Virtual Field Experience : The Virtual Classroom Experience Essay

The purpose of this paper is to explore various considerations when counseling members of the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community (LGBT). When counseling LGBT members, the psychology professional must be aware of various factors that may influence effective treatment. For instance, the historical treatment of the LGBT community by the mental health profession is important to understand in order to make strides at improving institutional attitudes and approaches. Other factors such as community perceptions, interfamily relations and cultural bias are all relevant to successful therapeutic outcomes. This paper aims to discuss these factors in order to present a comprehensive review of the cultural considerations involved with counseling the LGBT community.

LGBTQ adolescents, also called sexual minority youth, have a higher risk of developing mental and emotional problems than heterosexual youth, and also face more bullying, harassment, and victimization due to homophobia (Craig, Austin, & McInroy, 2014). In order to address their needs, the researchers used group therapy that was based on

This journal will be useful because it shows that students can have interpersonal relationships with their teachers and their peers in a virtual classroom.

The virtual field experience is designed to allow students the ability to learn and observe from professionals or specialist in their field of study. It further allows the student the ability to visualize the challenges, complexities, and some of the bias when counseling an individual with different cultural worldviews. Nonetheless because of the possibility of bias, it may or can influence psychotherapy (Pachankis, & Goldfried, 2004).

There is much to learn from all ancestral cultures including the new coin phrase sexual minorities . Mental heath professional is consistently evolving and practitioners must adapt to the changes within practice and ACA ethical guidelines. This paper explores a counselor 's level of competence, etiology findings for homosexuality, controversies with treatment practice by professional and paraprofessional therapy, and new frontier approach with client-centered approach. Since the multicultural movement has become a pillar for ACA code of ethics, it is with great importance to embrace new cultural styles. Although, the counseling field has a great paucity in empirical research; ACA task force remains optimistic in filling this gap. The objective is to help clients find congruence in their identity, belief, and values within their sexual orientation. Counselor must arm themselves with proficient training in multicultural competence, client-centered approach toward client identity edification, and having the integrity to guard clients from harmful clinical practice.

Throughout the video Dr. Patterson, displayed and executed various competencies of understanding the way in which her client’s coming-out may impact her client’s overall quality of life as well as the impact on her husband and family. Guideline 10. Psychologists strive to understand the ways in which a person's lesbian, gay, or bisexual orientation may have an impact on his or her family of origin and the relationship with that family of origin (American Psychological Association,

The Virtual Academy of Lafourche (VAL), organized in 2012, is a Louisiana Type 1, Virtual Charter School in partnership with Lafourche Parish School Board, providing unique models of instruction for students’ k-12. VAL provides its academic content in a blended learning environment, online and with onsite support for over 450 students at four sites in Lafourche Parish, two in Thibodaux, LA-St. Mary Site, North Acadian Site; one in Matthews LA: Central Site and one in Larose LA, South LaFourche Site. The staffing model for the school is unique in the region, in that about 50% of the staff are employees of a staffing service, and others are the employees of a provider of back office services, E-Learning of Thibodaux. The majority of the Educational Consultants, who provide academic support through mentoring online and tutorial assistance on-site, are retired, highly credentialed educators. All students participate in the State of Louisiana Assessment System, which includes testing at Prekindergarten and Kindergarten (Dibels), grades 3-8 (LAA English, Math, and

Bos, H. M., Van Balen, F., & Van den Boom, D. C. (2007). Child adjustment and parenting in planned lesbian-parent families. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77, 38-48. doi:

This paper focuses on counseling clients a part of the “sexual minority” (Yarhouse, Kays, and Jones, 2013). The information regarding sexual minorities and the techniques to counsel these clients are summarized from Yarhouse et al.’s “The Sexual Minority Client” (2013). The basis for counseling the sexual minority is competence. This shift to competence is primarily from the “multicultural movement” (Yarhouse, et. al., 2013). Two supporting therapies of this movement are and “affirmative approach” and “sexual identity therapy” (Yarhouse, et. al., 2013). Counselors’ beliefs and values are inevitable in therapy. Practicing in an area with similar beliefs and values minimizes ethical issues. Personal reflection shows acceptance of information provided in the chapter except statements from the ACA and APA in which Christian counselors seem discouraged to provide therapy for the sexual minority. Interest exists in the areas of percentages concerning sexual minority, as well as, these individuals claiming an identity. The primary form of therapy to be administered for a sexual minority client is sexual identity therapy. This therapy provides the least risk in regards to ethics. The client chooses the goal and the counselor acts as a support for the client to obtain the goal. Though beliefs differ, the client will be supported even if the homosexual

Dr. Garzon's presentation on Lesbian & Gay Population addresses the American Counseling Association and Association of Marriage and Family Therapy's about the role and importance of religious identity when working with lesbian and gay clients. Both groups advocate for gay affirmative treatment, but religious identity conflicts with this treatment plan. Religion is a recognized diversity area in the professional ethics code. This could cause an ethical dilemma for many Christian counselors. I like how Stephen mentions Jeff's reminder in that counselors are not to impose their belief systems onto their clients. ACA's code of ethics calls for counseling professionals to respect their client's faith and not impose their values on their clients.

In Chapter 10 of Rudolph K. Sanders’ book, Christian Counseling Ethics: A Handbook for Psychologists, Therapists and Pastors, Mark Yarhouse, Jill Kays and Stanton Jones discuss the “sexual minority” as it pertains to the field of professional counseling. This group is defined as “individuals with same sex attractions or behavior, regardless of self-identification” (Sanders, et. al., 2013, p. 252). By looking at counseling the homosexual community through its etiology, standards by which a counselor should proceed with treatment, and the options a client has on deciding treatment options, we can be better prepared as Christian counselors to be better prepared in serving the needs of others.

Sexual and social stigmas largely affect the health of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population. While many reports from the Institute of Medicine, Healthy People 2020 and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recognize a need to improve the quality of health care, barriers still remain. LGBT patients face legal discrimination, especially with insurance, a lack of social programs, and limited access to providers competent in LGBT health care. Although the Affordable Care Act increased access to care for LGBT patients, unless these patients feel understood by providers and develop trust in the system, they are not likely to utilize care. Healthcare providers need to recognize how these vulnerabilities, as well as persistent racism and stigma linked to sexual orientation and gender identity, make the healthcare needs of LGBT patients more challenging than the general population. Healthcare providers also need to promote cultural competence within this population and broaden their clinical lens to include health promotion, in addition to addressing concerns mentioned above within the population. Additionally, medical and nursing schools need to ensure that future providers are adequately educated by including information about this population in the curriculum.

#1 Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university.

The case that I will be presenting today is comprised of a married heterosexual couple seeking couple’s therapy. Lisa, 32 year old, Caucasian, female and Cody, 32 year old, Caucasian male have been married for 10 years and currently have two twin boys of the age of two. The couple bought their first house and moved to Turner Falls, Massachusetts from Santa Cruz California a couple of years ago. The move was due to Lisa’s pregnancy, as the two of them wished to be closer to Cody’s family for support.

After the virtual field trips and seeing how everything was. During these tragic times, people losing their jobs, homelessness, and starvation to death. Financially, it was only able to get help if you were fortunate enough to know someone in the business, like a commissioner. The virtual field trip was interesting. A few of the programs caught my attention than the others. The SEC (Securities Exchange Commission) was created to help farmers. There was more money for consumers to buy more agricultural products. The WPA (Works Program Administration) helped people get back to work when they were unemployed. Those programs literally changed the lives of so many people.