Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Issues in Counseling of Alabama

To reflect the organization's outreach to and inclusion of transgendered persons in its focus of concern, AGLBICAL members voted to officially change its name.  Also, in keeping with the national organization's recent name change, the G (Gay) and L (Lesbian) positions in the title have been transposed.  Therefore the new name of the organization is ALGBTICAL or the Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling.

The ALCA (Alabama Counseling Association) officers approved the name change by unanimous vote at the May 2, 2008 Executive Council Meeting.

The website address (URL) will remain the same for now.  Eventually, we plan to change the web address to match the name of the organization.  Also, the many pages that comprise this website will be edited so that all references to the organization will eventually be changed to the new name.  Until the transition is complete, you may see the organization referred to by both names throughout this website.
 
 

Beyond Barbie, Ken, and the DSM: Working with the Lived Experiences of Transgendered Clients

Presenter: Stacee Reicherzer, Ph.D., LPC, NCC

ALMHCA (Alabama Mental Health Counselors Association) presented its Winter Workshop on February 22, 2008.  It featured training on transgender issues.

 

The presentation was developed through the research and clinical work of the Dr. Stacee Reicherzer, who identifies and lives as transgender.  While a good deal of the presentation was directly informed by Dr. Reicherzer’s clinical practices, her dissertation research, which developed a grounded theory through the use of transgender narratives, was the primary source of skill-emphasis.

This included, as educational content, a demonstration of sex, sexuality, and gender as continua; skill-building in inviting client language, and working with clients’ named experiences of gender; guidelines for supporting clients’ rights to choose hormones and surgical reassignments; and counselor resources for support of the process of working with transgender clients.   The presentation was intended primarily for counselors who work in community mental health and private practice settings that transgender clients may access in seeking care.

Audience members learned about: the distinctions between and within sex, sexuality, and gender; the emerging language that transgenders use in describing gender experiences, with emphasis in the process of creating language as a means of naming self as a gendered being; established protocols that are outlined in the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care for the purpose of diagnosis and assessment for clients who are seeking hormone replacement therapies and sexual reassignment surgeries; and additional counseling skills that transgenders have specifically identified as needs of the counseling profession.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. Stacee L. Reicherzer, LPC, NCC is a counselor and counselor educator whose primary clinical and research emphasis has focused on gender and sexual diversity across the lifespan. She is the current president of the Texas Association of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues in Counseling (TAGLBIC), and has recently been invited to participate in an international delegation, hosted by Columbia University, that studies the global impact of shame and humiliation.
 

Dr. Reicherzer has provided numerous lectures, workshops, and press interviews related to GLBTQIQ issues, including a special interview that featured for an episode of the Discovery Health network series, Dr. G: Medical Examiner. She currently is in the process of writing a textbook chapter on qualitative research of transgender issues, as well as a textbook chapter on bisexuality and gender identity development among adolescent males.
 

Dr. Reicherzer is philosophically guided by relational-cultural theory (RCT), and is a trained practitioner of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). In her private practice, she specializes in work with survivors of hate crimes and sexual abuse, and has clinical skill in addressing the spectrum of dissociative disorders, PTSD, somatoform disorders, and borderline personality disorder. Additionally, she provides consultation and training services that focus on diversity celebration and increased efforts toward collaboration in organization development.

CONFERENCE AGENDA

 

8:00-8:30                  Registration

8:30—10:00              The Continua of Gender and Sexuality

10:00-10:15              Break

10:15-11:45              Assessing candidacy and readiness for hormone replacement

                                 therapy and sexual reassignment surgery

11:45–12:30              Lunch

12:30 - 2:00              The lived experiences of gender in mental health

2:00-2:15                  Break

2:15 - 3:45                The counselor and the transgender client- working through

                                 disconnects and misunderstandings

3:45 - 4:00                Summary and questions

 

The most recent AGLBICAL Executive Council Meeting was on September 22, 2007 at Angela Stowe’s House.  In attendance were Mark Leggett, Glenda Elliott, Michael Lebeau, Jamie Satcher, Angela Stowe, and Frank Hrabe

 

Among the topics discussed were the recent ALCA Award Nominations and the new AGLBICAL Grant Applications. 

 

Also discussed were Fall Conference preparations, including our information table and the Wednesday night reception.

 

An official position statement on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression was introduced, discussed, and adopted.

 

AGLBICAL's involvement in the Alabama Coalition for Safe Schools was discussed.

 

Angela announced that ALMHCA will have a winter workshop that will focus on transgender issues with a national speaker titled "Beyond Barbie, Ken, and the DSM: Working with the Lived Experiences of Transgendered Clients." AGLBICAL voted to sponsor a break during this workshop and agreed to provide resources and information for the participants.

 

The national organization, the Association of Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Issues in Counseling (AGLBIC) has recently changed its name to the Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC).

The new name adds "transgender" to the title and reverses the order of "gay" and "lesbian."

Since AGLBICAL (Association of Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Issues in counseling of Alabama) is a state branch of ALGBTIC, discussion has begun locally to change the name of the Alabama branch to reflect the national organization.
 

On Friday, June 8, the AGLBICAL Officers met for an Executive Meeting, followed by a General Meeting open to all AGLBICAL members.  The meeting, which was presided over by President Mark Leggett, took place at Michael Lebeau's home in Birmingham.  Topics of discussion included a recap of the successful Spring Workshop, the upcoming awards nominations, and program submissions for ALCA Fall Conference. Food and festivities followed the business meeting.
 

Pictured here, left to right, are AGLBICAL officers and members who were present at the meeting: Angela Stowe, Donna Melder, Anita Neuer, Glenda Elliott, Michael Lebeau, Gary Williams, Frank Hrabe, Gary Williams, Jamie Stacher, Mark Leggett

 

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On Saturday, March 29, the new AGLBICAL President, Mark Leggett, presided over his first executive meeting and hosted a wonderful dinner.  The meeting of AGLBICAL top officers took place at Mark's home in Tuscaloosa. Mark sent out this report to AGLBICAL members:

 

The most recent AGLBICAL Business Meeting was held on Thursday, December 14 at 4:30 PM at Jim & Nicks Restaurant on 11th Avenue South in Birmingham.

AGLBICAL Officers and Committee Chairs met to reflect on the activities of the conference in Mobile and to discuss upcoming plans.
 

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ALCA counselors statewide gathered for their 40th annual conference, November 15-17 in Mobile at the Riverview plaza Hotel and Mobile Convention Center.

It was an amazing opportunity for Alabama counselors get together for networking, socializing, and a variety of activities, including professional development seminars.  Guest speakers included William Glasser (Counseling Theorist & Author), Marie Wakefield (ACA President), and Tonea Stewart (Actress).

ALCA President, Shirley Barnes, presided under the banner: "Celebrating our Past... Embracing our Present... Envisioning our Future."

 

The Awards Breakfast on Wednesday morning yielded many award winners among AGLBICAL members.

 

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AGLIBICAL STATE CONFERENCE
Upcoming in 2007
 

RECENT MEETING
AGLBICAL Officers Meet in Birmingham
 

 

A regular AGLBICAL Business Meeting was held on Friday, June 23 at 5:00 PM at the Glenwood Annex House on 1520 13th Avenue South in Birmingham.

Officers, Committee Chairs and Members met to discuss organizational issues, including committee appointments and conference plans.  The agenda also included discussion about speaker and handbook resources and political advocacy.  Recent regional incidents, association concerns, and colleague requests were also addressed. President Donna Melder presided.

     

Pictured here are some of the AGLBICAL Officers, Chairs, and Members who were in attendance at the meeting: Donna Melder, Mark Leggett, Glenda Elliott, Jamie Satcher, Michael Lebeau, Gary Williams.

Donna Melder, AGLBICAL President, hosted a recent AGLBICAL Meeting on May 24 at 4:00 PM in Birmingham.

Officers, Chairs, and Members on hand for the meeting included Glenda Elliott, Frank Hbrabe, Angela Stowe, Michael Lebeau, Paul Hard, and Joan Leary.

 

Pictured here are AGLBICAL Officers, Chairs, and Members: Frank Hrabe, Michael Lebeau, Angela Stowe, Paul Hard, Glenda Elliott, Donna Melder

Committee reports were given. Recent activities were discussed. Ideas for upcoming events were reviewed.

Plans are being made for a state conference in Spring 2007. 

Interested individuals are being sought to serve as officers and committee chairs for a variety of organizational functions.

Possible AGLBICAL activities for the next Fall Conference (in Mobile) were addressed.  Members are encouraged to submit content session proposals.

ALCA Past President Paul Hard presented the official AGLBICAL charter and gavel to AGLBICAL President Donna Melder.

The meeting ended with a surprise baby shower for Michael Lebeau who recently became a father for the first time.
 

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MESSAGE FROM AGLBICAL PRESIDENT
Donna Melder

I am excited to tell you that we will be expecting to put together a winter/early spring conference in 2007. In this effort, I am asking for people to volunteer to be on a conference committee that Mark Leggett will be chairing. Mark will probably need a lot of assistance. Please get in touch with me as soon as you can so I can coordinate with Mark. This conference will be an AGLBICAL conference that can include content areas across the counseling spectrum.
 

Paul Hard (ALCA Past President) presenting the official charter and gavel from the national organization to Donna Melder (AGLBICAL President), Frank Hrabe (AGLICAL Founder) and Glenda Elliott (AGLBICAL Founder)

In addition to the program portion of the conference, we are looking for someone to head up a hospitality committee to handle such business. This would include refreshments, welcome and registration.

Finally, I am also looking for members who are willing to be officers in our growing division. It is my vision that we increase membership in two specific areas:  graduate students, and professional members. With this said, I need an immediate response for the call for a co-lead committee for membership. One graduate representative and one professional.

It is a busy time for all of us professionally, personally, spiritually, etc. However, given the wonderful website we have running thanks to Michael, and the other responsibilities of the board being handled quickly and responsively… I believe that this would be a commitment that could be managed by any of our strong membership. Please let me know what your interests are in this area soon.

Lastly… I know I already said finally, but hey, Please plan to attend our board meeting in late June to put all of these items in place. I am looking at the weekend after Father’s Day.

Joy Whitman, National AGLBIC President, presented the new Alabama branch, AGLBICAL, with its charter and ceremonial gavel at the ACA Convention in Montreal.  Paul Hard, ALCA President, represented AGLBICAL and received the charter and gavel.

 

Pictured with ALCA President, Paul Hard (wearing a red tie), are Joy Whitman, AGLBIC President, and Susan Seem & Ed Cannon, Co-Chairs of AGLBIC’s Branch Chapter Committee