African-American Christian counselling students' experiences with LGB clients

A recent study has looked at the experiences of African American Christian counselling students from the Black church as they seek to balance their faith and ethical responsibilities in working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients.

Findings from the study, which included 7 participants from 3 counsellor education programs, suggest that attitudes toward LGB clients are intertwined with faith, race, and community allegiance.

The results provide counsellor educators and supervisors with important considerations as they train African American students from the Black church to be ethical, culturally competent counsellors.

"Counsellors are expected to provide culturally competent services to clients from diverse backgrounds. As counsellor educators, we were curious as to how students' own personal values and life experiences may impact their development as a counsellor," said lead author Janee R. Avent Harris.

"The results from this study provide important implications for counsellor educators. We will continue researching the ways spirituality and counselling intersect for counsellors-in-training and clients," Harris added.

The study appears in the journal Counsellor Education & Supervision.

-ANI