Course Description:

This course is based on a publication the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and is designed to provide mental health and substance abuse counselors with a great deal of information regarding working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) individuals. 

This course provides a short overview of multiple issues related to LGBT individuals It is based on a publication that presents information to assist providers in improving substance abuse treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) clients by raising awareness about the issues unique to LGBT clients.  The course begins with an overview for providers that includes incidence, definitions and covers sexual orientation over the life span.  Cultural issues with LGBT individuals as well as specific legal issues are reviewed.  The publication goes on to describe the coming out process and differences between families of origin and families of choice.  Specific clinical issues that are significant are reviewed for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals.  LGBT youth are reviewed with attention paid to the risk factors that are significant for this population.  Health issues that are important for LGBT individuals are also reviewed.  The publication ends with a review of the counselor competencies in treating LGBT individuals. 

This course serves as an excellent resource for mental health professionals who work with substance abuse, or who would like to improve their clinical skills by learning more about how to work with lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered individuals.  Given the prevalence of LGBT individuals, this course provides much needed information to improve the cross cultural competencies of clinicians. 

Psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists can benefit from this course. This course may also be helpful for other practitioners, such as midwives and dieticians and nutritionists who work with substance abuse or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals. 

This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to learn more about LGBT individuals and substance abuse treatment.    

Author:  SAMSHA

Learning Objectives:  This course will provide a professional with a review of cultural and clinical issues that are significant for LGBT individuals.  Specifically, a professional will:

·         Identify cultural competencies for working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals.

·         Describe legal issues that are specific to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals who are in treatment.

·         Describe how heterosexism contributes to substance abuse.

Citation:  SAMSHA (2001).  A Provider’s Introduction to Substance Abuse Treatment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals.  DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 01-3498.