Experiences of LGBTI+ Clients in the Context of Helping Professions

Abstract Book of the 11th International Conference on Modern Research in Social Sciences

Year: 2026

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Experiences of LGBTI+ Clients in the Context of Helping Professions

Ema Choutková, Vladimir Lichner

ABSTRACT:

Working with diversity is a key focus in the education and practice of helping professionals. Helping professions must accept the diversity of individuals seeking support, including marginalized groups, ethnicity, religiosity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. However, LGBTI+ clients still face discrimination, prejudice, and misunderstanding, which can negatively affect their social, psychological, and life outcomes. A major issue is the lack of awareness of their specific needs. The aim of this research was to identify the barriers that LGBTI+ individuals encounter when accessing professional care and to analyze these barriers within a broader social and systemic context. The results of the study did not reveal statistically significant differences between the analyzed groups in terms of overall satisfaction with services. However, the findings indicate a noticeable level of dissatisfaction among some respondents and highlight several areas perceived as insufficient within helping professions.

Keywords: LGBTI+, Diversity, Client Satistfaction, Helping Professions, Inclusive Practice