Often times, finding a safe place for members of the LGBT community to openly discuss issues with his or her sexuality or personal issues, is difficult.
The Marriage and Family Therapy program is subduing that burden.
Spectrum Connection is session for LGBT members to openly discuss any issues he or she may face because of identifying as LGBT.
“[We] strive to create a consistent supportive resource for LGBT people,” Jennifer Ling, a facilitator of Spectrum Connection, said.
Spectrum Connection was started a few years ago by Marriage and Family Therapy interns. The creators of the session wanted to create a therapeutic space for the LGBT community in South Georgia, according to Ling.
Along with Ling, the session is also facilitated by Daniel Donathan, Mari Friere and Amber Albritton, Marriage and Family Therapy interns.
Each intern has a background in LGBT issues and is trained to interrupt a variety of issues, members of the LGBT community face.
Spectrum Connection aims to offer an intimate and open environment for its members.
The discussion is formulated as an open forum for the attendees to discuss any issue, concern or topic of interest.
“This support group is of great benefit to the larger LGBT community,” Ling said. “ It is one of the few places that LGBT community members can go and openly be themselves, talk about the issues that go with being LGBT in a society that continues to struggle with seeing LGBT people as people, deserving of the same opportunities, rights, privileges, and safeties as the default heterosexual population is prescribed.”
Spectrum Connection is held every second and fourth Thursday of each month, and the session runs from 7:00- 8:30 p.m. The session is held in the FamilyWorks Clinic, the training clinic for Marriage and Family Therapy interns. FamilyWorks Clinic is located 903 North Patterson Street.
For more information on Spectrum Connection, call 229-219-1281.