The Guild now has a Facebook page! Members who are on Facebook can find us by searching for "LGBTQ Guild." Click here also.

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The Guild Meetings

We normally meet the 3rd Thursday of each month from 8:00 am to 9:30 am from September to May; no meetings are held from June to August. Each monthly gathering consists of 30 minutes of networking and business planning, followed by an hour of educational training about LGBTQ, mental-health topics. These trainings are provided by Guild members or specialists within the community.

Note that our January meeting will be a joint session with Association for Women in Psychology & Women in Private Practice on the evening of the 3rd Friday that month at the Women's Resource Center on the University of Utah's campus.

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at the Utah Pride Center (361 North 300 West) in the South Building.

Click here for the list of 2009-10 topics and presenters.

Click here for the list of 2008-09 topics and presenters.

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Pride Day

Each year we organize a contingent of our members to march in the Pride Day Parade as well as host a booth at the Pride Festival. We plan our Pride activities during our February through May meetings, specifically about our Parade theme, booth activities, and outreach. If you have any new ideas, let us know!

Click here, here, and here for a few more photos of the 2008 paraders and our "Wheel of Destiny" booth.

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What does it mean to be LGBTQ affirming?

The Utah Pride Center is offering training to develop LGBTQ Cultural Competency. Click here for more information.

Affirmative therapy for LGBTQ individuals is based on the premise that LGBTQ and heterosexual identities are equally valid. An LGBTQ affirmative counselor has particular knowledge, awareness (specifically self-awareness), and skills specific to competent counseling for LGBTQ individuals. While maintaining a broad view of acceptable lifestyles, LGBTQ-affirmative therapy intervenes by challenging oppressive stereotypes and systems of thought, and celebrates and advocates for LGBTQ people and their relationships.*

• The American Psychological Association (APA) has published the Guidelines for Psychotherapy with Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Clients. You can find a copy of the guidelines here. Click here also regarding Issues in Psychotherapy with Lesbian and Gay Men: A Survey of Psychologists, published by the APA.

• Click here for What a Competent Counseling Will Do and here for Competencies for Counseling Transgender Clients, guidelines created by the Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgedner Issues In Counseling.

• Click here for an excellent resource for mental health providers helping LGBTQ individuals resolve substance abuse.

• Check out the American Psychological Association’s Division 44, The Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues. This professional organization focuses on the diversity of human sexual orientations by supporting research, promoting relevant education, and affecting professional and public policy. Their website includes resources on Resolutions on Religious, Religion-Based and/or Religion-Derived Prejudice; Marriage; Military; and Parents and Children and Publications about Intersex and Transgender issues. Click here for these resources, including here for specific policy statements regarding LGBTQ concerns and Answers to Your Questions For a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation & Homosexuality & Avoiding Heterosexual Bias in Language.

• The website for American Psychological Association's Committee for LGBT Concerns also has important information.

Here is more helpful information:

• A Fact Sheet on Same-Sex Marriage from the National Association of Social Workers

• Information on Lesbian & Gay Parenting from the American Psychological Association

• Terms Commonly Associated with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Communities

• See also more affirmative resources in the Local & National Resources page and Bibliography page.

*From Morrow, S. L., & Beckstead, A. L. (2004). Conversion therapies for same-sex attracted clients in religious conflict: Context, predisposing factors, experiences, and implications for therapy. The Counseling Psychologist, 32, 641 – 650.

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Networking

In addition to meeting monthly, we maintain an active email list serve for sharing information, networking, and discussing referral options. Quarterly, we send out an updated Referral Guide on this list serve for members.

Please click here to access the Directory of LGBTQ-affirmative Psychotherapists we publish for this website.

Our legislative liaison coordinator is Melanee Cherry, LCSW, PhD. For more information, contact her at mcherry@sa.utah.edu

In addition to meeting monthly, we maintain an active email list serve for sharing information, networking, and discussing referral options. Quarterly, we send out an updated Referral Guide on this list serve for members. Contact Jim Struve, LCSW, at jimstruve@mac.com to join this email list serve.

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Leadership Council

6 members have volunteered to form a Guild Leadership Council: Jessica Elliott-Barlow, Phuong Le, Susan Lyons, Deanna Rosen, Robin Tracy, and Jim Struve. Their first meeting was 10/9/09 and they are in the process of formulating projects that support the mission of the Guild, developing a decision-making structure, and expanding outreach opportunities. All meetings of the Leadership Council are open and available for members to attend. Contact Jim for information (jimstruve@mac.com or 364-5700, Ext. 1).

 

Join Us…

To join our emerging network and email list, contact Jim Struve, LCSW, at jimstruve@mac.com or 364-5700, Ext. 1. Include your name, credential, postal address, phone number, and e-mail address. Let Jim know if you would like to be listed in the online Directory of LGBTQ-affirmative Psychotherapists we publish for this website.

Voluntary dues are requested for a yearly membership (September 1st thru August 31st). You are still eligible to participate in the e-mail distribution list whether or not you contribute voluntary dues. However, we are trying to secure a $25 voluntary dues from as many of our members as possible. Our expenses during the past year included signage and materials for Winterfest and Pride Festival, business cards, permits for Pride Festival parade and booth, and design and operating expenses for the website.  

To be included in the Guild's website Resource Directory, individual clinicians need to contribute $50 and agencies need to contribute $75. Resource Directory listings can include your name, address, phone, e-mail, website address, and/or a 50 word (max) description of your therapeutic approach or services.

Checks should be payable to "LGBTQ Psychotherapists Guild" and mailed to George Limberakis at P.O. Box 526265, Salt Lake City, UT.  84152-6265. If you have any questions about your payment, contact George at george@yourcounselor.net.