Sexual & Gender Diversity (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Intersex)

With Gay & Straight Psychologists Fully Trained in LGBTI Issues

You Can Trust That We REALLY Undersand

Our Principal Psychologist Paul Martin has been voted twice as one of Australia's Most Influential Gays and Lesbians (2007 & 2010). He is a well known international trainer psychologists, psychiatrists, GP's, social workers, Counsellors and Christian Leaders in Best Practice Counselling for LGBTI clients. He writes for the gay media, is interviewed by mainstream media about same sex attraction issues including ABC Radio Local & Radio National, ABC TV, Cleo Magazine, MX, news.com, & Courier Mail. He speaks with politicians about same sex attraction & mental health, and lectures for the University of Queensland School of Medicine on mental health issues around HIV.

We work with LGBTI people & organizations around LGBTI issues including:

Individuals

Control & self mastery over emotional issues

Counselling
Clinical Hypnosis
Workshops
Seminars

Organizations

¨ Sexual/Gender Diversity Programs for managers & employees

¨ LGBTI awareness training through workshops and e-learning.

¨ LGBTI specific Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) including counseling for employees & Manager Assist

Q & A

What is Sexual and Gender Diversity?

As long as humans have existed we've been fortunate to have as many rich variations of skin & hair colour, personality types. There has always also been the same variation with sexual orientation and gender. Sexual attraction comes in a massive variety of variation which can be fixed such as gay/straight but can be bisexual or for some can be fluid and seems to change during their lifetime.

Can Sexual Orientation be Changed?
For most people sexual orientation is fixed. Any attempt to try to change what is for them as natural as their skin colour can end up being extremely damaging. It is far better to work towards a sense of integrating your natural orientation as opposed to trying to change it. This can be a real challenge for some, but always worth it in the end.

Is Sexual Diversity as Simple as LGBTI?
Some see gender as not so much a continuum between male and female but as a sphere where there are a never ending variety of combinations and permutations of what it means to have gender as a human. So it doesn't make sense for many to have a label of male or female, and for others they are in between, have crossed over from one to the other.

None of this is weird, disordered, or wrong... simply... it has always been this way. The reason so many from these populations have so many mental and physical health issues is due to societies response to natural sexual and gender variations from what most consider the 'norm.'

How Does Centre for Human Potential Work with LGBTI
We are based in Brisbane CBD and provide psychological services/wellbeing for people with sexual and gender diversity. This includes counselling for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transexual and intersex clients. This is with individuals, couples, and in organizations with our Employee Assistance Program.

So if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex, you can feel confident knowing that we have a strong understanding of some of the unique issues that you might be going through. We have a deep understanding of the LGBTI communities and contribute in whatever ways we can.

LGBTI Training for Professionals
We are so passionate about counselling LGBTI people that we run a national training program which is designed to improve counselling services for people with sexual and gender diversity (LGBTI). The development of the program included input from the Univeristy of Queensland which trains psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, welfare workers, psychotherapists and counsellors with how to work effectively with clients with sexual diversity. It is called: "Best Practice Counselling with Sexually Diverse Clients."

We have psychologists and associates who provide counselling for LGBTI clients, and who are themselves gay and lesbian.

Our Input to the Community
Our Principal Psychologist Paul Martin writes for the gay media in QNews and samesame.com.au, is interviewed for media and documentaries regarding LGBTI issues, advocates on behalf of our communities, trains other professionals including GP's on working with gender and sexually diverse patients.

This section will gradually grow to be a wonderful space to read and learn more about LGBTI issues and also for those who are seeking assistance who are LGBTI.

Those Wanting a Better Understanding of Gender Diversity

This is a fabulous short film from New Zealand

A photographer Rebecca Swan was central in it's development and it is part of a book celebrating gender diversity.

Counselling for Gay Men
please click above to go to this web page.

What is Intersex?
Intersex is physical differences in sex.

They are differences where a person may appear to have features typical of both a male and a female, where a person may not be fully male or female or where a person is neither male nor female.

Intersex may also be differences in sex that science has yet to describe.

A wonderful Website for anyone wanting to learn more about intersex in Australia is:

oiiaustralia.com

OII Australia logo plus name expansion.

CHP & PFlag

We are closely affiliated with PFlag and actively support their work with families working through issues regarding LGBTI issues.

Please click on their logo to be taken to their website