accommodating for potential LBGTQ clients

Respond to at least one colleague in one of the following ways: share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting, validate an idea with your own experience, or expand on your colleague’s posting.(Note: You do
not need to respond to the discussion question, it is included for your
reference so you are aware of what questions the students are replying to) I
posted my colleagues’ responses to the discussion question below, please
respond to their post. Begin the response with Hi Nicole/India) (I need at least
a half page response for each person) Please include references and provide the
url link to all journal articles you use as references. Use current (meaning
within the past 2 years) scholarly journal articles as references. Please use
APA 6th edition format. Thanks)Discussion Question: Imagine you are working in a small agency in a small town. What are a few tangible ways that you could change your practice so that it is accommodating for potential LBGTQ clients (ex. waiting room, assessments, practitioners, etc).Nicole’s Post: Working with the LGBTQ community in a small town, I would change my practice to make the environment friendly and comfortable. I would show this by having pictures of me and the staff at LGBTQ events and functions. The staff would be understanding and non-judgmental supportive. I have worked with the adolescent LGBTQ population and one thing they feel they felt they do not have is a voice. My practice would allow the clients to be verbally expressive yet appropriate. They would also be included in groups by becoming a facilitator and joining the organization social media sites in hopes of building community relationships and networking. I think it is also important to hire LGBTQ staff members because more of an insight and awareness of sexuality and discrimination is gained about the population. India’s Post: According to the American Bar Association, (2017,)”Developing cultural competency is key to best representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, says Angie Martell, founder and managing partner of Iglesia Martell Law Firm, PLLC (pp. 1)” If I worked in a small agency, in a small town, I would make sure that all of the staff were properly trained on best practices for working with LGBTQ clients at a mental health or social services facility. I would make sure that I had magazine issues of Psychology Today, People, Entertainment Weekly, Out Magazine, and The Advocate, plus I would have pamphlets on the wall, included with the other pamphlets about community resources, such as housing, recovery from addiction services, discussion and support groups, legal services, job placement and assistant programs, domestic violence resources, emergency food and shelter assistance, for both LGBTQ and heterosexual clients. I would check to make sure my practice had updated assessments that are inclusive of LGBTQ terms and culture, and I would hire practitioners with experience in LGBTQ Counselling. I would paint a mural on the wall, that says, “this is a safe and welcoming space for all.” I would also include an inclusive bathroom, with the men and womens’ bathrooms, that LGBTQ clients could use. Reference(s):N.A. American Bar Association: 5 Tips of Best Representing LGBTQA clients, April 2017.