Assessing counselor competence in working with gender nonconforming clients: A randomized study

Area of Science:

• Counseling Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Cultural competence is essential for ethical counseling of gender nonconforming clients.
• Predictors of counselors' perceived competence with this population are understudied.
• The Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCCs) framework guides ethical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate demographic characteristics and prior training as predictors of counselor competence with gender nonconforming clients.
• To assess the impact of brief exposure to gender nonconforming presentations on perceived competence.

Main Methods:

• Randomized experimental survey design with 83 student and professional counselors.
• Participants viewed images of cisgender men with or without makeup.
• Adapted Sexual Intervention Self-Efficacy Scale (SISES) measured self-reported competence.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in perceived competence based on brief exposure to gender nonconforming presentation.
• Increased diversity and LGBTQIA+/gender-specific training hours predicted higher competence.
• Identifying as a sexual or gender minority and holding a master's degree also predicted higher competence.

Conclusions:

• Sustained, targeted professional development is crucial for enhancing counselor preparedness in gender-affirming care.
• Single-exposure interventions are less effective than comprehensive training.
• Future research should focus on developing and evaluating long-term training models.