Ethical Considerations With LGBTQ Clients

Working with LGBTQ clients and their families requires practitioners to be aware of multiple ethical codes, cultural competency standards and clinical interventions. Practitioners address issues around homophobia, transphobia, gender discrimination, religious or spiritual beliefs and sexuality in themselves, society and their clients. This workshop will cover applicable codes and cultural competence standards, definitions of gender, gender identity, sex, and sexuality, language use considerations, transition stages, confidentiality boundaries and best practices for informed consent.

• Identify specific ethical considerations with LGBTQ clients.
• Discuss the difference between sex, sexuality, and gender.
• Identify the role of therapist’s own values in best practice.
• Identify particular confidentiality and informed consent considerations.
• Describe appropriate linguistic and cultural practices.

Ruth A. Lipschutz, ACSW, LCSW