In 2013, Jeff Kelly (clinical psychologist) and I began a network for therapists who identify as and/or work with gay, lesbian, bisexual and sex and gender diverse people. We meet every six weeks to reflect on our clinical approaches, theoretical frameworks, new research, and the broad issues facing ‘queer’ communities.
We are a friendly and supportive network, and share a commitment to reflective and affirming practice.
I have and continue to work with sex workers in a variety of ways. I am a sex-positive therapist and provide individual counselling for people involved in the sex industry. I have been involved in research with sex workers and have presented a poster presentation regarding models of support for sex workers at the 6th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (with Kim Benton). Through RhED (Resourcing Health and Education in the Sex Industry), I also contribute to workshops and seminars on issues of relevance to sex workers.
Working with young people has been a constant theme throughout my work. I have managed youth specific services (general and sexual health), I have worked with young volunteers, have presented at seminars on issues regarding sexuality, sexuality education, and youth mental health, and have supervised students conducting research into the link between young people’s mental health and sexual risk taking.
I have worked in HIV and sexual health in a number of roles; and was involved in HIV research in the early years of the epidemic in Australia. I have published or contributed to articles on sexual risk taking by gay and other men who have sex with men, condom use, the impact of mental health on sexual risk taking. I have developed educational resources for young people and training programs for youth workers.
In June 2005, I prepared a discussion paper for the Victorian Department of Human Services regarding models of care for transgender people. This paper continues to inform government decision making regarding public investment in the care and support of transgender Victorians.
If you’d like to view the paper, you can download the PDF from this link.
In 2002 I wrote an article called Mental Health & Transitioning for the FTM Australia website. This and a number of other articles were included in the handbook Transitioning Female to Male in Australia developed from the articles on the FTM Australia website.
The whole article can be read here (more…)