Degree Date
4-2026
Document Type
Dissertation - Public Access
Degree Name
Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy
Academic Discipline
Counselor Education and Supervision
First Advisor
Martin Cortez Wesley
Second Advisor
Laura Schmuldt
Abstract
Mental health counselors increasingly work with sexually minoritized clients, yet limited understanding exists regarding how social desirability shapes counselors' perceived cultural competence and their willingness to broach sensitive sexual topics in therapeutic settings. This gap can obscure the subtle ways personal conditioning and professional performance pressures influence clinical practice. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore how social desirability influences mental health counselors' experiences and perceived cultural competence when discussing sex-related topics with sexually minoritized clients. Guided by symbolic interactionism, the study employed a purposive and snowball sampling strategy to recruit ten mental health counselors with direct clinical experience serving sexually minoritized populations. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's (2022) six-phase Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Six themes emerged: Provider Knowledge, Training, and Ongoing Learning; Evolving Provider Comfort with Sexuality; Creating Safety and Inclusivity Around Sexuality; Cultural Context, Identity, and Power; Professional Boundaries, Ethics, and Reflexivity; and Complexity of Sexuality in Clinical Context. Findings revealed that counselors' behaviors were often shaped by personal upbringing and a desire to appear competent, rather than solely by client needs. Social desirability meaningfully shapes counselor-client dynamics, with the most effective practitioners demonstrating sustained self-reflection and humility. Counselor education and clinical supervision should integrate affirmative-practice training, and future research should employ anonymous or indirect methods to further reduce social desirability bias.
Recommended Citation
Kinney, Jareb, "The Intersection of Social Desirability and Cultural Competence in Counselors: Broaching Sexual Topics with Sexually Minoritized (LGB) Clients" (2026). Dissertations. 1010.
https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/1010