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The Intersection of Spirituality, Religion, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity in Family Therapy Training: An Exploration of Students’ Beliefs and Practices

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Abstract

This study explored the relationship between the level of clinical training that family therapy students receive related to spirituality and/or religion and their beliefs about providing therapy to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) clients. The sample consists of 341 students in family therapy programs who completed an online survey assessing the level of training on spirituality and/or religion that students received as well as indicators assessing the level of congruence between students’ spiritual and/or religious beliefs and the practices of LGBT affirmative and reparative therapies. The findings highlight a number of significant associations between the training students receive on spirituality and/or religion and their beliefs about therapy with LGBT clients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development and Family Science, North Dakota State University, Dept. 2615, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108-6050, USA

    Christi R. McGeorge & Thomas Stone Carlson

  2. Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA

    Russell B. Toomey

Authors
  1. Christi R. McGeorge
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  2. Thomas Stone Carlson
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  3. Russell B. Toomey
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Correspondence to Christi R. McGeorge.

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McGeorge, C.R., Carlson, T.S. & Toomey, R.B. The Intersection of Spirituality, Religion, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity in Family Therapy Training: An Exploration of Students’ Beliefs and Practices. Contemp Fam Ther 36, 497–506 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-014-9312-8

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