THE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY RELATIONSHIPS
Strengthening Relationships in the LGBTQ+ Community Through Education and Training
Meet Our Presenters
Rahim Thawer, MSW, RSW - Keynote Speaker
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rahim (he/him) works as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, facilitator and public speaker, sessional lecturer, writer, and community organizer. He has had a strong presence in Canada’s LGBTQ community since he began working in the HIV/AIDS sector in 2008. Rahim strives to operate from a harm reduction, sex- positive, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed approach. He was welcomed as an International Visiting Scholar with the South African College for Applied Psychology (SACAP) for the 2021-2022 academic year, and has supervised post-graduate counselling students and taught as a lecturer at multiple universities in Canada. He’s an appointed Fellow at the Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at the University of Toronto for his contributions to the field of sexuality. Rahim was a co-founder of Ismaili Queers and has dedicated almost 10 years to community organizing with Salaam Canada, a national volunteer-run LGBTQ Muslim organization. He was also a co-editor and contributor in an anthology entitled Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer (shortlisted for the 2017 Toronto Book Awards). He's currently working on a book called SEEKING: Stories from a gay therapist making sense of connection and relationships to be published by Thornapple Press, and hosts a video podcast called The CBT Dive.
Uchenna Lizmay Umeh, MD, aka "Dr. Lulu" - Closing Presentation
Atlanta, Georgia
Uchenna, aka Dr. Lulu (she/her), is a queer Nigerian-born, board certified pediatrician, mom of a transgender daughter, Former Lt. Col., Disabled US Air Force Veteran, TEDx Speaker, certified parent coach, and corporate consultant. She is the recipient of the 2022 San Antonio LGBT Chamber Youth Advocate of the Year Award, 2022 San Antonio Business Journal D.E.I award, and was a finalist for the San Antonio NAWBO 2023 “Rising Star” Award. Dr. Lulu was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on her “The Life You Want” Masterclass on Service, her mission is youth suicide prevention, with a special focus on LGBTQ+ youth particularly, Black gender-diverse youth and their families. The owner of Dr. Lulu’s PRIDE Corner, an all-inclusive gender-affirming coaching practice, Dr. Lulu speaks about intersectionality in LGBTQ+ spaces and is the chief host of “Moms for Trans Kids Podcast”. She is the bestselling author of 7 books including "How to Teach Your Children About Racism”. Her next books: “Invited In, How to Become the Parent Your LGBTQ+ Child Needs”, “About Your Black Transgender Child”, "Allies in White Coats: LGBTQ+ Basics for Physicians" is due out soon! www.Dr-lulu.com.
Hannah Wilson, PhD, LCPC, CST - Saturday Closing Plenary
Bozeman, Montana
Hannah (she/her) began her career working with underserved vulnerable clients in the heart of Seattle. Advocating for harm reduction approaches to addressing addiction, mental health and homelessness through housing first programming. After returning home to big sky country (Montana), she worked as a sex educator from the local Title V clinic. In 2016 began pursuing her clinical work at a Community Health Clinic with an integrative behavioral health model. For the last few years focusing on her private practice, Prickly Peach Sex Therapy, she is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Supervisor and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and trained as a gender and trans affirming therapist with WPATH. Also a partner of Oh Hi Collective that is motivated to offer continuing education for organizations, community and individuals around sexual health. Currently working on her PhD in Clinical Sexology, with a specialty in Kink Conscious Counseling at the International Institute of Clinical Sexology. In her down time you will find her enjoying cake, spending time with her other half, and laughing at her adorable rescue bulldog, Dax. www.ohhicollective.com
Michelle D. Vaughan, PhD - Conference Institute
Dayton, Ohio
Michelle (she/her) is pansexual, polyamorous woman, a licensed clinical psychologist and a Clinical Full Professor in the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University as well as a Fellow of Division 44 of the American Psychological Association. She trains health providers in sex, gender, and relationship-affirming practices as part of culturally humble training and conducts strengths-based scholarship on LGBTQ+ and Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM). Her most notable works include the first published peer-reviewed study of physical healthcare experiences of CNM individuals, and the first published measures of compersion (the COMPERSe) and stress-related growth from the coming out process for sexual minorities,. She is the co-editor and co-author of The Handbook of CNM Affirming Mental Health Practice from Rowman & Littlefield in addition to service on regional and national CNM organizations and training medical and mental health professionals on LGBTQ+ strengths and CNM-affirming practice. www.people.wright.edu/michelle.vaughan
Naomi Brown LCSW
San Antonio, Texas
Naomi (she, they) is Chair of the Center-Pride Center San Antonio, Director of Clinical Services and a therapist in private practice. A Licensed Clinical Social worker with years of experience working with marginalized and oppressed queer folx. Rev Naomi is Community Outreach Minister at Metropolitan Community Church , a member of the Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board and the Faith and Domestic Violence Coalition. She has recently presented at National Association of Social Workers Conference emphasizing how Covid effected the LGBTQ and Black Community.. Extensive training in Anti Racism, she holds Certification in Diversity Equity and Inclusion from the University of Miami, Naomi is a National Recognized Presenter and Trainer on “Creating Safe Zones for LGBTQI folx”. “Using Cis Privilege to be a Trans Ally’ and Trauma Informed Care for BIPOC folx Naomi has taught Safe Zone training to over 3,000 participants including quarterly training with the San Antonio Police Department. Naomi worked at Nationally Recognized (SAGE) trainer and is a Alzheimer Caregiver Support Group Facilitator specializing in LGBTQ audiences. Naomi has a passion for Spoken Word sheCo-Founded the Pride Center’s Queer Voices. She runs groups on Spoken Word is a Yoga & Meditation Teacher . A published Poet married to her College sweetheart.
Emily Stone, PhD, LMFT-S
Austin, Texas
Emily (she/her) is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 20 years of experience working with adults, couples, families, children, and adolescents. She is the owner of Unstuck Therapy Group. Her reputation as a therapist, supervisor, and professor is one of being open, courageous in dialogue, curious, and respectful of each individual. Emily has taught college and graduate school in the areas of psychology and counseling for almost 20 years and is currently on faculty for the Psychology Department at Keiser University and for the Queer and Trans Affirming Professional (QTAP) certification program. Emily lives in Austin, Texas with her wife, Kelly, and their full house of six kids in their lively, loving blended family that includes a very doodly golden doodle, Comet.
Caitlin Edwards, MA, LMFT, LPC, NCC
East Lansing, Michigan
Caitlin (they/she) is a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University in the department of Human Development and Family Studies studying the cultural adaptation of Emotionally Focused Therapy for LGBTQ + relationships. They are an AAMFT Clinical Fellow, AAMFT Supervisor Candidate, and Certified EFT Therapist. They own a private practice in Denver, Colorado, where they specialize in working with LGBTQ + and consensually non-monogamous relationships as well as provide supervision to LGBTQ + and polyamorous therapists.
Adam Maurer, LMFT, LPC
Austin, Texas
Raised by wolves, Adam (him/her) is a genderqueer, straight-friendly therapist from Austin, TX. She founded her private practice, Moontower Counseling, in 2013, and focuses on serving the LGBTQIA+ community, relationships that are consensual non-monogamous, and kinsters! She is a defender of pleasure and a slayer of shame. www.moontowercounseling.com
Christine Hatchard, PsyD
West Long Branch, New Jersey
Dr. Hatchard is a psychotherapist, forensic evaluator, international speaker and trainer, consultant, author, researcher, associate professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Monmouth University. She has multiple media appearances in film, television, newspaper and radio, and has won national awards for her clinical and professional work and leadership in the field of Psychology. She practices through a diverse, social justice-oriented, culturally competent and trauma-informed lens, while using her knowledge and experience to provide her clients with exemplary care.
Danielle Culpepper, LPC
Toledo, Ohio
Danielle (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Ohio. She graduated with her Masters degree in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University and became a licensed school counselor. She completed an additional clinical year at Capital University. Danielle's dual licensure and experience both with youth and adults provides a complex and intricate understanding of the lifespan and its impact on our wellbeing. Danielle works as a couple's therapist in private practice at Reconnecting Columbus, located in Columbus, OH. She has expertise supporting the following populations: Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Clients, Clients Navigating Sexuality, Couples in Same Sex Relationships, and Parents of Youth Exploring Gender and Sexuality. Danielle has completed training in gender affirming care and identifies as an LGBTQIA+ ally. She is a strong proponent of social justice, and utilizes social justice as a foundation for her clinical work.
Ty David Lerman, PhD, LPC-S, CST, QTAP
Houston, Texas
Ty (he/him) is a clinical sexologist and sex therapist and proud owner of Southwest Psychotherapy Associates (SWPA) based in Houston. He has a great passion for helping folks explore and celebrate their authentic selves, be it around sexual orientation, relationship structure, or being more comfortable with their sexual desires and expression. His clinical experience (starting in 2007) includes both private practice and agency settings, leading to an expansive clinical experience in numerous treatment topics, with an emphasis on issues on Gender, Sexual, and Romantic Diversities (GSRD) and anxiety. Ty holds a PhD in Clinical Sexology, is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, with numerous certifications: dual certification (AASECT and IICS) as a Sex Therapist (CST), a Queer and Transgender Affirming Professional (QTAP), and as a clinical hypnotherapist (CHt). He serves as Director of Curriculum for the QTAP certification, 3rd Vice President on the Board of Directors for Houston Group Psychotherapy Society (HGPS), and on the advisory board for the Contemporary Relationships Conference. His expertise has been sought out by publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Men’s Health, and Refinery29. Ty has been seen on television on numerous occasions on “Great Day Houston with Deborah Duncan”, and “The Nightcap” on FOX26, as well as various news spots on ABC, NBC, and KHOU stations. He is honored to have been recognized as the “Best Male Mental Health Therapist” by OutSmart Magazine for five consecutive years. Outside the clinical world, Ty is blessed to have two amazing partners, is father to three Australian Shepherds, and proudly wears the moniker, “the orchid whisperer”.
Sarah Whitton PhD
Cincinnati, Ohio
Sarah (she/her), is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati and Director of the Today’s Couples and Families Research Program. Her research is focused on the mental health and close relationships of people in marginalized groups, particularly sexual and gender minority(SGM) individuals. She is the PI of FAB400, an NIH-funded longitudinal cohort study of SGM young people assigned female at birth focused on development, minority stress, close relationships, and mental health. Dr. Whitton has also developed and evaluated a number of tailored relationship education programs for SGM couples designed to promote relationship health and individual wellbeing using an SGM affirming approach.
Sarah Boesger, MSW, LSW
Cleveland, Ohio
Sarah (she/her) is a queer, aroace telehealth therapist and social worker with a clinical focus in queer/trans/poly/kink/BDSM/sex work. Sarah sees individuals, couples and families with an emphasis on DBT and trauma-informed care. She has presented several workshops for the TransOhio Symposium and facilitates two support groups at her current practice, one for trans/nonbinary/agender folx and one for parents of neurodivergent children. Sarah is passionate about continued education, mutual aid, and community building and she intends to continue advocating for the freedom to pursue trans affirming care at any age.
Donald C. Shorter
New York, New York
Donald (he/she) is a multi-disciplinary artist with a passion for storytelling. Shorter’s work is autobiographical and showcases narratives that bring awareness to the varying levels of social injustice that exist in the world. Themes of race, gender, sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression are at the forefront of their work. Choreographer, dancer, writer, director, singer, actor, filmmaker, professor, and activist are labels that are interchanged on a daily basis. “I guess my work is asking the question, “Can this body be free?”Donald is a former principal dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company (2003-2007) and went on to re stage works for the company at Barnard College, The University of Idaho, and Towson University. They have toured in Broadway shows such as: La Cage Aux Folles, A Chorus Line, and HAIRSPRAY. Donald is the creator/writer/performer of their one-woman show GENDEROSITY, which uses drag transformation as a means to deconstruct gender in order to create conversations about gender nonconformity. Donald holds an M.F.A. in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and was the recipient of a Dean's Fellowship. Their work has premiered at the Pompidou Center, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Wild Project, MOMA PS1 AllGold Space, Center for Performance Research, Judson Memorial Church, 92nd Street Y, The Tom of Finland Foundation, Dixon Place, The Contemporary Museum of Houston, and The Criterion Channel. Link to trailer: https://vimeo.com/881875609?share=copy
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Erin MacDonald, LCSW-S
Austin, Texas
Erin (she/her) has a private psychotherapy practice which specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and co-occurring diagnoses, treating individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, and providing clinical supervision. In addition, MacDonald is a Faculty Member and Consultation Provider at Queer and Trans Affirming Professionals Certificate Program. She is an active member of Central Texas Eating Disorder Specialists, and enjoys teaching and training on the topics of Health at Every Size (HAES), Eating Disorders, as well as the intersections of queerness and mental health. Erin holds a BA in Communications from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin, and a graduate certificate in LGBT Health Policy & Practice from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Whitney Williams-Coble, MAT
Cincinnati, Ohio
Whitney (she/her) is a Black, Able-Body, Queer, Working-Class, Woman, Mother, Educator, and Writer. Her journey in social justice advocacy began with the 2013 Public Allies fellowship in my hometown of Cincinnati, OH which led to a role with the Public Defender's Office working with families navigating the Hamilton County Juvenile Court System. That experience inspired her to pursue a Master’s in Teaching, graduating from the University of Chicago in 2016. Since then, she has served as an educator and advocate committing her time and efforts to learn more about policies that target marginalized communities within our society and taking up space within places of power through restorative justice practices.
Emily Devlin, MA
Cincinnati, Ohio
Emily (she/her) is a fifth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at UC. In 2016, she received her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology (Honors) from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research interests are focused on sexual and gender minority stress and the way in which it affects mental health, physical health, and wellness.
Charlie Giraud
Cincinnati, Ohio
Charlie (he/they) is a second-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at UC. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wayne State University and his Master of Science in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. His research interests include sexual and gender minority stress and couples’ relationships through an intersectional lens.
Jamie Goodwin, PhD
West Long Branch, New Jersey
Jamie (she/her) is a Licensed Counseling Psychologist in private practice and a Specialist Professor in the Department of Psychology at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ. Clinically, she works with diverse individuals and couples, specializing in clients with long-term relational trauma. She teaches a variety of undergraduate courses (including Psychopathology and Theories of Personality) and is a Principal Investigator in the Clinical Psychology Research Center, where she works alongside her students to conduct empirical research on topics related to mental health. Recent/current projects include The Role of Exceptionality in the Development of the Imposter Phenomenon and Adjustment to College, and The College Experience of Neurodivergent Students at Monmouth University: An Exploratory Study. She strives to work with clients and students alike from a place of trauma-informed, compassionate non-judgement.
Julia Macey
West Long Branch, New Jersey
Julia (she/her) is a senior undergraduate student at Monmouth University who is earning her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology, and has aspirations to complete doctoral work in Clinical Psychology. She is a member of the Honors School and is the Secretary of the University’s chapter of Psi Chi International Honor Society of Psychology. She has been a lead research assistant in the Clinical Psychology Research Center for two years, and has participated in multiple empirical projects related to neurodivergence and exceptionality.
Jeff Lutes, LPC, QTAP - Opening Plenary
Austin, Texas
Jeff (he/him) has been in private practice for 34 years. He is the founder of the Contemporary Relationships Conference, which also offers the Queer and Trans Affirming Professional (QTAP) certification program, and serves as the President of the Advisory Board. He is the author of a chapter in the Handbook of LGBT-Affirmative Couple and Family Therapy (2nd Edition, Routledge, 2022; 1st Edition, Routledge 2012), two chapters in Affirmative Counseling with LGBTQI+ People (American Counseling Association, 2017), and Okin the Panda Bear Finds His Family - a children's book about family diversity (Creative House Press, 2011). His articles about LGBTQ relationships and families have appeared on The Bilerico Project and Therapy Matters. He has presented at the conferences of the American Family Therapy Academy, the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy, the American Counseling Association, and the Texas Psychological Association. The former Executive Director of Soulforce; Jeff has spoken at universities, churches, and rallies around the country, and his social justice efforts have been covered by numerous media outlets, including NPR and CNN. His new book, Trailblazers In Love, features conversations with queer couples together 20+ years. www.jefflutespsychotherapy.com