Psychologists’ Practices in Supporting LGBTI Clients’ Self-Advocacy Skills
Date
2023-09-18
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Globally, Canada has been a leading country incorporating the social justice framework in psychological theory and practice, which includes supporting sexual minorities. In the past decades, researchers and clinicians have focused on addressing systemic barriers by advocating for their clients. More recently, the concept of self-advocacy has been included in ethical guidelines, encouraging professionals to promote in their practice empowering clients to speak on their own behalf. The present study explored how Canadian psychologists promote client self-advocacy skills development using the enhanced critical incident technique (ECIT), an exploratory qualitative research method. Specifically, this study explored the factors that facilitate and hinder psychologists in supporting clients in developing self-advocacy and what factors they wish had been present as they engaged in this work. The sample consisted of 9 psychologists located in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Data analysis conducted using established ECIT protocols yielded 373 critical incidents (CIs) and Wish List items (WL) that were organized into the following categories: (1) 13 helping CIs; (2) 8 hindering CIs; and (3) 6 WL. Findings suggest that self-advocacy can be developed in one-on-one counselling settings and through the therapeutical process. Additionally, the findings suggest that creating safe spaces within the counselling settings and outside communities influences the ability of LGBTI clients to speak on their own behalf. Implications for researchers, psychologists and other mental health professionals are provided.
Description
Keywords
self-advocacy, social justice, counselling practice, social action, LGBTI
Citation
Ibarra-Alexanderson, L. G. (2023). Psychologists’ practices in supporting LGBTI clients’ self-advocacy skills (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.