Counseling Bisexual Clients Competency Scale (CBCCS): Development and Psychometric Evaluation

The purpose of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a scale assessing one's self-perceived counseling competency with bisexual clients. This study is important due to the dearth of theory and research concerning counseling competency with bisexual clients in the field of counseling psychology, especially considering the unique counseling concerns of this population. The procedure of this study involved four stages of (a) initial item development, (b) expert and stakeholder review, (c) exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency and validity analyses, and (d) test-retest reliability analysis. Participants for this study include therapists- and counselors-in-training working toward Master's or Doctoral Degrees in counseling psychology, clinical psychology, school psychology, social work, and family therapy. The theoretical foundation for this study suggested a three-factor structure (i.e., self-awareness, knowledge, and skills) for counseling competency with bisexual clients. Results supported a three-factor structure and demonstrated validity and reliability of the scale. Implications for theory, research, and practice, and future research directions will be discussed.