"Ideal Expectations and Realities at HBCUs: Examining Counselors' LGBT " by Dae'Quawn Landrum

Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School

College for Community Health

Department/Program

Counseling

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Dana Heller Levitt

Committee Member

Michael Hannon

Committee Member

Leslie Kooyman

Committee Member

Elizabeth Rivera

Abstract

There is a dearth of literature about counselor training at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This quantitative study used a multiple regression to examine how graduates of counseling programs at HBCUs report their competence in working with LGBT clients and to what extent LGBT training, years of experience, and religiosity affect counselors' competence. The study consisted of 93 participants that graduated from counseling program sat HBCUs. The results revealed that each variable significantly affected various aspects of competence (knowledge, clinical preparedness, and attitudes). More specifically, counselors’ years of experience were positively associated with knowledge, LGBT training in master’s programs were positively associated with increased clinical preparedness, and religiosity showed a negative association with counselors’ attitudes. Furthermore, Caucasian counselors demonstrated more knowledge and clinical preparedness compared to other racial identities in this study. The results of this study underscore the importance of infusing LGBT training and topics into the counselor education curriculum at HBCUs. The results corroborate existing literature about the influence that years of experience and religiosity have on counselor competence. The results provide insight into counselor training programs at HBCUs, which are discussed along with implications for counselor educators, counselors, and supervisors, and recommendations for further research.

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