Pink Therapy

Pink Therapy News
Keeping YOU in the Frame
October 2008
In This Issue
Essentials Course
Supervision of SMT
Working with Older LGBT People
PT Yahoo Group
The Right to Be Workshop
Trans and Gender Variant Research
KINK/BDSM Aware Therapists
Press for Change
LGBT Consortium Volunteers
Recently Diagnosed Course
Treatmentshomosexuality.org.uk
Switchboard seeking
Catherine Butler
Consulting Room
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links

Greetings!
Dominic DaviesAs I sit here writing this in our Soho office - the sky is blue and the sun shining   at last we get a bit of Summer as we approach Autumn and what a busy one we have planned.  The new one year Certificate in Sexual Minority Therapy will start next week with a group of seven students (we only had eight places available) and so we're all very excited about this.

We've a number of new workshops starting this year - including what is sure to be a ground-breaking Introduction to Running Therapeutic Groups run by Tim Foskett who had been running the PACE group work programme for many years and Charles Neal whose own therapy group has run for over 10 years

We've uploaded all the back issues of the Newsletter to the website.  Click here to go straight to it

Essentials in Sexual Minority Therapy Course
Commencing 4 October
imageThere are just a couple of places left.  We anticipate this being a very rich learning experience. 

The course starts on 4 October in a fully wheelchair accessible venue in Tufnell Park (NW5).  Due to the stairs at Archer St, we are committed to making one Essentials course a year fully accessible and will locate other workshops in wheelchair accessible premises as needed. 
Full details of the course here.
Supervision of Sexual Minority Therapy
Friday 12 Nov or Saturday 6 Dec
rainbow parade This is a small seminar aimed at supervisors on what's different about supervising therapists working with gender and sexual minority therapy.

You may have also seen that our Clinical Assciates Damian McCann & Cloud Taylor have an article on Supervision in the current (September) issue of the BACP Journal therapy today Vol 19 (7): 34-36. Both Cloud and Damian are involved in teaching these supervision masterclasses.

The date of the next seminar is Friday 21 Nov 10.30-4.30pm with Dominic or for those who prefer a weekend date: Sat 6 Dec 1-7pm with Cloud Taylor.
Click here for a course flyer
Working with Older LGBT People
15 November 2008
image
We're coming to the view that ageism is alive and well since we've had very few applications for this workshop.  This is the first time we've put something on working with Older (50+) people and are somewhat surprised by the lack of interest.  If you are considering booking, please remember we have to make a decision one month before an events date to decide it's viability.  So bookings need to be received by 15 October. For more information click here.
 
Pink Therapy Yahoo Group
yahoo logo
At the request of one of our Directory members we've established a Yahoo group it is a discussion group for therapists interested in working in a non-pathologising manner with gender and sexual minority clients. If you are a therapist of whatever theoretical or sexual orientation and however you define your gender identity, you are welcome to join the discussion.  You can also upload relevant articles (and Dominic's put a few online to tempt you in)!

Whilst the group is primarily aimed at counsellors, psychotherapists, clinical and counselling psychologists we also welcome therapists from other disciplines who have an interest in mental well-being.

To join the group send an email to [email protected] and remember check your SPAM folder if you don't immediately see a reply.

"The RIght to Be" Workshop
Wednesday 12th November
campusCome to the beautiful campus of York St Johns University for a one-day workshop on 'the Right to Be' Led by Dominic Davies.

The day will be a mix of teaching and learning methods exploring personal values and beliefs, understanding of reparative therapy, and identifying areas of strength and development for further work.
The workshop will be held on Wednesday 12th November, and Further details are available from Chris Mortimer at York St Johns
Email: [email protected]
 
FINAL CALL Trans and Gender Variant Research Participants

TG logo
Tina Livingstone, known to many of you as one of our trainers in working with trans clients and a Pink Therapy Accredited Sexual Minorities Therapist is undertaking a study into trans clients experiences of therapy as part of her Masters in Counselling at the University of Strathclyde. Her research aims to inform good practice in counselling and psychotherapy. She is looking for people who are trans-identified (transvestite, transgender, transsexual) or trans-historied (have completed gender reassignment).

This research concerns Trans-Identified and Trans-Historied clients' experience of appropriate and inappropriate therapists' practices toward them in Counselling and Psychotherapy

It is about experience of counselling and psychotherapy for issues such as loss, bereavement, work related stress, bullying, relationship problems etc. Human issues that may occur without, prior to, alongside or after gender reassignment.

The research is not concerned with the process or outcomes of gender reassignment itself.

If you would like to know more and would kindly consider taking part please click on this link to complete an online survey.  Feel free to pass this information to friends and clients. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=4IYxDh2KO_2frQJC1fSmnIrA_3d_3d
If you would like any more information or have any concerns with regard to taking part in this study, please feel free to contact me via Tina's academic email:
[email protected]
 
KINK/BDSM Aware Therapists needed

rope_kinkWe have become aware that is is sometimes difficult to help members of the Kink community to find kink aware therapists.  If you are comfortable working with people who either live a BDSM lifestyle or engage in BDSM/Kink practices and it's not currently on your entry in the Directory, then please let us know and we can amend your profile.
 
PRESS FOR CHANGE NEEDS YOUR HELP IN RAISING FUNDS

PFC is always short of money, and as we start the next round of consultation with Government, we have to deal with the extraordinarily high rises in Train Fares, and other means of transport.
We have also recruited 2 part time members of staff: Dr Lewis Turner and Ryan Combs, in order to maintain office cover. We cover utilities costs by having them work in a room in my home. We have paid the wages of the staff, by the PFC VP's and the staff acting as training and research consultants to various organisations such as the Dept. of Health or the European Union. But we find the very heavy workload we are having to take on to meet the salary costs, means the staff have little time to do 'PFC work'. We need to try and get a better balance but we can only do that by having more money.
Our current income is around �250 per month in standing orders, and occasional small donations and anything we earn. This is only 1/6th of the wages bill each month.

PFC NEEDS YOUR HELP IN RAISING FUNDS.
You can do this by:
� Holding a tea and biscuits evening, indoors picnic or just asking your friends for money.
� Selling your junk on ebay
� Being sponsored for an event - e.g. abseiling down Canary Wharf

Or simply by making a donation - details below:
Write a CHEQUE in favour of Press for Change and send it to our main address: Press for Change, BM Network, London WC1N 3XX
Or pay by CREDIT CARD: We can now accept credit card payments over �10 through Paypal. Click on http://www.paypal.com. The payments are to Press For Change, required payment email: [email protected]
Or BETTER, write to [email protected]  and ask for a Standing Order form in order to send a regular amount of money each month or year.

Finally, you can also send money from anywhere in the world, direct to our bank. Simply use your online or telephone banking system, visit or write to your bank and ask them to transfer the amount you want to give to:

Press for Change
c/o National Westminster Bank PLC
280 Claremont Road
Manchester
M14 4EP
ENGLAND
Bank sort code: 01-02-02
Account: 21752486

Our grateful thanks in advance
Professor Stephen Whittle OBE
Professor of Equalities Law, Manchester Metropolitan University

LGBT Consortium Volunteers

consortiumLooking to involve LGBT Volunteers, or are you an LGBT person looking for a volunteering opportunity?
The LGBT Consortium's Free Volunteering Brokerage Service can help you!
The Consortium of LGBT Voluntary and Community Organisations is looking for both LGBT volunteers and LGBT organisations with volunteering opportunities. If you'd like information on this free service, register with us today and we can promote your volunteering opportunities to LGBT volunteers. If you're a volunteer, yourself, you'll receive emails with volunteering opportunities at a wide range of LGBT organisations.
Registration is easy. Simply email Charlie Parker at [email protected] for a registration form. Once you've filled it in, just email or post it back to us and from October we'll send the details of your organisation's volunteering opportunity to our bank of volunteers.
We are currently offering this service to LGBT organisations and volunteers only. If you have any questions please contact Charlie on 020 7064 8383 or email him at [email protected]

Recently Diagnosed Course at Positive East

The next Recently Diagnosed Course at Positive East in Stepney begins on Saturday 18.10.08 (9.30am - 4.00pm) and then continues on Wednesday evenings (5.30pm - 9.00pm) from 22.10.08 until 10.12.08.
The course is free and designed mainly for people who have received a diagnosis of HIV at some time within the last twelve months.
In a safe and supportive setting, along with others in a similar situation, the course allows you the opportunity to begin dealing with the impact of your diagnosis, and to learn more about living with HIV. You will find that a wide range of information is provided, and we hope that this, along with the chance to share your experiences with others, will help you explore your feelings about being positive and to take a look at the many issues faced by positive people.
The weekly sessions cover topics such as diet and nutrition, advice and information from an HIV consultant, a discussion about sex and relationships with a psychologist, and a talk with a careers advisor about employment related issues.
A clinical nurse specialist discusses practical issues and concerns about treatment and adherence, while a psychologist helps us to explore the issue of disclosing our status to those who are closest to us.
A clear understanding of the benefits system is provided by a welfare rights advisor, while insight is given into a range of available counselling therapies by a counselling psychologist. The present situation regarding transmission and the law is also explained, including a look at the Crown Prosecution Service and recent court precedents.
In addition, there will be the opportunity to meet and talk with people who have lived with HIV for a number of years, and to hear about the beneficial effects of complementary therapies.
If you feel the course offers what you are looking for, or for more information about this course, you can call Jim Jewers at Positive East on 02077912855 or email to [email protected]
Places are limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis. Subsequent courses will run throughout the year.
Treatmentshomosexuality.org.uk

treatment_web A group of researchers at UCL have recently established a website about use of treatments to try to make homosexual people heterosexual.  The work led by Michael King arose from research funded by the Wellcome Trust from 2001 to 2004 into the oral history of such treatments in Britain since 1950.  During this research a number of oral histories were collected from LGB people who had undergone treatment and the professionals who had developed and provided the treatments.  

The group now wants to expand the work on the website by asking for contributions from people around the world who may have undergone a treatment to attempt to become straight.  This might have been hormone or other medical treatment, psychotherapy, aversion behaviour therapy, and various forms of reparative therapy.  

Their stories can be posted on this website.  Friends or relatives of someone who has received or is receiving treatment may also want to give their stories.  The group is also eager to hear from professionals, be they doctors, psychotherapists, councillors or psychologists who may have undertaken these treatments at any time in their career.  

You can send your account in written, audio or video format.  If it is suitable it will be added to the stories already on this website. 
Treatmentshomosexuality.org.uk
Switchboard seeking Trustees, Counsellors and Relationship Counsellors

Switchboard Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard is seeking LGBT identified trustees to provide strategic direction to this long standing local charity. Switchboard provides information, listening, support and counselling to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community.
There are currently specific defined roles that are vacant on the board of trustees which include responsibility for fundraising, IT and our involvement in Pride.
Applications are particularly welcomed from women, people who identify as trans, and LGBT people from the BME community as these groups are currently underrepresented on the board of trustees. Anybody interested in these specific roles or anybody who has skills that they feel would benefit Switchboard's board of trustees can find out more information by contacting either:
Andrew Thompson, Lead Trustee
[email protected]
OR
Natalie Woods, Services and Development Manager 01273 207050
[email protected]
NB. There is a genuine occupational requirement that trustees of Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or tans.

Counsellors
They are also seeking 2 male volunteer counsellors qualified to at least diploma level and is also offering 2 volunteer training placements to student counsellors on a recognised diploma level course.
Interested counsellors are asked to contact the Services and Development Manager Natalie Woods for further information and an application form on 01273 207050 or [email protected]. The closing date for completed applications will be Friday 14th November with interviews being held in December.
NB. There is a genuine occupational requirement that counsellors volunteering for Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard's counselling service identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans. Switchboard also has a current genuine occupational requirement for two volunteer male qualified counsellors.

Relationship Counsellors
PROUD2CONNECT is a partnership service between Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard and Brighton Relate providing relationship counselling to the LGBT community.
The service is currently seeking relationship counsellors who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans. Applicants must have a psychodynamic and systemic training to at least diploma level.
Interested counsellors can contact Relate's Centre Manager Dana Cohen on 01273 608518 or [email protected] for more details.
NB. There is a genuine occupational requirement that counsellors working for the PROUD2CONNECT service identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans.
 
Catherine Butler

Catherine Butler Sadly for us, our clinical associate Dr Catherine Butler has recently taken on an exciting new post in Hackney and is unable to continue as a clinical associate, seeing clients privately.  We are very pleased though that she will remain on the training team as a training associate.
Central London Consulting Room

Room 2There is a second, simply decorated consulting room at our Archer St offices - 3 mins from Piccadilly Circus tube.  It's very suitable for therapists who have a mixed (straight/gay) practice. There is both daytime and limited evening availability.
More information:
www.pinktherapy.com/rent.html or contact Dominic [email protected]


Thanks for your interest and attention and please do keep us informed of relevant events in your area.
Dominic Davies
Pink Therapy