Facilitating Resilience Across the Intersections
Author(s): Shelley L. Craig, Rachael V. Pascoe, Vivian W.Y. Leung, Laura Foran,
Highlights
Background
LGBTQ+ youth and young adults are at an increased risk of experiencing prejudice and victimization related to their identity status. This increased stress leads to a disproportionate prevalence of mental health concerns when compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers (Kuper et al., 2018; Lucassen et al., 2017; Meyer, 2003).
Affirmative cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a subset of evidence-based CBT intervention that highlights the values of LGBTQ+ identities and recognizes the role of stigma on individual well-being. However, further investigation is required to illuminate barriers and facilitators to implementation effectiveness.
Study Description
This study aimed to articulate the barriers and facilitators of affirmative CBT group therapy from the perspectives of both clinicians and youth. Each of the 56 implementation trials consisted of eight two-hour group sessions.
The sample consisted of 334 LGBTQ+ youth participants ranging in age from 11-29 years (M = 20.19) and 24 clinicians who completed the 16-hour AFFIRM training, which has been found to increase competence in the delivery of affirmative CBT.
Data was collected from a mixed-methods survey through the Qualtrics online survey platform and included the Beck Depression Inventory, client satisfaction measures, and five client and clinician specific post-intervention open-ended questions.
Key Findings
This study aimed to articulate the barriers and facilitators of affirmative CBT group therapy from the perspectives of both clinicians and youth. Each of the 56 implementation trials consisted of eight two-hour group sessions.
The sample consisted of 334 LGBTQ+ youth participants ranging in age from 11-29 years (M = 20.19) and 24 clinicians who completed the 16-hour AFFIRM training, which has been found to increase competence in the delivery of affirmative CBT.
Data was collected from a mixed-methods survey through the Qualtrics online survey platform and included the Beck Depression Inventory, client satisfaction measures, and five client and clinician specific post-intervention open-ended questions.
