Gay, Lesbian and Transgender

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="125785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Creative Transitions</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Creative Transitions"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Creative Transitions"><U><B>Creative Transitions</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="126d2b03.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="pageproperties.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Services"><U>Services</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Counsellor Qualifications"><U>Counsellor Qualifications</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Therapy Approach"><U>Therapy Approach</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="pageproperties17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eating Disorders"><U>Eating Disorders</U></A></div> <div> <B>Gay, Lesbian and Transgender</B></div> <div> <A HREF="pageproperties1e.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Career Counselling"><U>Career Counselling</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="page_properties.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cultural Transition"><U>Cultural Transition</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Creativity Counselling"><U>Creativity Counselling</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FAQ"><U>FAQ</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Topic Articles"><U>Topic Articles</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="location_of_creative_transitions.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact/Location"><U>Contact/Location</U></A></div> <div> Shirley Katz Leon, Ph.D., CCC</div> <div> Psychotherapist</div> <div> 647-244-3050</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <U> <a href='http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cdkFHcm4bOxFupzFiRT3J8w0DrtAezY3nRyYqA_x002F_I9Ytko4AkW8FgMhhVjvd_x002B_sILF2zTOg5oMCXe2LoVPEC0_x002B_tQNnLC455n2M5k_x003D_'><img src='http://www.liveperson.com/virtualpages/onlineexp.aspx?_x0030_GPIXn7A5YknbebLquhQCn_x002F_PQ9Lrrb8BSCUtRxQw2lr3iGPt_x002B_kEHOROs6ZjDdApNjy3U_x002B_JZnfsjPYiaNRG8wOw_x003D__x003D_' border='0' align='absmiddle' alt='Ask an Expert - Visit my Virtual Office at LivePerson'></a>  </U>                                                                                                                                   <U><IMG SRC="13377b30.jpg" border=0 width="119" height="179" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U>Gay, Lesbian and Bi-Sexual Clients</U></div> <bR> <div> I take a cross-cultural approach with GLBT folks.  What that means is, I have respect for and honour differences, but at the same time I don't seek out difference or rely on stereotypical views to understand and help people.  By listening to and honouring your own personal experience I can best understand and support your counselling goals.  Still, it helps that I am open minded, supportive and understanding of the unique struggles and experiences that people face in their lives when they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. I understand the community "issues", the family and coming out process, the relationship dynamics, the frienship dynamics, etc.  I welcome people from the gay and lesbian community to work with me individually and in couples counselling.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Transgendered/Gender Varient/Gender Identity Issues</U></div> <bR> <div> I am a memeber of CPATH and have worked long and short-term to support clients transitioning in their gender.  I am aware of and compliant with the standars of care and I take a positive and supportive role.</div> <bR> <div> Dealing with family and community can be very stressful and discouraging and it is always helpful to have an understanding professional support you through this. There are a multitude of barriers that gender variant people face and many challenges to coming out and transitioning.  These challenges can lead to secrecy, loneliness and isolation, feelings of shame, low self-esteem and sometimes a perfectionistic concern with the approval/acceptance of others.  There can be positive and negative ways of coping with people and identity.  Identity is often tied to a sense of belonging, and belonging can be a big challenge for people dealing with gender variance.  Supportive counselling can be a life-changing and empowering experience, even if experienced only from time to time.  Longer term care is available also for people preparing for full time living in their congruent gender, and letters can be written to support requests for surgery, etc.  I am aware of supports and resources in the community and can gently guide you through this process if you are ready, or support you in becoming ready.  Please do not hesitate to contact me.  Coming out and discussing something like this that may have been a secret for most of your life can be extremely anxiety provoking, but also relieving and rewarding.  I understand this.  My services are completely confidential and can take place over the phone.  Please see services page.</div> <bR> <div> Please go to http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-transgender/  </div> <div> to read an article I wrote on body image and transgender.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>