Factors Related to Counselor Preference Among Gays and Lesbians

Abstract

This study explored the preference for counselor's sexual orientation among gay and lesbian clients. Recognizing that the perceived reaction of participants to hypothetical situations may be a viable predictor of future choices, respondents were administered a comfort/discomfort index intended to probe a number of potential counseling concerns. Internalized homophobia (Hudson & Ricketts, 1977) and a scale measuring degree of same‐ or opposite‐sex sexual preferences (Kinsey, Pomeroy, Martin, & Gebbhard, 1953) were also investigated in an attempt to account for variance in the comfort/discomfort ratings. Findings indicated that gay men and lesbians tend to prefer gay or lesbian counselors, although a sizable number believe that counselors' sexual orientations do not make a difference. Internalized homophobia was found to predict discomfort in discussing various topics with a counselor of unknown sexual orientation.

Perceptions of Self-Disclosing Counselors Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals

“…Whereas some research on the importance of counselor sexual orientation in counseling emphasizes LGB clients' preferences for LGB counselors (McDermott, Tyndall, & Lichtenberg, 1989;Modrcin & Wyers, 1990), others report that matching counselor sexual orientation with that of one's client does not increase LGB clients' ratings of the counselor (Liddle, 1996). The present study revealed that counselors disclosing homosexual as opposed to heterosexual orientation were perceived as significantly more attractive.…”

Characteristics of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals entering substance abuse treatment

“…The impact of biases against LGBT individuals that may exist in their substance abuse treatment providers has not been studied. A survey found that 59% of LGBT respondents expressed a preference for LGBT counselors (McDermott, Tyndall, & Lichtenberg, 1989). This may indicate that LGBT individuals fear that heterosexual counselors would misunderstand or, worse, actively discriminate against them based on their sexual identities.…”

Sexual Minority Supervision

“…This representation, in such a small sample, supports not only the need for this type of supervisory experience (see Clark, 1977;McDermott et al, 1989), but also the reality that bisexual and transgender experience are essential, though neglected, elements of the supervisory literature.…”

“…In fact, Clark (1977) and McDermott, Tyndall, and Lichtenberg (1989) recommend that sexual minority-oriented supervision be employed for sexual minority clinicians.…”