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Virtual and In-Person Group Workshops for LGBT/SSA Mormons & Separately for Parents

Young plant growing in sunshine(Shallow Dof)

January 24, 2015

Young plant growing in sunshine

Affirmation is providing two workshops during the month of February – one for LGBT Mormons and one for parents. See below for details about these workshops.

Workshop 1:  Reconciling Our Mormon and LGBT Experiences

Virtual group workshop facilitated by Judith (Judy) Finch (Licensed Therapist)

Wednesday, February 11, 2015
6 – 7:30 p.m. MT (5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET)

This virtual group workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to discuss how to begin to reconcile the disparity between their sexual orientation and spiritual aspirations (a separate workshop will be held in the near future to address disparities between gender identity and spiritual aspirations). This workshop will focus on how these two aspects of ourselves are experienced as painful and largely hidden and how the coming out process is typically resisted and/or tested. The workshop will also explain the role of avoidance mechanisms that can lead to depression, anxiety and despair.

Participants will learn from each other ways to begin to accept the disparity in one’s life and integrate the two parts of one’s life, even while experiencing the fairly constant assault of religious/social messages to the contrary. Finally this workshop discusses how and when to re-evaluate assumptions and scrutinize the value of relationships and institutions in one’s life.

The number of participants per workshop will be limited in order for allow for individuals to share their experiences. Please sign-up for the workshop by emailing us at [email protected].

 

Workshop 2: Affirmation Parents Discussion Group 

In-person group workshop facilitated by Randall Thacker, Affirmation President, and Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen (Licensed Therapist)

Sunday, February 22, 2015
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Salt Lake / Provo Area

Parents of LGBT/SSA Mormons often need as much support as their children in working through the coming out process of their child and the uncertainties and challenges this brings to their families and their faith.

This gathering will give parents the opportunity to share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs with each other. Parents will learn from one another in a positive and spiritually uplifting environment. The group discussion will be facilitated by Affirmation President, Randall Thacker and Licensed Therapist, Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen.

This gathering is specifically for parents and will be held at a home in the Salt Lake / Provo / Ogden Area of Utah. The specific location will be announced soon. Dessert will be served.

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