Efforts should be carried out by all the relevant authorities to increase the competency of counselors in term of multiculturalism, and working with the minorities and diverse clients.