This presentation will provide an overview of the content needed for cultural competence in mental health practice with sexual minority clients. The presentation will define key terms about sexuality and gender and describe the best-supported theoretical model for explaining sexual orientation-related health disparities, the sexual minority stress model. Once participants have been exposed to practical knowledge of relevant terms and an overarching theoretical model, the presentation will highlight some of the clinical competencies for working with sexual minority clients, as well as pragmatic suggestions for structural elements of their practice setting and additional information and training on this topic.

Learning Objectives

1) Define terminology on sexual orientation and gender identity relevant to clinical practice.

2) Describe the sexual minority stress model, the leading theoretical model for understanding sexual orientation-related health disparities.

3) Understand some general and specific therapy competencies that are helpful for working with sexual minority clients.