Personal Biases In Counseling

Group work is an effective method of therapy in which a social worker leads a group of individuals who have a common purpose. Group work is used for many populations, and there are constantly new models of group work that are developed for certain underserved populations. One of those populations is the LGBTQ community, specifically, LGBTQ adolescents. This essay will cover new models that can be implemented to lead groups with LGBTQ group members. The purpose of the models is to promote resiliency and to be used as interventions for those who have trouble coping with stress. There will also be discussion about the benefits for facilitators and members who participate in groups, and how effective these groups are for LGBTQ adolescents. It is important to care about the LGBTQ community because they are more alienated than other minority groups. Someone who is part of a racial or gender minority has friends or family that identify with the same status; LGBTQ do not always have someone who identifies with them, making them more vulnerable than most other minorities.

Due to the stigma and complexities often faced in individual uniqueness of LGB, many times there needs to be a place where they can fully be understood through awareness and competency of counselors, and the differences they experience with revealing their sexuality years ago, and how they present themselves today (Pachankis, & Goldfried, p. 242, 2004). Therefore, these guidelines are utilized for that purpose, similar to the standards to the code of ethics, to aid in a level of structure and organized

LGBTQ Identities and Struggles: How to Serve Members of the LGBTQ Population in Substance Abuse Family Treatment

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has never received as much attention as they are right now. Much of this attention is stemming from this population struggling to obtain the same rights given to the remainder of the population. The LGBT community faces many challenges in their personal system, social environment, and then in the public system. In working with the LGBT population, the social worker needs to examine how the individual views themselves, not only through sexual identity, but as an individual. We need to look at the prejudices and condemnation they have encountered which may have led to further uncertainty or confusion.

It is proposed that confrontative or unoriginal proclamations about against gay states of mind ought to be kept away from. The objective is to have a dialog originating from individual experience. The individual sharing could incorporate the accompanying substance: the procedure of acknowledging one is gay, turning out as a gay individual, negative encounters because of being gay/lesbian, positive backing and response because of being gay/lesbian, acknowledgment and pride in their sexuality, and how their life has changed since turning out. This segment of the presentation is by all accounts best if it takes between 20-40% of the occasion and in the event that it particularly fortifies inquiries from the crowd. Additionally, the board ought to coordinate the gathering of people however much as could be expected. For instance, in the event that addressing a school grounds, the board ought to incorporate that age assemble, a comparable racial also, ethnic blend, and in addition both understudies and workforce.

Sexual orientation is an enduring emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction that a person feels toward men, women, or toward both. Furthermore, sexual orientation is not the same as sexual activities. The grueling lifelong process of coming out involves recognizing, accepting, expressing, and sharing one’s sexual orientation with oneself and others. Moreover, research suggests that coming out of the gay ethnic minority person may be especially difficult because the individual may have to face two sources of prejudice and oppression. Furthermore, the client should consider the following before coming out. First the client has to understand own feelings about being gay, be well informed about homosexuality, and that the decision should be his/hers.

Counseling is a field that can be very rewarding for both the client as well as the clinician. Nevertheless, it can also offer great challenges. The benefits of counseling far outweigh the bad. Nonetheless, there is a certain population of individuals who some clinicians may have a difficult time counseling more than others. The recent concerns for gender and sexual orientation constantly are in the limelight, especially amongst the political forefront. This has made clinicians more aware of their own individual biases. Other concerns that may pose a potential conflict during therapy is the aspect of confronting clients who associate with a particular culture, which may be unfamiliar to the clinician. In this paper, I will analyze an in-depth evaluation regarding the many opportunities therapy can bring as well as discuss any potential biases or challenges, which may pose a potential problem in the near future. Also, this paper will take a look at challenges as oppose to race, gender, sexual orientation, the elderly, and people disabilities.

The more significant the relationship the greater the impact disclosure will have on the LGBTQ’s self-esteem. Studies show that support from family and friends is significant to healthy identity development (3). This process of revealing sexual identity to important relationships can take a long time. Just as it took a while for the LGBTQ to assimilate and process during the pre-coming out phase, family and friends take time to accept the new information

4). This practice is best for social workers because it helps them affirm sexual minority identities, support self-determination and assists in identifying the homophobic practices such as stress and anxiety in the LGBT community. The method can be used in various situations for instance if the individual is receiving social work services such as in schools, outpatient treatment facilities, and residential areas. Mostly, this minority group may face discrimination in assessing public services; they may feel out of place especially in colleges. The social worker creates awareness and encourages the LGBT persons to come out and fight their fears through participation in events and ceremonies that are organized to celebrate and unite sexual minority identities such as the gay pride parades (Craig, 2012, p. 5). The gay straight alliance is also a potential social support that helps this group to fight the fear of

This paper will be a short summary of the ways in which a Counselor can navigate effectively the growing yet sensitive topic of Sexual Identity; based on Chapter 10 of the Christian Counseling Ethics book by Randolph Sanders, entitled The Sexual Minority Client. This paper will discuss the responsibilities Counselors have in being aware of their own competence levels to counsel efficiently clients who have questions regarding sexual identity. This paper will discuss controversies and issues surrounding homosexuality as well as the steps a Counselor must take to preserve their Integrity while preserving the well-being of the client. In conclusion, this paper

11). Ryan’s research article explains the importance of family support on the adolescent’s development. For individuals in the LGBT population family support is more important for the individual’s development and mental health. “LGB youth who came out to a parent or family member reported verbal and physical abuse by family members and higher levels of suicidality than youth who had not disclosed to their families” (Ryan, 2010, p.11). Therefore, the family’s negative reaction to the individual’s sexual orientation can lead to an individual feeling rejected and depressed. It is important that a counselor help the family learn acceptance and support for their adolescent who identifies as LGBT to avoid depression and suicide. Lastly, “we have found that even very rejecting families can learn to support their LGBT children” (Ryan, 2010, p. 11). Hence, even families who are rejecting of their adolescence can learn acceptance and support. It is important, as a counselor, to provide effective therapy to every individual in the family so that they can learn to support.

Research has found that for LGBTQ youth one of the most important task is coming out to others which is a process that “…often involves acknowledgement of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity…grappling with implications for family relationships, peers, relationships and dating, initial life-planning steps, and ensuring school and community-based safety, security, and well-being” (Weber & Poster, 2010, p.1). These implications highlight the importance of maintaining an open and accepting attitude towards my work with Mary to ensure that I do not pressure her to come out to her parents when she unready to do so. I must work to ensure that I empower Mary and uphold her right to self-determinate in her decision to come out to her family. Because coming out to one’s family and friends is a very complex, scary, and tedious process I need to be conscientious that there are many micro, mezzo, and macro factors that will influence when, how, and even if, Mary will come out to her family as Asexual and questioning her gender identity.

Various studies recognize a deficit of information related to lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults with even less information related to transgender individuals (Muller & Hartman, 1998; Ryan, Russell, Huebner, Diaz, & Sanchez, 2010; Tharinger & Wells, 2000). LGBT individuals seeking social support from others to gain understanding of themselves and their own development may become discouraged in their endeavors. Many family members and medical professionals lack sufficient knowledge in sexual orientation and/or identity development, believing LGBT identification as a result of external influences or just a “phase”

Group counseling offers multiple relationships to assist an individual in growth and problem solving. In-group sessions, members are encouraged to discuss the issues that brought them into therapy openly and honestly. The counselor works to create an atmosphere of trust and acceptance that encourages members to support one another. Ethics plays a major role in-group counseling, it takes an effective leader to be aware of ethical considerations. Counselors must hold a keen understanding of ethics when it comes to counseling. It is a challenge for group counselors more than those counselors who conduct one on one sessions due to the fact that leaders not only need to be aware of their own actions but also the actions of the group members to maintain an ethical environment for all individuals in which the group consists of (Corey, Williams, and Moline, 1995). Being held accountable for groups ethical standards can be an issues because one individual may feel their actions/statements are ethical while another may feel the same action or statement are unethical.

Sexual identity and orientation are issues that can have an immense effect on a person’s overall well-being and their sense of belonging in their family, their community and their culture. As a counselor who specializes with teens who have problems with their sexual orientation, it is important that I uphold these codes of