232 Participants Needed

GAP Training for Mental Health Provider Education

MP
Overseen ByMaggi Price, PhD
Age: Any Age
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Boston College
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The overall goal of the larger 3-aim study is to develop and pilot test a training intervention to increase mental health providers' use of gender-affirming practices with gender minority youth (GMY; children, adolescents, and young adults whose gender is different from their birth-assigned sex). Aim 3 (registered here) of the study is an open trial pilot study at a multi-clinic mental health agency, aimed at examining the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a future randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Gender-Affirming Psychotherapy (GAP) Training?

Research shows that training mental health professionals in LGBTQ+ cultural competence, including gender-affirming practices, improves their attitudes, confidence, and skills in providing care to LGBTQ+ clients. This suggests that similar training, like GAP, could help therapists offer better support to transgender and gender diverse individuals.12345

Is GAP Training safe for participants?

The research on LGBTQ+ cultural competence training, similar to GAP Training, shows high satisfaction and no reported safety concerns, suggesting it is generally safe for participants.12678

How is GAP Training for Mental Health Provider Education different from other treatments for gender-affirming care?

GAP Training is unique because it focuses on educating mental health providers to improve their cultural competence and affirmative practices specifically for gender minority clients, addressing a gap in existing training programs that often lack comprehensive gender-affirming education.12568

Research Team

MP

Maggi Price, PhD

Principal Investigator

Boston College School of Social Work

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English-speaking mental health providers working with youth aged 12-25, gender minority youth (GMY) within the same age range receiving services at the pilot site, and their caregivers. Providers must be employed by the pilot site. GMY and caregivers must also identify as a gender minority.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 18, speak English, and care for someone at the pilot site who is receiving mental health services.
I am a gender-minority, aged 12-25, getting mental health services, and speak English.
I am a mental health care provider, over 18, and fluent in English.

Exclusion Criteria

There are no explicit criteria for exclusion.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training Intervention

Participants undergo an online asynchronous gender-affirming training intervention called 'GAP Training'

4 weeks
Online engagement

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in provider practices and client satisfaction

12 months
Regular assessments at 6-month and 12-month intervals

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Gender-Affirming Psychotherapy (GAP) Training
Trial OverviewThe study aims to develop and test a training program called Gender-Affirming Psychotherapy (GAP) Training for mental health professionals. It will evaluate if this training can improve care for gender minority youth through an open trial before moving on to a larger randomized controlled trial.
Participant Groups
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Gender-Affirming Psychotherapy (GAP)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
The single-arm intervention study will test an online asynchronous gender-affirming training intervention called "GAP Training."

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Boston College

Lead Sponsor

Trials
40
Recruited
49,300+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials
3,007
Recruited
2,852,000+

Findings from Research

A pilot randomized controlled trial tested the Sexual and Gender Diversity Learning Community (SGDLC) training, which improved LGBTQ+ climate in mental health organizations and therapist competence, showing significant positive changes in attitudes and practices among therapists.
The intervention group demonstrated greater improvements in therapist self-reported affirmative attitudes, practice self-efficacy, and affirmative practices compared to the control group, indicating that the SGDLC training can enhance the quality of care for LGBTQ+ clients.
LGBTQ+ cultural-competence training effectiveness: Mental health organization and therapist survey outcome results from a pilot randomized controlled trial.Boekeloo, B., Fish, J., Turpin, R., et al.[2023]
Training in LGBT-affirmative psychotherapy significantly improved the knowledge and skills of 96 mental health professionals, regardless of their years of experience or personal characteristics.
The training also led to notable reductions in negative attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals, indicating that such educational programs can effectively enhance therapists' cultural competence and affirming practices.
Affirmative LGBT psychotherapy: Outcomes of a therapist training protocol.Pepping, CA., Lyons, A., Morris, EMJ.[2020]

References

LGBTQ+ cultural-competence training effectiveness: Mental health organization and therapist survey outcome results from a pilot randomized controlled trial. [2023]
Affirmative Stances in Training Programs Toward Sexual and Gender Minority Clients: Views From Clinical and Counseling Psychology Graduate Students. [2023]
Affirmative LGBT psychotherapy: Outcomes of a therapist training protocol. [2020]
Educational preparedness to care for transgender and gender diverse adults: Perspectives of mental health professionals. [2023]
Considerations on medical training for gender-affirming care: Motivations and perspectives. [2021]
Eating Disorder Specialist Views on Gender Competency and Education for Treating Gender Minority Patients. [2023]
A simple curriculum content change increased medical student comfort with transgender medicine. [2022]
Assessing the Implementation of an LGBTQ+ Mental Health Services Training Program to Determine Feasibility and Acceptability During the COVID-19 Pandemic. [2023]