Experience Needed: Recruitment of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients in Coamfte-Accredited Training Programs

Abstract

This study explored the efforts that faculty at accredited Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) training programs made to recruit lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients, and to what extent these reflected the LGB-affirmative therapy training literature. The sample for this study included 63 faculty members from accredited CFT programs. The data for this study originated from a larger survey and included one Likert scaled item and one open-ended item focused on LGB client recruitment. The thematic analysis revealed five categories: (1) Fostering an LGBAffirmative Clinic Identity, (2) Marketing Efforts, (3) Networking and Collaborating, (4) Creating LGB-specific Training Opportunities and Programs, and (5) Limited or No Recruitment Efforts by Faculty. This study indicated that the majority of CFT faculty participants recruited LGB clients, while others reported no recruitment efforts. Implications for CFT clinical training from this study included communicating what a CFT training clinic stands for, and changes to accreditation standards.