Graduation Year

2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor in Psychology (Psy. D.)

Abstract

Although the juggernaut of progress continues to provide minority groups, including members of the LGBTQIA+ population, opportunities to achieve equal representation and protection under the law, numerous challenges remain. Significant prejudicial and discriminatory actions, fortified by heterosexism and heteronormativity, not only threaten this community’s continued advancement, but also poses an existential threat to the physical, emotional, psychological, and social well-being of its members. Therefore, it is imperative that psychological clinicians receive adequate academic and practical skills-based training to thoroughly understand and respond to the unique obstacles faced by LGBTQIA+ clients. This goal, while laudable, is made even more difficult for those clinicians hailing from, or residing within, a rural milieu, given these clinicians’ access to culturally informed training opportunities to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ population. However, if a clinician is unable to proffer such services, there is an increased danger manifested by decreased physical, emotional, and psychological functioning, as well as continued stigmatization, internalized homo- and transphobic attitudes, and increased risk of suicide. The current project was borne from the desire to provide expanded training to clinicians so that they will be equipped with a better understanding of, and increased comfortability with, the LGBTQIA+ community. These goals will be accomplished by the creation of a cultural assimilator program which presents the participant with a plethora of thought-provoking scenarios and a variety of responses to choose from that explain the interaction. By completing the training, each learner will gain requisite knowledge relating to the community, as well as a greater sense of mastery in providing supportive, affirming therapeutic services. In turn, this serves to strengthen the therapeutic alliance between the clinician and the client, leading to improved clinical outcomes.

Faculty Mentor

Michael McClellan, PhD

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Committee Member

Theresa Botts, PhD

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Committee Member

Jerry Palmer, PhD

Department Affiliation

Psychology

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