Date

3-10-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Gary Probst

Keywords

LGBTQ, Christian counselors, ethical care, cultural competence, discrimination, counseling satisfaction

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

LGBTQ individuals experience mental health issues more frequently than the heterosexual population (Benz et al., 2019; Hinton et al., 2024; Nakamura & Logie, 2020). It appears that they often face unique challenges when seeking mental health care (Makadon et al., 2015). These may become complex when working with Christian counselors when there are conflicting beliefs between their religious views and their counseling standards (Lane, 2021). Although previous research has identified barriers to care for the LGBTQ community and the psychological impact of non-affirming religious settings, there is little research on how these dynamics unfold specifically within a Christian counseling relationship (McGraw et al., 2023; Makadon et al., 2015). This research examined counseling among the LGBTQ population when working with Christian mental health professionals and their religiosity and discrimination and their satisfaction with counseling. In addition, this research explored the impact of Religious Trauma, counselor bias, and identity conflict within the counselor and the LGBTQ population when working with Christian counselors on their counseling satisfaction. It is imperative to explore behaviors among Christian counselors that may be seen as harmful or discriminatory among the LGBTQ population and impact their satisfaction with counseling services. Identifying these will help Christian counselors work with LGBTQ clients in ways that reflect professional standards, ethics, and competence, while also honoring their religious beliefs.

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