The development, implementation, and evaluation of an LGTBQ ally training for mental health professionals

Little research has been conducted to examine the impact of ally trainings used to increase LGBTQ cultural competency levels among professionals. This dissertation seeks to add to the existing literature by detailing the process of creating an ally training, from conception to presentation. Afterward, reflections will be shared about the creation process and the experience of presentation before discussing next steps. These next steps are acted upon in the following article, wherein a program evaluation is conducted by presenting this training to mental health professionals to examine the difference between their pre and post training LGBTQ cultural competency levels. This evaluation used measurements of clinical preparedness, attitudes, and knowledge regarding LGBTQ topics and issues. Findings indicate a positive change for each construct between pre and post training. Significant relationships were found in the differences between pre and post trainings scores for clinical preparedness, attitudes, and knowledge. Finally, a difference in knowledge from pre to post training was associated with reporting a difference in attitudes.