WORKING WITH LGB CLIENTS Yvonne Boadu, PhD, LCMFT Andrews & Associates, Inc

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY Discuss issues relevant to working with LGB clients in the state of Kansas, including: Who can work with LGB clients “I didn’t get enough training for that.” “That’s not relevant to the work I do.” The current legal context for LGB clients Changes in the laws Addressing questions of faith and religion Often identified as important for both providers and LGB clients

CAN YOU WORK WITH LGB CLIENTS? From the AAMFT Code of Ethics: 1.1 Non-Discrimination: Marriage and family therapists provide professional assistance to persons without discrimination on the basis of race, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, gender, health status, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status Referrals: Marriage and family therapists respectfully assist persons in obtaining appropriate therapeutic series if the therapist is unable or unwilling to provide professional help Non-Abandonment: Marriage and family therapists do not abandon or neglect clients in treatment without making reasonable arrangements for the continuation of treatment.

CAN YOU WORK WITH LGB CLIENTS? More from the Code of Ethics: 3.10 Scope of Competence: Marriage and family therapists do not diagnose, treat, or advise on problems outside the recognized boundaries of their competencies. 3.1 Maintenance of Competency: Marriage and family therapists pursue knowledge of new developments and maintain their competence in marriage and family therapy through education, training, and/or supervised experience.

CAN YOU WORK WITH LGB CLIENTS? The “hidden minority”. You already are working with LGB clients. Areas of competence include: Avoiding heterosexism Examining my own attitudes and beliefs including: What contributes to sexual orientation; are all sexual orientations equally acceptable, or is heterosexuality preferable; should limits be placed on what gays and lesbians can and cannot do (careers, marriage, parenting); is homosexuality a mental illness; is homosexuality a sin Knowledge of cultural context Identity development Coming out processes Finding community Legal issues Religious and other cultural issues

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN MAKING A REFERRAL Whose needs are being met? Client’s needs Therapist’s needs For what is the client seeking services? Something I am competent to provide to heterosexual clients Treatment for anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, parent-child conflict Something I do not have the knowledge or training to provide Questioning sexual orientation, support for coming out The timing of the referral At first contact After a therapeutic relationship has been established

CURRENT LEGAL CONTEXT Marriage equality October/November, 2014, same sex marriage allowed in some judicial districts in Kansas June 26, 2015 US Supreme Court decision makes same sex marriage legal in all states What are the benefits of marriage? Legal benefits Emotional and psychological benefits What does marriage equality look like in Kansas? “As of 4 pm on all Kansas counties are issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples.” ( Census: 4,009 same sex couples in Kansas, or 3.6 couples per 1,000 households ( content/uploads/Census2010Snapshot_Kansas_v2.pdf) content/uploads/Census2010Snapshot_Kansas_v2.pdf 833 identify as married spouses, 3,176 identify as unmarried partners, 22% raising their “own” children

CURRENT LEGAL CONTEXT Discrimination in housing, employment Feb 2015, Governor Brownback rescinded an executive order that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in hiring and employment in the state government; argued that the executive order created another “protected class” that should only be established through the legislature No Kansas law bans discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in housing or private hiring Discrimination in provision of services (religious freedom laws) July 7, 2015 Governor Brownback issued an executive order (15-05) that allows for a “religious objection” for organizations receiving state funding to deny the provision of services, not just those related to marriage, but to social services in general, based on religious beliefs Adoption? Foster care? Medicaid?

ADDRESSING QUESTIONS OF FAITH AND RELIGION Therapist’s questions of faith and religion Holding the tension between therapist’s beliefs and client’s actions Clients may report engaging in behavior that offends a therapist on religious grounds Sex outside of marriage Dancing, drinking alcohol Discriminating against others Being in a sexual relationship with someone of the same sex What do you do when a client reports engaging in behavior that offends you on religious grounds? Responsibility to the client, responsibility to yourself

ADDRESSING QUESTIONS OF FAITH AND RELIGION To the extent that sexual orientation is a focus of treatment, LGB clients might identify questions regarding faith and religion; they may struggle to reconcile what they know of themselves and what they have been taught about religion “Do I offend God?” “Will I be separated from loved ones now or in the after life?” How you address these depend on your own training and practice setting, and on the client’s request for addressing these Helpful referrals include those to resources – books, websites, support/discussion groups – or to a pastor or priest from the client’s faith background, or one who you know to be gay affirmative Additionally, family members of LGB individuals might identify struggling with faith or religious questions and could need additional support and resources