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

Cultural competence in working with gender nonconforming clients is a core ethical and professional obligation in counseling, yet predictors of counselors' perceived competence remain insufficiently examined. Guided by the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCCs), this study examined whether demographic characteristics and prior training experiences predicted self-reported competence in working with gender nonconforming clients. Using a randomized experimental survey design, 83 student and professional counselors were assigned to view images of cisgender men with or without makeup, then completed an adapted 12-item Sexual Intervention Self-Efficacy Scale (SISES). Results indicated no significant difference in perceived competence between groups, suggesting that brief situational exposure to gender nonconforming presentation did not affect self-reported competence. Across the full sample, more hours of diversity training, LGBTQIA + /gender-specific training, identifying as a sexual or gender minority, and holding a master's degree significantly predicted higher self-reported competence. These findings indicate that sustained, targeted professional development contributes to counselor preparedness for gender-affirming practice more than single-exposure interventions.