• 335-01 - MFT Training in Sexual Minority Issues: A Core Faculty Perspective
  Presented by: Lindsay L. Edwards, MS, Janet Robertson, MS, Paula Smith, MDiv., Nicole O’Brien, MA, LMFT
• 335-02 - Establishing the Validity of the Feminist Couple Therapy Scale
  Presented by: Christi McGeorge, Thomas Stone Carlson, Russell Toomey
• 335-03 - Biphobia and Affirmative Training: Exploring Family Therapy Students’ Beliefs
  Presented by: Liz Nova, Christi McGeorge, Thomas Stone Carlson

Abstracts

MFT Training in Sexual Minority Issues: A Core Faculty Perspective

Presented by: Lindsay L. Edwards, MS, Janet Robertson, MS, Paula Smith, MDiv., Nicole O’Brien, MA, LMFT

Given the relational nature of many of the issues faced by LGB clients, LMFTs are in a unique position to provide valuable therapeutic services. The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) has yet to establish standards for programs to follow when training students for this work. How students are trained in issues of diversity has been left up to the discretion of core faculty. This study assessed the current climate of MFT programs concerning training in LGB topics by surveying core faculty members on their programs' policies, curriculum, clinic procedures, and overall training in this area.

Establishing the Validity of the Feminist Couple Therapy Scale

Presented by: Christi McGeorge, Thomas Stone Carlson, Russell Toomey

This study sought to establish the validity and factor structure of the Feminist Couple Therapy Scale (FaCTS) as a measure of therapists' use of feminist principles and practices in their work with heterosexual couples. Additionally, this study examined the latent associations among the subscales of the FaCTS and two feminist constructs utilizing a sample of 217 couple and family therapists. The results of this study suggest that a belief that patriarchy is central to the practice of therapy with heterosexual couples is strongly associated with engaging in clinical practices that address the power differentials that exist between men and women.

Biphobia and Affirmative Training: Exploring Family Therapy Students’ Beliefs

Presented by: Liz Nova, Christi McGeorge, Thomas Stone Carlson

Few studies have focused on student therapists' beliefs about bisexual clients and the impact of LGB affirmative training on these beliefs. This study found that the more LGB affirmative training students receive was associated with lower levels of biphobia. The results also suggest that couple and family therapy (CFT) students have similar levels of experience working with bisexual and lesbian clients, but report significantly lower levels of experience with gay clients. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that CFT training programs could implement LGB affirmative training as an effective tool in reducing students' self-reported levels of biphobia.