Improving the evidence base for LGBT cultural competence training for professional psychologists: Commentary on “quality LGBT health education: A review of key reports and webinars”.

Abstract

Matza, Sloan, and Kauth (this volume) reviewed published reports on how psychologists can work successfully with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) clients to improve their physical and mental health. The authors identified core themes and used those themes as the criteria by which to evaluate available “webinar” self-study programs focused on LGBT health. In this commentary, I commend them on their interesting and important work, briefly raise some potential issues with the use of webinars (or any self-study programs) to increase skills in working with LGBT clients (or, really, members of any sociocultural group), and then suggest a three-step research agenda that could be useful for answering the open questions in the field of LGBT cultural competence training.