Assignment task:
One of the goals of this educational experience is for you to contemplate the role of culture and other factors that impact your identity and the way you view the world around you. This journal submission will give you an opportunity to reflect on and integrate the course material.
This exercise aims to help you understand how your various identities influence and shape the lenses through which you view the world. This knowledge is useful to you as you begin to meet with clients.
Reflect on the questions below:
Q1. What is your understanding of what it means to be a culturally competent social worker working with the LGBTQ community?
Q2. What are some of the challenges (including both personal and professional) you may encounter when working with this population?
Q3. Talking with a client about their sexuality, sexual concerns, or sexual orientation might be uncomfortable for both you and the client. How can you increase a client's comfort level and minimize their fear and embarrassment? How will you address any challenges that you might experience (e.g. feelings of discomfort, nervousness, etc.)?
Share some ways that you can be an ally to the LGBTQ community.