Marie Keller, MA, LMFT, Executive Director
I am the Founder and Director of the Los Angeles Gender Center and specialize in gender and sexuality. My vision for the LAGC has been a place of safety and growth for both its clients and therapists. In addition, my hope is that the Center is not only a place of healing for individual clients, but also an agent of societal change. As a result, I value the education and trainings that the Center provides for other professionals, educational institutions, and workplaces of transitioning people. I come from a family where social justice was important. I feel that all people have the right to equal treatment and safety, to be who they are, to develop loving relationships of their own choosing, and to have a supportive community in which to reside. I also believe that it is my obligation as a fellow traveler in this life to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves and to join those who can as an ally in a united effort to overcome injustice and inequality. I am completing my Ph.D. in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California. This experience has deepened my understanding and appreciation for the ways historically other cultures have included and celebrated diversity. In my spare time I like to read, walk on the beach, and chase my wild and crazy dog, Walter, around the house. I am a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). I have been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 1982. (MFT16943).

Elise Turen, Ph.D., ACS, Associate Director
As a Board Certified Clinical Sexologist, I have been a practitioner in the field of Human Sexuality for 28 years. I was called to this work early in my life. As a teenager I was exposed to experiences considered “outside the box” or gender non-normative. Their impact was so profound that I began to challenge the deeply held beliefs surrounding what it meant to be either a man or a woman in our culturally prescribed, heteronormative society. Thus early on, I recognized the complexities regarding an individual’s true proclivities when defining themselves in their gendered and sexual self. My expertise is in working with individuals, couples, and families coping with issues of gender identity, DSD’s and their many related concerns, sexual abuse and trauma to the body, and addictive illnesses in hospital, institutional and educational settings. For the past 17 years at LAGC, it has been my heartfelt mission to create a safe space for my clients to explore the diversity of their gendered self, along with the developing insight of the inherent rights to their anatomy and sexual health and expression. I have conducted extensive research on the effects internalized transphobia has on a transexxed individual, specifically during their gender transition. Along with facilitating a bi-annual trans-inclusive retreat for the past 10 years, I have conducted numerous trainings throughout the country for institutions raising their awareness regarding transgender people and their rights in society and the workplace. Public advocacy is as essential as my clinical practice, and I hold professional membership with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) and the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT).

Maureen Morrissey, MA, LMFT
“It’s never too late to become who you might have been.” This quote expresses the sense of possibility that I hold for the people I work with in therapy. For over 20 years my work as a therapist has been to help people move beyond their emotional pain and limiting beliefs toward a clearer vision of the life they want to have. As one of the founding therapists of the Los Angeles Gender Center, I have supported clients as they heal from the wounds inflicted by an insensitive society. I help those who are dealing with issues of gender and sexuality to clarify, express and celebrate who they really are. I also counsel spouses, family members and friends who may need help understanding and supporting their loved ones. Throughout the years I have worked with people who identify along many different points on the gender continuum. This work has inspired me to continually expand my own understanding and conception of gender.  The journey toward wholeness and authenticity is not an easy one. I have been honored by the opportunity to witness the courage and grace my clients have shown as they give voice to their authentic self.  Professional Memberships: California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). (MFT 30439)

Susan P. Landon, MA, LMFT
Is your child different from other girls or boys? Does s/he show an interest in opposite sex play or express a desire to be the other sex? Are you looking for a safe and supportive environment to talk about your concerns and get some help? I can provide that for you. In our binary society it is not easy to understand or find room for gender diversity. Together we can find a path that is best for your child, while providing you with the information and support you need. If it is appropriate, I am available to do in-service trainings for your child’s teachers and school administrators. I can assist your child’s physician and staff to provide a sensitive environment for your gender diverse child. As a member of the Child and Adolescent Team of the Los Angeles Gender Center and with 25 years of experience counseling children and their families, I am aware of the range of feelings including doubt, anger, sadness, confusion, relief, and joy, that families experience when exploring gender diversity and I am here for you to embrace them all. I am on the Advisory Board of Transforming Family. Every month we have a playgroup for young gender diverse children, a rap group for teenagers, and a parent support group that I facilitate. As part of Transforming Family, I made an appearance as the family group facilitator in the documentary “Becoming Chaz”. In addition to my work with the Los Angeles Gender Center, I have a private practice counseling individuals, couples, and families in Santa Monica, CA. I am a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).  (MFT 23019)

Amy Padnick, MA, LMFT
What is gender? What does it mean to be a girl? What does it mean to be a boy? What is gender identity, gender expression, gender diversity? Do you have a gender variant or transgender child or adolescent? Do you know? Are you feeling confusion, anger, fear, shame or grief? I am a licensed Marriage, Family, and Child therapist with 25 years of experience counseling children and their families. Join me in a safe environment to provide you and your family with the support and information that you need. As a certified Sandplay therapist, I use Sandplay and my background in art and play therapy to enhance the therapeutic process. (Sandplay is a non-verbal form of therapy that facilitates the psyche’s natural capacity for healing) With Sandplay, children can reach a deeper understanding of how they feel. Every creative endeavor produces a self-portrait that can be used to help children understand their world. It enables me, their therapist, to identify problems, understand their process, and allow them to use their creativity and imagination. In addition to my work with the Los Angeles Gender Center and gender identity issues, I have a private practice in West Los Angeles where I see individuals, couples and families dealing with divorce, grief and loss and parent-child conflicts. I also facilitate an adolescent rap group and co-facilitate a monthly parent support group  with Transforming Family. When I am not working I am enjoying family, friends, movies, cooking, and creating my own art work. I am a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and Sandplay Therapists of America. (MFT 35182)

Arlen Ring, Ph.D.
Each of us has to make sense out of our life. We all have to find a way to heal our wounds and live with dignity and peace of mind. We all need access to sustaining relationships. If you don’t fit into one of the standard anatomically based binary gender categories, dealing with a society that finds you inconvenient can be especially rough. In my 36 years of practice as a Psychologist, I have focused on assisting people in the areas of gender identity, cross-dressing, couples counseling, anger management, recovery from traumatic memories, fears, anxiety, depression, panic, psychosomatic pain, and dealing with difficult people. It would be my pleasure to discuss the possibility of us working together. For more about me, visit ArlenRing.com. (CA License PSY8070)

Amanda Silvestri, MA, C.A.S.
Amanda Silvestri is a long-time transsexual advocate, educator, lecturer, consultant, author and substance abuse counselor. She has been affiliated with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, the Van Ness Recovery House, Spencer Recovery Centers, Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services, the Minority AIDS Project, and Prototypes Crosstrainings.

Cadyn Cathers, MA, MFT Intern #67018
What does it mean to be a man? To be a woman? To be a lesbian? Gay? Bisexual? Queer? These are important personal questions that can be difficult to answer, especially considering how transphobic, homophobic, and biphobic our world can be. As a transgender person, I strongly believe that we get to define our gender(s), gender expression, and sexual identities and this is how I practice psychotherapy. Together, in a LGBTQ-affirmative space, we can explore who you are, examine how your experiences have kept you from being authentic, help you accept yourself just the way you are, and support you in developing healthier, more fulfilling relationships.