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This exploratory study applies the tenets of social cognitive theory to investigate the influence of gender self-confidence and of sexual identity exploration and commitment on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) affirmative counselor self-efficacy. Data were gathered from a convenience sample of 178 mental health clinicians. Controlling for participants’ age, professional experience, level of income, race and ethnicity, and sexual orientation, findings revealed that higher levels of LGB-affirmative counseling self-efficacy were positively associated with gender self-definition and with sexual identity commitment. Post hoc analyses conducted with the 5 subscales of the LGB-affirmative counseling self-efficacy measure indicated that findings varied across specific self-efficacy domains. Implications of these results for continuing education, training, and research promoting LGB-affirmative psychotherapy are discussed.

At the turn of the 21st century, the American Psychological Association (APA) issued guidelines for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) affirmative psychological treatment (APA Division 44/Committee on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns Joint Task Force, 2000). These guidelines were intended to respond to the need for improved training and practice to effectively assist LGB individuals seeking psychological services. Following these guidelines, a number of scholars developed conceptualizations and studies of LGB-affirmative psychotherapist training (e.g., Biaggio, Orchard, Larson, Petrino, & Mihara, 2003; Bieschke, Perez, & DeBord, 2006; Finkel, Storaasli, Bandele, & Schaefer, 2003). In this literature, LGB-affirmative counseling is defined as “therapy that celebrates and advocates the authenticity and integrity of lesbian, gay and bisexual persons and their relationships” (Bieschke, McClanahan, Tozer, Grzegorek, & Park, 2000, p. 328).

Several researchers (Bieschke, Eberz, Bard, & Croteau, 1998; Dillon & Worthington, 2003) have applied theoretical tenets from social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986) to LGB-affirmative psychotherapist training in an effort to better delineate ways to train psychotherapists in LGB-affirmative practices. These researchers posited that the exposure of psychotherapists and trainees to four sources of self-efficacy (performance accomplishments, vicarious learning, verbal...