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One of
the primary functions for which LAGPA was instituted was
to learn
about new ways of helping those GLBT persons we serve
and meeting the
professional needs of our member. As the fall season
began, we added a
twist to our social/kick off by having the ever popular
Leslie Quinn, MFT
present a shortened version of her now famous workshop,
Painless Marketing
for Therapists. In this workshop, which lasted
approximately half an hour
over Tex-Mex fare, everybody attending had the chance to
get to know
somebody new, be introduced to all attendees in the room
and learn how to
present themselves with a clearer, more memorable
message. There were even
several professional relationships started that
afternoon based on the
energy and space that Leslie had created. Nobody went
away without
learning something useful.
Several weeks later, we were fortunate to have Terry Oleson, PhD speak to
us
in our forum, Embracing Gay and Lesbian Archetypes: The
Bitch, the Brute,
and
the Wimp. Dr. Oleson is a professor and clinical
supervisor for many years
at California Graduate Institute, in West Los Angeles.
Oleson began his
comments by stating that though Jung's writings seem
convoluted, there is
rich material therein. Psychosynthesis was the key word
in this
discussion, as we moved into archetypes and the positive
and negative
aspects of our own sub-personalities. Integrating and
synthesizing shadow
qualities has a significant place in Oleson's work. He
finds that we need
both the bitch as well as the brute quality in us even
if we tend to shy
away from the negative connotations of these aspects of
ourselves.
Several weeks later, we hosted a different subject,
Gender Play in Japanese
Popular Culture and It's Influence on Adolescent
Viewers, with Sue Scheibler,
PhD. Dr. Scheibler once again asserted herself as a
facile instructor, as
she helped us explore the many layers of gender identity
fluidity in
characters which are the basis of, or inspiration for
the video games and
cartoons which children, adolescents and many adult are
so involved in.
Understanding the history and the development of these
characters/persona
utilized in games and television led to a surprising
awareness of how these
images, in a subtle yet identifiable way lead to a more
conducive
perspective for accepting diversity, specifically gender
identity and
sexual orientation. We saw examples ranging from Pokemon
to the Simpsons,
as to how the issues are treated fairly and honestly.
Dr. Scheibler also
instructed the attendees in a psychoanalytic perspective
of the influence
that such exposure will bring. Television will never be
the same again,
and for such wonderful reasons.
These forums were held on Friday evenings and Sunday
afternoons, so as to
accommodate as many people as possible. We have also
tried lunchtime
meetings for presentations. LAGPA is always eager to
hear your
suggestions as to when the best time for you to attend
is, and what
subjects you would like to see explored.
LAGPA is celebrating ten years of service next year, and
the events planned
will celebrate the wealth of experience and knowledge
our members have and
seek. Come and join us--it's nothing like you've ever
seen! |
