Faculty members in NDSU’s couple and family therapy program have received funding to increase the number of local therapists who are trained to provide affirmative therapy services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients.
Tom Stone Carlson, Christi McGeorge and Kristen Benson received a $60,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation to offer training to Fargo-Moorhead therapists and mental health agencies. The training will focus on how to provide supportive, affirmative services to LGBT clients and their families.
“An important part of NDSU’s mission is community outreach,” said Provost Bruce Rafert. “This project is a good example of collaboration between NDSU researchers and professionals in the community.”
The grant also will fund the continued development of the LGBT Mental Health Alliance, a network of mental health professionals committed to providing affirmative services, and the creation of an online directory of LGBT affirmative therapists in the Fargo-Moorhead Area.
The community is invited to a kick-off event for the project on Friday, Feb. 8, from 3:30-4:30 p.m., at the Family Therapy Center, 1919 N. University Drive, Fargo.
Training sessions are scheduled for Friday, March 1, and Friday, April 12, from 1-4 p.m. Therapists who are interested should call Michelle Pearson at 701-231-8534.
NDSU’s couple and family therapy program is nationally recognized as a leader in educating students to work effectively with a diverse clientele. The program won the prestigious Training Award from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy in fall 2012.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.