Heteronormativity and Counselor Self-Efficacy Working with Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth face increased harassment, discrimination, and mental health challenges as they navigate heteronormative society, which treats them as abnormal, outcast, or immoral. SGM youth may rely on mental health counselors to help them navigate these unique challenges. There is no research on the relationship between mental health counselors’ levels of heteronormativity and their self-efficacy in working with SGM youth. Using the Heteronormative Attitudes and Beliefs Scale and a self-efficacy scale created for this study, the researchers explored the relationship between mental health counselors’ levels of heteronormativity and their levels of self-efficacy in working with SGM youth. The results showed that heteronormativity and self-efficacy in counseling SGM youth were negatively correlated. The researchers explore the implications of these findings for mental health counselors and discuss the research limitations.