Learning Theory of Career Counseling (LTCC) and LGBTQ Youth

1. Learning Theory of Career Counseling (LTCC) and LGBTQ Youth Amber Cangelosi, B.S. Lori Nanan, B.A. Holy Family University

2. Krumboltz’s LTCC(as cited in Zunker, 2006, Chapter 2) Social learning theory of career decision making that asserts that social conditioning and life events influence career choice. Learning experiences and skills are key in exploration of careers Focus on discovering and unlearning faulty beliefs that negatively affect career decision making.

3. Krumboltz’s LTCC • Four factors in process of career development • Genetic Endowments and Special Abilities • Environmental conditions and events • Learning Experiences • Task approach skills Other factors: Concept of self from life experiences and performance learning experiences, skill set for coping with environment, and career-entry behavior Learning through observation and direct experience as well as faulty beliefs and generalizations very important in this model; counselor acts as educator to empower client to explore and experiment with possibilities

4. Applying LTCC for LGBTQ Youth • Datti (2009) describes application of LTCC for counseling LGBTQ youth • Discusses how issues facing LGBTQ youth such as fear, discrimination, and identity struggles pose unique learning experiences for LGBTQ youth making for greater difficulty in career decision-making and career development. • Any additional issues you can think of affecting this population and career development?

5. LTCC Four Factors and LGBTQ youth • Genetic Endowments and Special Abilities • (gender, physical appearance, race etc.) • Can be viewed as positive or negative to client depending on learning experiences. How might this limit LGBTQ youth in perceptions and choices of certain careers? Environmental Conditions and Events School culture, geographic region, legislation, family atmosphere

6. LTCC and LGBTQ Youth • Learning experiences • Coming out (rejection/acceptance), school climate and learning of perceptions of LGBTQ youth Task Approach Skills More active or passive in confronting discrimination depending of generalizations about self and/or whether or not he or she is “out”

7. LTCC and LGBTQ Youth • Importance of four factors in developing self-defeating ideas about careers, development of worldviews about oppression in the workplace, caution in career tasks, narrowing career exploration • How might these issues further complicate career counseling with an LGBTQ youth who is also disabled or an ethnic minority? • How might a gay youth experience these things differently from transgendered youth?

8. Recommendation and Implications for Counselors Consider LTCC theory and how social learning affects career decision making for LGBTQ youth. Do you agree or disagree? Create LGBTQ friendly environment What to do to reach clients who are not “out”? Consider other pertinent variables and interactions with being LGBTQ Provide appropriate assessments and explore various career options Increase counselor cultural competence of LGBTQ population

9. Helpful Resources and Websites • Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network www.glsen.org • National Center for Transgender Equality www.nctequality.org • HBO (2002) The Laramie Project • No Name-Calling Week Coalition www.nonamecallingweek.org • Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays www.pflag.org • www.outforwork.org

10. References • Datti, P. (2009). Applying social learning theory of career decision making to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning young adults. The Career Development Quarterly, 58, 54-64. • Zunker, V. G. (2006). Career Counseling: A Holistic Approach. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.