Educating mental health professionals about gay and lesbian issues

Despite the large number of clients with gay and lesbian concerns, many mental health professionals remain biased and unqualified to serve them. Mental health professionals are poorly prepared to deal with sexuality in general and with gay and lesbian issues specifically. Education and training about gay and lesbian topics is needed both in graduate schools and in the field. This training should focus on three components: (1) information about sexual orientation, gay and lesbian lifestyles, and community resources; (2) the interface between the gay or lesbian client, his or her sexuality, and the effects of living in a heterosexist and homophobic society; and (3) the interaction between the attitudes, feelings, and sexual orientation of the clinician and of the client.