Guidelines to Assess if a Counseling Center is Gay/Lesbian-Affirmative

Students with other than heterosexual concerns have good reason to approach therapy with caution and skepticism. Some will avoid counseling services at their college or university for fear of repercussions in other aspects of their educational experience. Others turn to campus counseling services because their needs are pressing and they are unsure of alternatives. The decision on where to seek counseling depends on the student and on the environment where the college or university is housed.

We are providing guidelines lesbian, gay, and bisexual students can use to assess the climate of counseling services available on their campuses. At the same time, these guidelines can be applied by college or university staff to ascertain appropriateness of outside services as referral sources for gay, lesbian, and bisexual students. Finally, additional guidelines are included which will help counseling center staff members do a thorough self-assessment of their own services to lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations.

Positive written acknowledgement of lesbian, gay & bisexual students:

If the Center uses a form to collect personal data from new clients, can a person completing the form validate a significant relationship or does the form simply offer check-off boxes for married, divorced and single? If the form asks for family data, is there a place to record information about a lover/domestic partner, or is the only space available labeled "spouse?"

If the Center has new clients complete a problem checklist, does it include gay/lesbian issues? If so, what is the language used?: "problems with homosexuality," "confusion over sexual preference," "Lesbian/Gay concerns,"etc.? Consider the implications of language used in terms of how these students are viewed by the agency: Is it a "problem," something to "adjust to," or seen as an important and valuable aspect of a person seeking help?

Does the Center offer groups for gay men and lesbians? If so, are they publicized outside of the Counseling Center or only to clients already in the system?

Verbal recognition of gay, bisexual and lesbian concerns:

If a new client requests to see a gay or lesbian counselor for intake, will the reception desk staff attempt to honor the request if possible (as they probably try to honor a request to see a female counselor)? How do staff deal with requests to be assigned to a gay or lesbian counselor for treatment?

If a client asks a staff therapist about his or her sexual orientation, does he or she seem comfortable discussing the subject (regardless of whether the therapist declines to share the information immediately)?

Visible resources for lesbian, bisexual and gay students:

If the Center subscribes to magazines/newspapers for a waiting area, are any of these gay or lesbian publications? If booklets on various topics are offered, are any of special interest to lesbians or gay men (e.g., coming out, dealing with anti-gay/lesbian harassment, safer sex, AIDS, etc.)?

Do all staff have information about local resources for gay/lesbian/bisexual people which may complement, supplement, or replace campus services?

Outreach to bisexual , gay, and lesbian students:

Do staff of the Center provide a liaison function with any gay/lesbian/bisexual student or staff organizations on campus?

When providing outreach programs, when appropriate, do counselors use examples of gay/lesbian situations or use neutral language so gay/lesbian/bisexual participants can apply concepts to themselves without having to translate pronouns or labels to "fit?"

Is there heterosexist language in handouts that are distributed by the Center?

Advocacy:

Does the Center take an active stance against heterosexism and oppression on campus? Such activities may include staff representations on committees that deal with discrimination, HIV-infection, women's issues, or other areas where issues of oppression are considered.

Staffing

If the Center publishes its own nondiscrimination statement, does it include sexual orientation?

When the Center adds or replaces staff, does it advertise in publications likely to be read by gay or lesbian candidates ? Is there a commitment to seek gay/lesbian/bisexual staff members in order to effectively serve gay/lesbian/bisexual populations? Are job announcements mailed to lesbian/gay agencies, organizations, and media?

When candidates are interviewed for jobs, does the Center attempt to identify and to screen out people who hold heterosexist attitudes or who do not have a commitment to ending discrimination against all oppressed groups?

This material is from Eldridge, N. S. & Barnett, D. C. (1991). Counseling gay and lesbian students. In V. Wall and N. Evans (Eds.), Beyond Tolerance: Gays, lesbians and bisexuals on campus, Alexandria, VA: American College Personnel Association.

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