Theologically Conservative Christian Counselors, Value Conflicts, and lgbtq+ Clients: A Phenomenological Inquiry

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Licensed mental health counselors are held to ethical standards guided by core values of the profession, including the need to not impose the counselor’s values in ways that might impact the counseling process. These value conflicts may be especially difficult to navigate for theologically conservative Christian counselors who work with clients who hold lgbtq+ identities. In this phenomenological study, we explored the lived experience of five theologically conservative Christian counselors who see lgbtq+ clients and found themes of: Maintaining Christian Identity, Establishing Professional Identity, and Integrating Counselor and Christian Identity. Implications and needs for future research are considered.