***NEWS RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
August 10, 2015
CONTACT:
Deborah Hamilton, Hamilton Strategies, 215.815.7716, 610.584.1096, ext. 102, or Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com
Hope Restored at Healing Weekends
for Mothers of LGBT-Identified Children
Professional Counselor Christopher Doyle Helps ‘Set Love in Order’ Through Healing Weekends for Struggling Families
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Mothers
want only the best for their children—from the time they are babies
until they begin to raise families of their own. But when a daughter
discloses that she is gay, or a son reveals that he is wrestling with
his gender identity, mothers’ dreams can come crashing down.
Christopher Doyle, a licensed professional counselor and director of the International Healing Foundation (www.ComingOutLoved.com) is aiming to help with some of these struggles at the upcoming Healing Weekend for mothers of LGBT-identified children on September 18-20 in the Washington, D.C., area.
“Our
Healing Weekends for mothers bring moms with some of the same life
experiences together so they can find hope, restoration and a common
ground,” Doyle said. “When they share their struggles, they don’t feel
so alone, knowing that other mothers are going through exactly what they
are.”
“Through
years of working with many families, we’ve found that mothers, fathers
and entire families are struggling immensely with the issues of unwanted
same-sex attractions and gender-identity confusion,” he continued.
“Parents desperately need help when their children come to them and say
that they are gay, questioning or dealing with gender identity issues.
Parents should have the freedom and the resources available to them to
help with these struggles.”
One
mother who attended a past Healing Weekend said the event “helped me
find myself and my issues. This will enable me to better help my son, my
husband and my family. To spend intense quality time with other hurting
moms and with professional guidance, I once again have hope.”
Added
another mother, “This weekend with other moms who have the same
concerns, pain and expectations as I did was very insightful and
helpful. I experienced the power and love of a bonded group that was
instrumental to my own healing, and gave me hope for the healing of my
own family.”
Doyle,
who offers sexual identity affirming therapy, not only has professional
experience in his field, but his expertise also comes from his own
struggles with unwanted same-sex attractions and his personal journey of
healing and change.
In
his counseling of others, Doyle has found that unwanted same-sex
attractions and gender identity confusion often stem from family
relationships that have failed to satisfy the emotional needs of the
individual who is struggling, and that a big part of healing comes when
love is set in order and underlying issues are resolved. To assist in
that process, IHF offers Healing Weekends for
every member of the family, including a weekend for fathers on November
6-8. For more information on Healing Weekends, visit www.comingoutloved.com/healing-weekends.
Doyle, also a leader in the #TherapyEquality campaign of Equality And Justice For All (www.EqualityAndJusticeForAll.org), has
been actively involved in fighting proposed bans on sexual identity
affirming therapy in several states. Over the past several months, New
York, Washington, Colorado, Virginia and Nevada rejected bills that
would have banned talk therapy for minors in an effort to protect the
rights of minors and sexually abused and sexually confused youth who
seek voluntarily therapy for their unwanted same-sex attractions. These
states joined at least 10 others in 2015—as well as an additional 15
states in 2014—that have either voted down or failed to advance this
harmful legislation.
Equality And Justice For All will co-host the Safe Exit Summit on
Oct. 2-3 in Washington, D.C. with Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays &
Gays (PFOX) and Voice of the Voiceless. The event will focus on
equipping churches to become safe exits for individuals seeking to
resolve unwanted homosexual attractions and provide resources for
families. Registration for the two-day event is now open, and an early-bird rate is available through Aug. 15.
More
than 50,000 licensed medical and mental health professionals support
the rights of youth to receive such therapies, including the American
Association of Christian Counselors, the Alliance for Therapeutic Choice
and Scientific Integrity, the Catholic Medical Association and the
American College of Pediatricians.
###
To interview Christopher Doyle, contact Deborah Hamilton at 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, ext. 102, or Beth Harrison at 610-584-1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com.
International Healing Foundation (IHF),
founded in 1990, believes some live a heterosexual, homosexual,
bisexual, transgender or transsexual life, while others are unsure about
their sexuality and seek to explore alternatives. IHF upholds the
rights to self-determination and values the right of autonomy, and is
committed to helping people on their journey of self-discovery. IHF’s
goal is to promote healthy individuals and relationships, while
assisting in the healing of families, communities and places of worship.
Equality And Justice For All is
the only civil rights organization that works to further the general
welfare of the ex-gay community by promoting fair and equitable laws and
policies protecting their rights. By furthering individual
self-determination and liberty for former homosexuals, the organization
strives to reduce bigoted representations of the ex-gay sexual
orientation status, ensuring that ex-gays and their friends and families
can be open, honest, safe and respected in a diverse society.
