Following on the heels of the first edition, Breaking Out II expands its coverage by including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals. While some societies have become more tolerant and accepting of sexual and gender diversity, LGBTI people continue to suffer psychological damage caused by growing up in largely heterosexist, homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic milieus. How can LGBTI individuals learn to love themselves when many or most of the signals society sends out denigrate their very being? Dr. Kevin Alderson has developed a method of building a positive LGBTI identity based on extensive research and the best of what we know about self-help psychology.

Kevin Alderson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Calgary in 1978, followed by a Masters degree in clinical, school and community psychology in 1984. Before commencing doctoral studies, Dr. Alderson married, had two children, and then experienced his own coming out in 1993. The intensity of his struggle to find himself and become authentic was both tumultuous and exhilarating. Motivated by his desire to further understand his experience and that of others, he began a PhD program in counselling psychology at the University of Alberta in 1995. While there, he worked with persons who are HIV-positive and with others experiencing sexual and gender identity issues.

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