Psychological Counselling for Lesbians and Bi-Sexual Women

13 April 2006

At the beginning of April of this year, the Labris Organization for Lesbian Human Rights opened its psychological counselling to support lesbians and women of alternative (non-heterosexual) sexual preferences.

The idea to establish such an operation has its roots in the past work of Labris� e-mail counselling. The web-counselling, established in 2003, has been contacted by over 150 lesbians and bi-sexual women. having in mind the interest for face-to-face meetings with a psychologist/therapist, a need has risen to expand the work of the web-counselling to provide continuing psychological support. Therefore, Labris will now offer opportunity to all interested lesbians and bi-sexual women to discuss their problems with a qualified psychologist.

"Please, call us if you find it difficult to accept your identity, if you have problems in the family, at work or in another place just because you are lesbian/bi-sexual, if you have problems in the relationship with your partner. Call us if you have any problem, we are here for you�, calls Labris.

The interested women can schedule an appointment at 064/4610467. The counsultations will be held with Dusica Popadic, psychologist, at the offices of the Incest Trauma Centre. In addition to individual meetings, based on their wish, the users of the services can participate in workshops that will be held once per month in Labris offices.

The cycle of six �Emotional Literacy� workshops is to get to know oneself and the homophobic environment better. The workshops will be led by Lepa Mladjenovic, long-term activists with Labris and the Autonomous Women Centre.

Appointments can also be made by e-mail, at asistles@eunet.yu and we will answer it within three days upon reception.

Dusica Popadic is a psychologist specialized to work on violence inflicted trauma. She has 13 years experience of work in the NGO sector, working with children and adults that were submitted to violence in the family, sexual abuse in childhood, as well as persons that suffered wartime trauma.