GAP Training for Mental Health Provider Education

Overseen By Maggi Price, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Boston College

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new training program for mental health providers, focusing on gender-affirming psychotherapy (GAP). The goal is to determine if this training helps providers use proven therapy methods with young people. Providers can complete the online program at their own pace. Mental health providers working with gender-minority youth, aged 12-25, might be a good fit for this trial. As an unphased trial, it offers providers the chance to enhance their skills and contribute to improving mental health care for gender-minority youth.

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 prior data suggests that this training intervention is safe for mental health providers?

Research shows that Gender-Affirming Psychotherapy (GAP) helps individuals align their mental health care with their gender identity. Studies have found that both providers and recipients generally report positive experiences with gender-affirming care. This type of care creates a supportive environment for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, which can lead to improved mental health.

While specific details about negative effects in GAP training aren't available, gender-affirming care overall is linked to positive mental health outcomes, such as reduced anxiety and depression. This suggests that the training is likely safe and well-tolerated. Additionally, the study's "Not Applicable" phase designation indicates that GAP training is educational and doesn't involve direct medical treatment, which usually implies minimal risk. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Gender-Affirming Psychotherapy (GAP) Training because it offers a specialized, online approach tailored specifically for mental health providers working with transgender and non-binary individuals. Unlike traditional mental health training, which often lacks specific guidance on gender diversity, GAP Training focuses on evidence-based practices that affirm gender identity. This method is asynchronous and online, making it more accessible and flexible for providers to learn at their own pace, potentially leading to more informed and supportive care for patients.

What evidence suggests that GAP Training is effective for mental health provider education?

Research has shown that Gender-Affirming Psychotherapy (GAP) Training enhances therapists' skills when working with transgender youth. One study found that therapists who completed this training felt more confident and positive about using supportive practices with their clients, indicating they felt better prepared to help transgender youth effectively. Another study found that these training programs increase therapists' cultural awareness and understanding of the unique challenges transgender individuals face. Overall, these findings suggest that GAP Training can significantly improve how mental health providers support transgender youth. This trial will test an online asynchronous evidence-based practices training intervention to further evaluate the effectiveness of GAP Training. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Maggi Price, PhD

Principal Investigator

Boston College School of Social Work

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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.

Exclusion Criteria

There are no explicit criteria for exclusion.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Gender-Affirming Psychotherapy (GAP) Training

Trial Overview The 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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Training Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The single-arm intervention study will test an online asynchronous evidence-based practices training intervention.

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Affirmative LGBT psychotherapy: Outcomes of a therapist training protocol. Pepping, CA., Lyons, A., Morris, EMJ.[2020]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11530703/

Gender Affirming Psychotherapy (GAP): Core principles and ... To reduce these inequities, mental health providers need knowledge and skills to enhance transgender youths' treatment engagement and benefits.

2. osf.io osf.io/8r95h/download/

Gender Affirming Psychotherapy (GAP): Core principles ... This study119 is also piloting several complementary implementation strategies, such as an online training, training incentives, and champion preparation.

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-knowledge-attitudes-practice-8-2022-0ee0b

GAP Training for Mental Health Provider Education The intervention group demonstrated greater improvements in therapist self-reported affirmative attitudes, practice self-efficacy, and affirmative practices ...

4. psycnet.apa.org psycnet.apa.org/record/2024-22263-001

Effectiveness of a 9-month queer- and trans-affirming training ... The ACCEPTance training program was an in-depth, 9-month, 45-hr training program about queer- and gender-affirming therapy.

5. paloaltou.edu paloaltou.edu/resources/translating-research-into-practice-blog/queer-affirming-training-for-therapists

Queer-Affirming Training for Therapists The effectiveness of training for mental health professionals to increase queer-affirming (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual) cultural competencies ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9829147/

Training Mental Health Professionals in Gender-Affirming Care This study aims to (1) explore the training experiences that had been available to MHPs who are actively providing care to TGNC individuals.

7. williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/experiences-gac-providers/

The Experiences of Gender-Affirming Care Providers in States ... Using data from 133 gender-affirming care providers, this study examines the professional and personal experiences and challenges faced by providers, ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005789424000352

State of the Science: LGBTQ-Affirmative Psychotherapy This state of the science review outlines the history, current evidence, and future directions of LGBTQ-affirmative psychotherapy.

9. columbiapsychiatry.org columbiapsychiatry.org/news/gender-affirming-care-saves-lives

Gender-affirming Care Saves Lives Research demonstrates that gender-affirming care—a medical and psychosocial health care designed to affirm individuals' gender identities— ...