Antioch University Los Angeles Announces New LGBT Studies Specialization in Clinical Psychology

Los Angeles, CA — After a multi year national search, Antioch University Los Angeles today announced the appointment of Douglas Sadownick, Ph.D as the Lead Faculty Member of the newly launched Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology in LGBT studies.

Antioch University Los Angeles is proud to add the country’s first specialization in LGBT studies within a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program. Considered by many to be a major advance for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) liberation movement, the Masters in Psychology program is currently accepting applications for Fall 2006.

We have been working for almost a decade to develop this specialization,” adds Joy Turek, Ph.D., chair of Antioch University Los Angeles’ Clinical Psychology Program. “We hope to achieve at least two goals: to sensitize all our students to LGBT issues and thus enhance our overall curriculum, as well as to train student therapists, as well as licensed psychotherapists, how to work with the LGBT client community in affirmative and effective ways. Students will graduate with a skill set that will be invaluable to the community. We also hope to become a resource in the gay community for learning, history and cultural expression.”

Douglas Sadownick, the newly named Lead Faculty Member of the LGBT specialty, is a longtime instructor within Antioch University Los Angeles’ Master of Arts in Psychology program and is also a local psychotherapist and co-founder of Highways Performance Space. Sadownick just completed his dissertation for Pacifica Graduate Institute in clinical psychology. A local author, his two published books are Sacred Lips of the Bronx, and Sex Between Men: An Intimate History of the Sex Lives of Gay Men, Postwar to Present. He is also an award-winning journalist, best known for his gay-beat work at the L.A. Weekly during the `90s.

Sadownick is excited about the new LGBT studies in Clinical Psychology program and its ability to contribute back to the LGBT community. “It is an important development in the gay liberation movement for an institution of higher learning to seek to train student therapists how to become competent LGBT-affirmative therapists.” says Sadownick. “By doing this, Antioch University Los Angeles is sending a message to the community at large that LGBT liberation can be a progressive force for social change for all individuals.”

The LGBT specialization in Clinical Psychology’s core curriculum will feature five course classes, including LGBT History and Mythology, LGBT Affirmative Psychotherapy, Issues for LGBT People of Color, Issues for Gender Variant Clients, and LGBT Clinical and Community Issues. Charley Lang, longtime gay activist and postmodern psychotherapist, will teach LGBT Affirmative Psychotherapy from a postmodern perspective while Ron Duran, Ph.D., a gay Latino clinician and activist will is at the helm of a LGBT Health and Research class. Workshops on bisexuality, lesbian liberation, addiction recovery, youth, aging and ancient shamanism are also being scheduled. An integral part of the specialization will be outreach partnerships with community-based organizations such as Bienestar, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, APLA, Altamed and others.

For more information please contact:

Douglas Sadownick, Ph.D.
Doug_Sadownick@antiochla.edu

Antioch University Southern California is a community of adult learners committed to the pursuit of academic excellence, experiential learning and social justice. For over 150 years, Antioch has proudly and consistently challenged educational conventions to inspire learning and leadership that promotes service to community and positive social change. Antioch University Southern California has a rich history within the community, with campus locations in both Culver City and Santa Barbara. In addition to a liberal arts undergraduate degree completion program, AUSC offers graduate degree programs in psychology, fine arts, education and organizational management. More information can be found online at http://www.AntiochLA.edu or http://www.AntiochSB.edu