Forest Maridas Bio

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Many issues arise over our life cycle and within relationships that we have often not come across sufficient tools to care for.  When those life challenges have to do with our adult sex lives, there is often even less opportunity to talk openly with others to problem solve.  Forrest is happy to discuss these issues with people of all gender and sexual orientations.

Forest has completed Post Master’s Specialized Training with Sexual and Gender Orientation, equivalent to the Sexual Minority Counselor Specialist Designation in the United States.  Whether you have an identifying name for how you see yourself, such as Sexual orientation terms, LGBQOP:  lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, questioning, omnisexual, and pansexual and/or Personal gender identity terms, GTIA:  genderqueer, transsexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, intergender, and asexual, or prefer to be fluid and unlabelled, you can trust you will be respected.

Through Forrest’s knowledge and participation in the sexual & gender minority communities, clients can explore needs, issues, a successful positive self esteem, participation in our subculture community, and integration into wider society. 

Support people, partners, family members and friends of people identifying as a gender or sexual minority at times require an outside, educated perspective to assist their process of integrating new information about their loved one, as well.

Many individuals feel tension between their participation in the LGBQOPTIA community and additional multiple identities, such as ethnicity, faith, gender, socio-economic status, nationality, different (dis) ability, mental & physical health issues, etc.  Internalized –ism phobias can be a long standing setback for life goal achievement.  The personal effects of this tension can be explored with Forrest and resolved, using anti-oppression theory as well as other psychological interventions.

Coming into your own strength can be possible as a true self emerges with support.  This can be a greater challenge for people who feel they are Gender Variant, Gender Diverse, or Gender Non-Conforming.  Forrest again has received post graduate training to assist people who have been diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder, are transitioning, are living their life as their correct sex, and are participating in the steps of gender reassignment (confirming) surgery.    

Finally Forrest has also counseled sexual and gender minority youth and young adults, coordinating sensitivity and deeper understanding for families and schools.

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