Mental Health Clinicians' Perceived Competence for Affirmative Practice with Bisexual Clients in Comparison to Lesbian and Gay Clients

Abstract

ABSTRACTThere is limited research on working affirmatively with bisexual clients in psychotherapy. The present study contrasted mental health clinicians' perceived affirmative counseling competence with bisexual clients to lesbian and gay (LG) clients. A sample of 312 heterosexual-identified mental health clinicians was recruited via an Internet-based survey. Participants were randomly assigned to either receive measures that referred to LG clients only or bisexual clients only. Path modeling was used to test whether LG group participants would report greater affirmative counseling knowledge, skills, and attitudes competencies compared to those in the bisexual group. Participants assigned to the bisexual client condition group reported less perceived affirmative counseling skills and knowledge but not attitudes compared to participants assigned to the LG client group. Implications, including the need for greater representation of bisexuality in psychotherapy education, training, and research, are discussed.