Professional expectations of provider LGBTQ competence: Where we are and where we need to go

IntroductionMental and behavioral health professional organizations use their governing documents to set expectations of provider competence in working with LGBTQ + clients.MethodThe codes of ethics and training program accreditation guidelines of nine mental and behavioral health disciplines (n = 16) were analyzed using template analysis.ResultsCoding resulted in five themes: mission and values, direct practice, clinician education, culturally competent professional development, and advocacy. Expectations for provider competency vary greatly across disciplines.ConclusionHaving a mental and behavioral health workforce that is uniformly competent in meeting the unique needs of LGBTQ populations is key for supporting the mental and behavioral health of LGBTQ persons.